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Trains!

The Great Northern Page 4

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This is a history of the construction of the new Great Northern layout in my basement. Construction started in earnest in November of 2005 although lighting and power circuits were installed many years before. The newest photos are at the top of the web page.

Posted 1/9/2011 Snowing while I wait for a flight at DIA.

We operated the 3rd time in 2010 on December 9th. Yes there are 6 operators in the "hole" moving trains in Spokane (upper level) and Seattle (lower level) in addition to through trains from the helix on the right. (photos by Dave Spritke)

Here you see the dispatcher sitting in the middle of the helix. There is a head of hair and forehead just to the right of the cement elevator. That make person #7. The inland cement plant is the tall structure and the Alcoa plant is on the left.

The town of Wenatchee is a stub end yard that also has a junction with the Canadien National from Oroville. Doodlebugs and non customs cleared freights roll through and the Holy Cross & Crystal River narrow gauge come into town from Rico and Denver?

Posted July 1, 2007

Last Friday we had a shakedown operation session and we had a good time. The new map of Seattle and the port were a great hit, as were the sorting shelf on the Seattle level. We ran 12 trains on a schedule, but did not run 3 of the 4 scheduled passenger trains. There are 3 positions that require switcher operators who become the yard master in their territory. This can be really frustrating as another train comes on station in their yard, and they then have to stop their sorting process to get that train broken, assembled and out of town. Here are new some photos of the layout and the results. I am still waiting on a dual gauge turnout to finish the Wenatchee yard and interchange.

Overview of the Seattle Yard and map on the Sorting board plus King Street and the Portland staging yard which are hiding behind the buildings on the left. These 2 tracks will add some activity to both Seattle and Spokane. And on the far right the port area. Below is a terrible panorama...one day I will figure these out!-) but for now you get the idea.

Posted April 25 2007

Trackage into and through the PORT of Seattle has been in large part laid down. The depature/sorting tracks for Seattle are accessed from botht he arrival yards as well as the port area, allowing the port switcher to deliver outbound loads to consists. However, the switcher needs clearance to cross the main to get this job done and his tail track is not very long. The docks curve off to the right in the lower part of the right hand picture and the SD45 is sitting on the scrap yard lead. Final track wiring and installation is next! Then Backdrops!

Left: That first grain train heads into the reverse loop on pete Doty's home layout led by GN SD9 579

Right: SP&S SW-7 gets ready to push a cut of cars into the departure track in the Seattle port area

Posted April 7 2007

Seattle is starting to take shape as the receiving yard and passenger leads are filled with trains. The far tracks are the departure track

King Street Station is tracked and powered below.

This is a good overview of the King Street Station trackage.

Tracks to the left come in from Portland and south.

The RS 2 has cut off the baggage express and mail car as well as a Portland Bound coach.

On the left is industrial area at the Seattle Port Authority facilities. The main line will come in close to the edge and circle through a grain elevator to the left. The docks are at the right with track on the peir side. The port switcher will be able to deliver cars to the Seattle departure yards. Now all this Denver Real Estate agent needs to do is start laying down track.

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