MAGAZINE 5 COMPACT TRACK PLANS - Model Railroader Video...

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HO AND N SCALE PLANS • LISTS OF MATERIALS A SUPPLEMENT TO MODEL RAILROADER MAGAZINE

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5 COMPACT TRACK PLANS

The Chippewa Central is a fictionalMinnesota short line connectingtwo small agricultural towns with

the outside world in the mid-1950s.Minnesota Junction is the interchangeconnection with the Great Northern.Then the Chippewa Central (CHC)heads northeast through Granite Fallsand up a long grade at Maynard toreach the end of the line at Clara City.

Meat packing provides most of theCHC’s traffic. The Andresen Farms stock-yard is the major shipper at Clara City,but there’s also a grain elevator and a fueldealer. Granite Falls is home to the Pio-neer Packing Co. and an icing plant.

BenchworkA single 4 x 8-foot sheet of 1⁄2" ply-

wood is the basis for many beginners’layouts, but in this case, a 2 x 4-footaddition provides space for a lot morecreativity. Wood screws will work wellto attach the plywood to the framing.Bolt the sections together so they canbe separated for moving or expansion.

The grade and upper levelBuilding the grade and upper level is

the only tricky part of this railroad.Carefully mark the track locations andthen saw the entire Clara City loop outof the tabletop. Use 1 x 4 spacer blocksto raise it above the main layout level.

Another cut makes it easy to start the grade just past the switches at May-nard siding. Gradually raise and sup-port the track until it reaches the heightof a 1 x 4 spacer block near the bridgeabutment. Try to make the track levelfor the last foot or so before the bridge.

Cut the remaining roadbed for theupper level from another piece of ply-wood and support it on wood blocks.

WiringInsulated joints and feeder connec-

tions are shown for operating the rail-road from a conventional DC powerpack. Two reverse loops are involved.Maynard siding should be wired so asecond train can be held there until it’sneeded to switch cars at the junction.

The Chippewa CentralAn HO scale railroad built with sectional trackBy Jim Hediger

CONTENTS

Chippewa Central . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Atlanta Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Pike City Belt Line . . . . . . . . . . . .8Northeastern Alberta Rys. . . . . .10Kootenay Lake Navigation Co. . .12

You can pack a lot of model railroad-ing fun into a small space, and in thisbooklet we’ll show you five ways to do it.The plans featured here have all appearedin MODEL RAILROADER Magazine.

Each one has a unique theme, and allcontain a key element of modern modelrailroad design – “fiddle” or “staging”yards. Simply put, these simulate con-nections with “the rest of the world”beyond our layouts. Track plans arejumping off points, so don’t feel youhave to conform to every line and illus-tration. We hope these plans inspire youto start building a layout. And remem-ber, this is a hobby, so have fun!

Scale: 1"=1'-0"

4 G R E A T E S T H O B B Y . C O M

SceneryMost of this layout’s scenery should

be gently rolling hills with some foliageand level town areas. The raised gradeshould be built on a fill with occasionalretaining walls near the bridges.

Minnesota doesn’t have a lot of tun-nels, so the portals under Clara Cityshould be camouflaged. Install a highwaybridge across the front of each portal andadd foliage on top of the tunnel behind itso the train seems to disappear into a cut.

StructuresA Central Valley truss bridge is used

for the long span. This bridge’s deck is 3⁄4"

thick so be careful to maintain a mini-mum clearance of 3" between the bot-tom of the bridge deck and the railheadsbelow it.

The remaining structures aren’t spec-ified as there are numerous possibilitiesthat will fit. Both towns should includesix or eight small businesses.

EquipmentShort lines generally operate with

locomotives acquired from a nearbylarger railroad. In this case, a singleEMD GP7 or a yard switcher from theGN or any of the other nearby railroadswould be perfect. Retain the original

color scheme and engine number, butpaint over the name and add CHC ini-tials on the cab with decals.

It’s your railroadLike most track plans, this one’s

intended to get your creative juicesflowing. While our layout follows a spe-cific theme, there’s no reason why itcouldn’t be turned into a mining rail-road, a logging and lumber system, oreven a tourist line. It all depends uponthe character you provide through theequipment and structures you put onthe railroad. Be creative and try newideas. After all, it’s your railroad! 1

Bill of materials

Atlas Model Railroad Co.Code 100 Snap-Track821 9" straight (34)822 6" straight (5)823 3" straight (4)825 11⁄2" straight (1)833 18"-radius curve (18)834 1⁄2 18"-radius curve (1)835 1⁄3 18"-radius curve (3)836 22"-radius curve (26)843 bumper (2)

Code 100 Snap-Switches860 left-hand manual (2)861 right-hand manual (1)

Code 100 Custom-Line switches283 no. 6 left-hand manual (2)284 no. 6 right-hand manual (3)

Midwest Products Co.3013 cork roadbed (25 3-foot pieces)

Rix Products101 vintage highway bridge (2)

