Well I had a thread started in the Layout Design section but figured since I am making the switch to N-Scale for sure I would start a new one here to document the entire process. First off, at this time I have very limited space to work with, which is why I have designed the layout to be built in stages. I will probably start with the Potlatch facility first as it will offer the most operation as a stand alone unit. As for the Railroad I am modeling it is located in Nothern Idaho and was a joint venture between the Northern Pacific (later Burlington Northern) and Union Pacific. It was heavily dependent on grain and timber. It features some spectacular scenery as well as amazing bridges and trestles. I am starting from ground zero with N-Scale so I will post updates regularly with new rolling stock and layout updates. Here is the track plan I have for now. It is 20'x30' which I hope to be the minimum once we get moved and settled. I obviously don't know if it will be perfectly rectangular or the exact size so I designed it to be flexible. I have thought about doing a multi-level plan but aren't sure if I want to worry about working on such a tall platform. Let me know what you guys think.
So what will your era be set as? Early enough either a Motor car (doodlebug) or even (towards the end) a NP Budd RDC could provide passenger service. Myself, if I was to model it I would settle for the joint NP/UP operations (which was reasonably covered in books, magazines and even on the web). Mixing of power and cars was an unusual one but it was what made the operation interesting. NP and UP early GPs... now that's something worth reliving!!!
I love multiple level layouts (have one myself), but with that much available space, a single level would probably give you all the operations and mainline length you want. If you want to roughly double the mainline length, then add another level. Jamie
I think it looks awesome!:tb-biggrin: I rember reading some old "Railroad & Railfan" magazines (late'70's....Well its old for me as I am an '82 model!) about the Camas Prarie Operations and it looked really cool to me. BN & UP GP-9's lugging lumber on a single track line...cool stuff, especially for multiple operators at an operating session. Makes me almost want to model out west too.........Almost. Chuck:thumbs_up:
I like that track plan. Its simple and realistic in design, in my opinion. No spaghetti bowl. I can't wait to see the paper mill and sawmill. When i finally start a layout I want to model the lumber industry. I haven't decided if I want a paper mill or a lumber mill. I doubt I have room or the money for both. Look forward to seeing your progress.
Question? How many miles of track did the Camas Prairie have? I started out wanting to model the UP Ogden sub, it about 110 miles from Ogden to McCammon and back in the day it had three branches, the Malad, Cache & Little mountain. The trains on the Ogden sub are mostly run through, so all the action is on the branches. Maybe I should start my own thread?
Thanks for the nice words guys. I am modeling the mid 70's to mid 80's. It will enable me to run both GP9's and GP38-2's in BN and UP colors. The Camas Prairie had 4 subdivisions. The First and Second were about 70 miles each. Im not sure how long the Third and Fourth were, slightly shorter I believe.
Well I got my first shipment of items this week. So far I got just a few pieces of Atlas Code 55 track, a Micro Engineering Viaduct which will become the Lawyers Canyon Viaduct, and a 2pc Walthers 45' Burlington Northern Logging Car set.
Thanks, sent a reply. I am always looking for BN, GN, NP, and UP items from the late 70's early 80's and dealing with the lumber and grain industry if anyone has stuff they want to get rid of. Especially Centerbeams, Walthers Log Cars, and Woodchip Cars.
I was looking through some old photos of some of my trainsa nd came across this one: It is named Camas Prairie because it kinda looks like it could be there. I sold the BN GP30 a few years ago, still got the UP GP30.
Well its been awhile since my last update but there has been a bit of progress. I have built a 2'x8' module to begin working on. I am going to start with the Lewiston Potlatch Lumber mill. Here is the final plan I came up with. The spur going to the top is to the Paper Mill, the three tracks to the right are toward the subs and the log unloading, the tracks to the left are the start of the yard and engine facilities. The building will change alittle on there location but it is a rough estimate since I am kitbashing most of them. I will get some pictures of my benchwork and some track laid out here in the next couple days.
Nlevo, Good to see your progress with your Camas Prairie layout. Have you seen the dvd entitled "Camas Prairie 2nd Sudivision Cab Ride" by Marcam Productions? It is just a simple run down the hill, but the best video footage I have ever seen. Have a look at http://www.MarcamProductions.com. Gary
Yeah, thats still on my wish list, as well as one by CabRick http://www.railvids.com/ I just bought the Soyk video you can find on eBay which covers all the subdivisions and it is really amazing. You should check it out. http://cgi.ebay.com/CAMAS-PRAIRIE-R...0|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50
Very interesting little railroad you have decided to model. When I was researching the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railroad, the Camas Prairie Railroad came up as the last of the great war between Edward Harriman and James Hill who were fighting to see who get more rails into the Pacific Northwest. I hope you like to build bridges because the CPR was also known as the railroad on stilts.
Finally some progress! I received my last bit of track I was waiting for today. I already had the benchwork complete, it isn't fastened in place yet, just sitting on some Gorilla Racks for now. I just layed the track out in a rough estimate of how its going to look, just to make sure I liked it and it would work ok. This shows a over-all view of it. This is a shot back towards where the eventual Lewiston yard will be and the roundhouse/turntable. I just laid the last couple pieces off the far end of the plywood so you could see where the yard would start. The tracks running toward the front are to the loading sheds and toward the future paper mill. This is a shot toward the sawmill and log unloading tracks. I just set a couple building bases in the locations of the sawmill and loading sheds.
You might want to look at this image when you need a little inspiration (though I suspect that you already know about it)... http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=277599
Lol....inspiration I need little of, time and money are another story! I sure do miss seeing trains running on that line. Everytime we go to visit my parents it makes me want to cry to know there will never be another train going over all those beautiful trestles.
Nice choice. I had not heard of the line till your post, then low and behold, today on Tracks Ahead, a story on it as it is today, the BGCM. Lot's of bridges and trestles to build.
