Station 8 - Shafer Prairie

WWSL 1st Subdivision

Location. Schafer Prairie is the first station on the First Subdivision.

Design. Schafer Prairie is the station name for the helix connecting the two decks of the WWSL. 

The helix is a single track main line, with a 21 inch radius, on a 2.38 degree grade, 6 1/2 levels. The helix is visible from one side only, and that side will have scenery and fascia.

Operations. Trains leave Brady Junction and head north on Division 1 trackage toward OPLC Camp 1.

Vignettes.

There are six levels to the helix. For an operator focusing on prototype operation, there is nothing worse than watching a train go round and round on a helix - it challenges the mindset. I decided to establish operational windows that I hope will enhance the operators operational experience rather than distract the operator from the un-prototype length of time the train is out of their immediate vision. Those operational windows I am calling 'vignettes'. These vignettes to will consist of the following right of way scenes:

• A road crossing. 
• An absolute stop (ABS) dwarf signal for entry into Brady Junction.
  
• A storage track(s) for the WWSL's work train.
• A cut with embankment to the back of the helix. 
• A storage track for ballast cars..

 Track Diagram. 

Roadway. This is the only location on the layout where the roadbed isn't foam. 1/4 inch cork roadbed will be used for the roadbed. 

• WWSL main line - Class B with relaxed standards
• WWSL passing track - Class C with relaxed standards

Scenery. Scenery is limited in both the horizontal (30 inches) and vertical (3 inches). 

• Mid scenery would be primarily cuts and fills with bushes. This scenery would be considered view blocks preventing operators from seeing the non-sceniced interior of the helix. Those view blocks would be removable from the inside for track access as required.
  
• Near scenery would be primarily detailed right of way, track and track fixtures, and ballast.

It is anticipated that the vignettes would look something like this: side views of the equipment rather than the traditional 3/4 view preferred by railroad photographers .

(pic)

Catenary/Signaling.  

(C) There is no catenary located within the helix. Catenary poles may be part of the sceniced vignette as warranted. 

(S). There will be an absolute drawf signal on the lower level to control access to Brady Junction.

Rolling Stock. I have envisioned having MOW cars built for operation and display. Those display cars (say 1930's WWSL) would be displayed on those otherwise inaccessible siding tracks. These cars would include single and double sheathed wood outfit cars, truss rod flat cars, wood ballast cars, etc. 

Structures. None

Resource.

 

Benchwork is Completed

 This week was the final week of benchwork construction. 

 I cleaned up the rough edges of the valences over the helix.

I purchased and cut to size the 2 inch styrofoam and masonite for the last 4 modules.

I painted the backdrops the two shades of sky. 

I started sorting the bits and pieces of styrofoam in my scrap pile to identify landforms for the WWSL version 3 right of way and toss the rest. Same thing with the lumber shorts. Alot of scrap to the dump. 

Now I have to reorganize again and get the layout room ready for right of way development and tracklaying.

Station 7 - Wickwood

Location

Wickwood (WK). Location of American Pulp and Paper Mill and the Saginaw Timber Company. Two track yard, RIP track, joint WWSL/OPLC/STC locomotive repair facility. Western Washington Power Company plant spur. Team track. STC engine servicing facility. Interchange with STC .
 

History



Operations



Vignettes



Highly Desired Elements



Nice to have



Roadway



Scenery



Catenary/Signaling



Locomotives



Rolling Stock 

 

Structures

 

Resources

Benchwork 10

 Benchwork construction is just about over and I'm glad it's coming to an end. 

Once the helix base was roughed in and emplaced, final benchwork can be completed. 

I installed the south wall upper level horizontal L-Girder. I then installed the east wall upper level horizontal L-girder - completing the upper level benchwork.

I then installed the lower level south wall L-Girder. Notice that I simultaneously installed the east wall L-girder. I had to do this to ensure that the east wall modules were correctly installed at the 8 foot length and whatever excess length of the layout room was reflected in the width of the south wall modules. I anticipated a 32 inch width of the south wall modules. The reality was 33 inches and I'm fine with that.

 

Not photographed but installed was a lower level leg installed along the south wall to hold up the lower module.

Station 6 - North River

Location.

The North River is a river, approximately 30 miles (48 km) long, in western Washington. The river rises in the Willapa Hills in northeastern Pacific County and flows northwest into Grays Harbor County. Much of the North River's drainage basin is within the Clemons Tree Farm in Montesano and it empties into Willapa Bay, a large estuary of the Columbia River off the south coast of Washington.

Vignette. The American Pulp and Paper Company in Wickwood needs an abundant of water for its pulp production. The North River could provide that water if strategically dammed. In my deliberations I was influenced by two photographs

 

 Track Diagram

 

 

Roadway.

