The Great Northern Railway Cascade Division

Transcription

1 Railfanning the Layouts of NCR Division 3 The Great Northern Railway Cascade Division The Cascade Division is an HO scale mainline layout located in a 34 x 52 foot basement room. The layout is built around the walls and with freestanding peninsulas on 3 decks with walk-in access and some raised flooring. The primarily single-track main line serves the Great Northern Railway and some associated lines (CMStP&P, NP, and UP) in Washington State. It runs from Spokane on the East end to Tacoma on the West end. The operation includes steam helper service upgrade from Gold Bar to Skykomish and engine changes to and from electric motors for the Cascade tunnel run, at Skykomish and at Wenatchee. Posted daily temperatures at major towns determine whether refrigerator cars are iced, or heated, or neither, to keep all the produce and apple harvest safe and fresh. The operation scheme is a loosely-followed Timetable and Train Order system with a dispatcher to expedite movements. Telephones are used to communicate with the dispatcher. Welcome to this photo tour of the Cascade Division. For further information, check out the layout website Many journeys begin at the Seattle Interbay roundhouse to get an engine. The Arrival /Departure yard has a lot of room to build trains outbound in either direction. There s a separate Class Yard, and Coach Yard, too. last updated: January 1,

2 Rolling through Everett, Washington, we pass by the hotel and some businesses. The local gas station looks busy this morning, fueling up the bread delivery trucks. Arriving at Snohomish, we find lots of work needing to be done. Oh, our weary crew!!! We ll be ALL DAY at this!! last updated: January 1,

3 The Monroe Transfer and Fuel Company always has a boxcar or two and some coal hoppers to switch around. It s only one of the several industries there. At Gold Bar, we find another yard, and also the sister company Gold Bar Transfer and Fuel. More work!!! The long grade up the Cascades also starts in Gold Bar, so you ll get a steam helper pushing you up the long 2% climb to Skykomish. Of course, no railroad of the era was complete without the hobo. The Great Northern was a rare exception to the usual vicious attitude of the railroad towards them. James J. Hill was once quoted as saying, about the hobo, Hell, bums BUILT this railroad, bums can RIDE IT. Here s a camp outside Gold Bar. Looks like the boys have made good with the corn and sugar accidentally dropped off the caboose yesterday. last updated: January 1,

4 Spathic Brothers Quarry in Skykomish is one of the major industries there. The engine house at Sky is a focal point for crews coming and going between steam or diesel and electric power. Let s take a glimpse inside... last updated: January 1,

5 It sure looks like nobody s home but the dog...who smells SOMETHING in the icebox... Maybe it s lunchtime!! The Cascadian Cold Storage Company hosts many apple shippers, but the biggest by far is Cascadian Fruit Shippers, in Wenatchee. Looks like it s time to re-blacktop the team track area adjacent to it. last updated: January 1,

6 Another industry in Wenatchee is Barnstead Lumber also in the Wenatchee Industrial Park. Wenatchee is also the home of the big GN electric motors used through Cascade Tunnel. No diesels allowed...it s 8 miles long!! Cascade enginemen had to qualify on steam, electric, and diesel a rare set of qualifications and they simply ran what power they were given. One crew stayed with the train through the various power changes. We need a lot of power on the GN because of grades and weather. As this picture shows... SOMETIMES, it snows!! This signal maintainer at Sky no longer needs to climb much, but he s still got his work cut out for him!! Ship and Travel on the GREAT Northern Railway!!! last updated: January 1,