Walthers3036 rural grain elevator (1)3048 packing plant (1)3047 stockyard (2)3049 icing plant (1)

Lumber4 x 8 sheet of 1⁄2" plywood (1)2 x 4 sheet of 1⁄2" plywood (2)8-foot pine 1 x 4s (10)6-foot pine 2 x 4s (4)8-foot pine 1 x 2s (6)

Hardware3⁄16" x 21⁄2" bolts (14)3⁄16" x 3" bolts (legs, 16)3⁄16" nuts (30)3⁄16" washers (30)11⁄8" drywall screws (100-count box)

ILLUSTRATIONS BY RICK JOHNSON

F I V E C O M P A C T T R A C K P L A N S 5

When most model railroaders startout they just want to watch trainsrun around an oval of track on a

4 x 8-foot sheet of plywood. Often this layout is rebuilt or

scrapped because watching trains goingaround a basic oval of track gets . . .well, boring! Model railroaders wantoperation to keep their interest up afterthe scenery, buildings, and details arein place.

Operation in a small areaThe HO scale Atlanta Central is

designed to start out as an oval for run-ning trains. But as your interests evolve,the layout has a lot to offer opera-tionally with its interlocking crossingand interchange yard.

Because of the tight curves on theAtlanta Central (18" minimum radius),we’ll set the era in the late 1940s whenfreight cars were shorter. Those smaller

cars will look and operate better on tightcurves. Small steam locomotives such as2-8-0 Consolidations and 2-8-2 Mikadosor early diesels such F3s or NW2s willwork best for the same reason.

The premise behind the Atlanta Cen-tral is that it’s a terminal railroadwholly owned by the Southern Ry.Since the Southern really owned severalsubsidiaries like this, the scheme isquite plausible.

Atlas Model Railroad Co.Code 83 nickel-silver track500 36" flex (4)520 9" straight (23)532 18" radius (3)535 22" radius (10)540 left-hand remote

Snap-Switch (6)541 right-hand remote

Snap-Switch (6)553 terminal joiners (14)577 90-degree crossing

Unmarked sections are 9"straights or 18"-radiuscurves

Scale: 3⁄4"=1'-0"

An HO layout designed for operationBy Keith Thompson

The Atlanta Central

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROBERT WEGNER


Freight cars are exchanged betweenthe Southern and the Atlanta & WestPoint through the interchange yardnear the crossing. Locomotives fromboth roads can be seen working in theyard, but the Atlanta Central is the onlyroad that delivers cars from the yard tothe local industries.

Construction techniquesBuilding the Atlanta Central is really

straightforward, with a 4 x 8-foot sheetof plywood resting on a frame of 1 x 4sthat is supported by sawhorses or book-cases. The detail drawing below showsthe basic benchwork.

The only tricky part of the bench-work is making the river. Cut out theplywood where the river goes, remove11⁄2" of the exposed 1 x 4s, and refastenthe removed chunk of plywood as the

river base. Make the river banks fromplaster-soaked gauze covered by a finishcoat of Sculptamold. High-gloss varnishor two-part resins such as Enviro-Texwill make convincing water.

TrackworkAll of the track is Atlas code 83 Snap-

Track and flextrack. I chose the code 83track (the rail is .083" high) because itlooks more prototypical than code 100(.100" high). Besides, lighter rail is moreappropriate for the 1940s.

The Atlas 90-degree crossing helpsincrease the prototypical operations ofthe layout. The crossing, located nearHowell Tower, is where the A&WPcrosses the Southern Ry. Both of theserailroads provide interchange traffic forthe Atlanta Central.

There are a few pieces of flextrack inthe plan. These are used because sec-tional track in these locations wouldrequire several pieces be cut to fit.Instead we’ll only make two cuts oneach piece of flextrack. If you feel com-fortable working with it, flextrack couldbe used for the entire layout, eliminat-ing a lot of the rail joints that some-times cause electrical problems later.

Room to growThe Atlanta Central can be expanded

by building extensions past the HowellTower crossing. These extensions can

be yards, staging tracks, or even more-elaborate trackage running along thewalls of the room to other destinations.

Let your imagination be your guide,and the Atlanta Central can be as greatas the city it’s named after. 1

Structures

1. Atlas 704 signal tower (Howell Tower)

2. Campbell 303 curved trestle3. Wm. K. Walthers 933-3095

Railway Express Agency4. Wm. K. Walthers 933-3029

Merchant’s Row II5. Design Preservation Models 119

M. T. Arms Hotel6. Design Preservation Models 202

Pam’s Pet Shop7. Design Preservation Models 204

Walker Building8. Design Preservation Models 108

Goodfellows Hall9. Atlas 750 lumberyard10. City Classics 103 Smallman

Street Warehouse11. Wm. K. Walthers 933-3080

Miranda’s Bananas12. Bachmann 45153 water tank13. Wm. K. Walthers 933-3044

Hardwood Furniture Co.


