Tail track extension

The tail track at Waldo was too short so a short trestle was built with a short piece of track on it.  A reinforced bumper was attached to the end of the trestle to keep trains from plunging into Sucker Creek Gorge.

Finding Waldo Part 1

Waldo up till now has only been suggested by the Waldo mine.  The Waldo mine narrow gauge railroad has never had any real connection with the Grants Pass Railroad nor any kind of a town.  I have often thought about extending the narrow gauge line, using switch backs or a tunnel down to Jackpine or Happy Camp.  If it went to Happy Camp that would require the logs being reloaded some where, possibly at Jackpine.  If it goes to Jackpine the tie and plank mill would have to move (already done), and the lumber camp might be in the way. Well as lumber camps go, it was moved to Happy camp, nearer the present logging area.  With a more or less a clean slate where Jackpine was, the planning starts.  First I played with the idea that the line that held the logging camp cars could be elevated and a narrow gauge switch back could connect into this track (with a dual gauge track, something I have always liked the look of).  The town of Waldo would be located there also.  However, after a couple of days of trying different track arrangements, it just didn't work.  This did require that the run around be removed.  After some more thought  the idea occurred to me that the turnouts and track just removed could be used to switch back the Cougar Ridge Railroad up to the Waldo Mine Railroad but not actually have a physical track attachment but just a reloading area and freight station. Let me see, a three tier switch back, a spread out town site, an old road to the Waldo town site, now replaced by the railroad sounds interesting.  Well the code 70 #6 switches I had were too long so I got out my hand laid ones I saved from some time ago.  Two of them fit the bill, so I decided to hand lay the whole new switch back area. Because it is high and awkward to reach I will build it in sections.  One section will be the area of the first switch back, which will include the turnout with the tail track, extended by a short trestle so it is long enough to hold a Shay and one piece of rolling stock.  There will also be a few buildings in this area.

hand made turnout cut into a ceiling tile with hand laid ties on it

turnout cut into the old scenery

most of the lumber camp moved to Happy Camp

city of Waldo laid out and scenery started using old rock castings

I think this will be a general store

dirt road through town

Tie & Plank Mill

The inclusion of the Tie & Plank Mill at Jackpine Camp was just too much.  It could not hold enough cars and switching was a chore, so out it comes, now where can it go, the extension at Grants Pass of course.  With not much work it moved right in.  After putting it in and adding new scenery, I noted that the log cars block the cars loaded with ties and planks.  What to do?  If a turnout will fit a track could be added to feed the logs on the left side of the structure, but this will necessitate moving the mill to the right, not at all impossible.  Or the siding now used for both loading and unloading could be shortened and the only yard siding left could instead be used as the track to load ties and planks. Both are good options, I will think on it for a while.

Plans change

Well I procrastinated myself out of the coal dealer on the Grants Pass extension.  Instead I moved Sprat & Kleen from Patrick Creek, probably to be replaced by a couple of houses, or a gas station.  Reasoning for this move was to get the stock yard in O'Brien and the slaughter house further apart.  This also helps with switching Buckley Mills.  It will however move that problem (2 industries on one siding) to the siding serving Utah Beet Sugar Co.

Grants Pass Expansion

What was to be a small expansion yard turned out to be much different in the end. I had to extend the river, which cause problems with the track work, humm, just like in real life. But it finally took shape. The Utah Beet Sugar Co. was set in place with that track extending over the river to feed a coal dealer. Two other tracks also cross the river and form a yard that holds about ten cars.

Thirty foot gon

I started with a department store train set gon. After taking it apart, the center section was removed, cutting along the side braces. The weight as shortened as was the under body. The parts were then reassembled and painted. Couplers and wheel sets finish the car.  It was then weathered and lettered.

original car

car taken apart

Car cut up bottom piping saved and other part not used

Car painted, weathered and lettered

Suckers Oyster Shack

Original building

Starting with Shuckers Oyster Shack by Full Steam Ahead, (Just one of two buildings in the kit) I added a lower section made of board and batten scale lumber sheets. A dock system and people were added to the scene along with some barrels and crates. The scene is in a back bay of Port Loleta

Added a lower section and dock to the bottom of the building