1 - Stone Abutment

1 - 90 foot Thru Plate Girder Bridge

1 - Stone Pier

1 - 125 foot Thru Truss Girder Bridge

1 - Stone Pier

1 - 90 foot Thru Plate Girder Bridge

1 - Stone Abutment

Catenary/Signaling. None

Scenery. Approaching the North River from the east (actual compass heading is south) the single track WWSL mainline rises along a short fill to cross over the river on a 350 ft long bridge made up of one thru plate girder section on the east side of the river, one steel through truss bridge over the river, and another thru plate girder section on the west side of the river. The west end of the bridge leads to the top of a bluff overlooking the west shore.

References.

 

Benchwork 9 - Helix

The layout design given and druthers about helixes on a model railroad layout will be discussed in the layout design section of the blog. Here we are going to look at the benchwork construction of the helix base.

The helix module will occupy a space 4 foot long, 4 foot wide and approximately 24 inches or more in height. The sheer size and weight of the module requires some modification of the WWSLs L-girder costruction techniques.

As seen in the lower photograph the major change is the absence of the horizontal 1"x3" as part of the lower L girder. A temporary 1"x3" was used to ensure level of the horizontal girder and the installation of the backdrop panels.

Next, the helix base was constructed. To minimize weight, I opted to use 1/2 inch plywood for the base. 1"x4" inch L-girders were constructed and installed around the outside edges of the plywood panel for strength. L-girders along two edges of the the panel were set in the traditional internal orientation, two L-girders along the other two edges were oriented outward. All 4 corners were reinforced with metal brackets.

Heres a view of the reversed L-girders. In this case the horizontal L-girder members are 1"x2" dimentional lumber. They are oriented outward so that when the module is installed on the benchwork, the 1x2 horizontal edges hooks onto the benchwork holding it in place until a leg can be temporarily installed, the module leveled, and galanized screws inserted to lock the module onto the benchwork.

Having gotten the base installed with a temporary leg, I then cut the luan panels I plan to use for the helix roadbed to 48"x48" inches. I then temporarily installed them on the plywood base and aligned them to the base. I screwed them to the plywood base and then sanded the cut edge with a belt sander. 

The lower level has the helix foundation base for stability. The upper level needs a L girder for stability. I used a 2"x2" stud for the helix leg. I cut the corners of the luan panels and the 1/2 inch plywood panel, placed the leg inside the L-girder corner and screwed it into the L girders.

 

 

It is my plan to enclose the helix. The east side of the helix will be painted per the lower level sky color. The north side of the helix will be mostly enclosed as fascia and painted black. To make the backdrop and facia panels flush with the Lgirders at the leg, a 1"x3" and 1"x2" was attached as trim pieces. 

 

Now that the helix base is built and installed, I can finish the benchwork in the south east corner of the layout room and call benchwork construction over.

Station 5 - Preachers Slough

Location.

History. Preachers Slough is the Saginaw Timber Company's connection to the joint UP/MILW mainline.

In the alternate history, when the WWSL acquired trackage south of the Chehelis River from the Saganaw Timber Company, the WWSL built the Chehelis River Bridge. The UP/MILW granted trackage rights from the bridge to MP x where the Saganaw Timber Company had a small interchange yard. That yard became the new interchange yard between the WWSL and the UP/Milw. 

Operations. From the Chehelis River module, the WWSL 2nd Division has trackage rights on the MILW / UP main track from South Montesano to Preachers Slough (not modeled). At Preacher's Slough, the WWSL interchanges with the MILW / UP, then continues south toward Wickwood.

Design.  Preachers Slough is designed to be the interchange point between the WWSL and the MILW/UP.  At the south end of the module, a two track spur diverges from the main track to serve the YKnott Lumber Company tie treatment plant and the Cascade Pole Company

Roadway.

Main track.
Passing siding.
Interchange track

Scenery.

Preachers Slough is designed loosely on three prototype photos I found during my research that appealed to me. 

First was a photo of a Milwaukee road freight coming out of a tunnel. (Location unknown). This will be the south portal of Tunnel 2 on the Second Subdivision.

 

I really liked this photo of the Milwaukee Road's main track and siding at Pipestone Pass. It merges well with photo 1. This will be the main track and siding, with a third track added to the left for the interchange track. The elevated road will be Highway 107 which parallels the WWSL trackage.

 

 

I was trying to figure out what the background should be at the southern end of the module. The hillside with the varied treeline in photo 3 (location unknown) came closest to the Pipestone Pass photo.

Catenary/Signaling. Second Subdivision is non-electrified. 

The real MILW/UP branch line had an automated crossing at Preachers Slough for interchange with the Saganaw Timber Company, as the timber company dumped logs into the Chehelis River at that point for movement to Aberdeen's sawmills. As that crossing is signaled, i will install dwarf signals and they will be operated by the Dispatcher.

Structures. The following structures will be built for the Preachers Slough module:

• South Portal Tunnel 2
• Highway 107 Bridge over WWSL main line
• Interchange shed (MILW/UP)
• MOW sheds
• Miscellaneous structures representing the Y. Knott Lumber Company and the Cascade Pole Company

 

REFERENCES