Here’s a compact model railroadthat provides a lot of interestingswitching opportunities in a met-

ropolitan setting. The Pike City BeltLine’s linear design packs in four dis-tinctly different switching locations anda small staging yard. A variety of scenicdividers separate the scenes and makethe railroad seem larger than its 50square feet.

This railroad is designed for a 10 x 12-foot room. One side fits againstthe long wall with the short leg extend-ing out into the room. A 24" aisle pro-vides access to the 25th Street Yard.

For portability, the railroad can bebuilt in three sections 18" wide and 72"long following David Barrow’s dominoconstruction methods which were pub-lished in the September and October

1996 issues of MODEL RAILROADER.However, the railroad will need to befairly tall so the double-sided structurescan effectively separate the 25th StreetYard from Oakton.

This plan is designed for easy con-struction using Atlas flextrack and Pecosmall-radius turnouts. These turnoutsare made with switch point togglesprings – ideal for manual operation.

Staging track 1

24" aisle

24" aisle

Thacker Ave. spur

Thacker Avenue

25th Street Yard Oakton

Alliance

Lee Street

Three-story building F

Pocket track

Abandonedcrossover

Pike City Eaglenewspaper

Best Choice Auto Partswarehouse

Fred FrigidFrozen Foods

Pike Furniture Co.four-story factory withsix doors on this side

Republic and WrightDistribution warehouse

Hardy Moving & Storage

Excel ElectronicsLeonard PaintWarehouse No. 3

Upstate BeveragesDistribution warehouse

AllianceAppliances

Fenced yardwith guardhouse

Retail stores

Telephone shantyInterlocking tower(abandoned)

Quality CleanIndustrial Uniforms

Industrial scene backdrop

Crestwood Arms Hotel

Retailstores

90 degrees

15 degrees

Used car lot

The Laurel Building(offices)

Abandoned

The Pike City Belt LineAn 8 x 12-foot HO switching layout on a shelfBy Richard A. Nelson


Scenic challengeThe major challenge in building this

layout is in modeling the industriesserved by the PCBL. The structureslocated against the walls and scenicdividers can be simply built as flats.However, the appliance plant and fur-niture factory, both large structures,need some three-dimensional areas tolook convincing.

Alliance Appliances should be largeand busy-looking with a variety of rooflines showing additions through theyears. It is more than 48" long to con-ceal the staging tracks along the wall.Where the track enters the building, asmall section of loading dock detail canbe used to mask the empty interior.

A two-sided building-and-scenedivider separates the 25th Street Yardfrom Oakton. The Pike Furniture fac-tory faces the Oakton side, while theopposite side of the structure represents the alley view of three other businesses,which aren’t serviced by the railroad.This large structure also provides athree-dimensional transition into thecity backdrop that divides the rest of the peninsula.

Enhancing realismThe quantity and sizes of the indus-

tries on the PCBL enhance its realismand believability. Three businesses –Pike Furniture, Alliance Appliances,and the Pike City Eagle newspaper – arelarge enough to require daily switching.The beverage distributor, paint ware-house, and frozen food plant will needless frequent switching, while the otherremaining small industries are workedonly about once a week.

Naming all of the different locationson the railroad also enhances its real-

ism. The “Oakton” name soundslike a suburb or city neighbor-

hood. In typical prototype fash-ion “Thacker Avenue”

refers to an area near acity street or someother similar land-mark. “Alliance”comes from the

name of the major cus-tomer at that location.

Using these names in referenceto train movements will add proto-

typical flavor to an operating session.Most switch jobs have an official job

number or name, but many prototyperailroaders create their own nicknamesfor these runs. Some typical names forthe PCBL’s switch job might be the 25thStreet Switcher, the Thacker AvenueJob, or the Oakton Turn. The “turn” ref-erence in the name means the switchjob goes out, works, and then returnsto its starting point.

A day on the PCBLLet’s follow a PCBL switch crew as

they go to work. Their engine, five cars,and a caboose are spotted on stagingtrack two, which represents the mainPCBL yard in another part of Pike City.This eliminates the need for an engine

terminal and allows you to use a varietyof switchers or Geeps.

The engine pulls its train past theabandoned interlocking tower and intothe 25th Street Yard. There, the cars aresorted and organized for delivery asboth facing and trailing point switchmoves are involved.

Next, the crew begins visiting thevarious industries to pick up the out-bound cars. A caboose is necessary toprovide a safe platform for the crew ascars are shoved across busy streets.

While the switcher is away from theyard, a transfer run pulls in from stag-ing track one. It arrives on the fronttrack so the engine can escape. After therunaround move is done, the transferjob shoves its cars into an empty trackand the engine is parked in the pockettrack while the crew heads for lunch.

When the PCBL switcher returns, itgathers the outbound cars for the trans-fer job. By then, the transfer crew hasreturned so they couple onto their train,make a brake test, and depart into stag-ing track one.

Next, the PCBL crew sets two carsand the caboose on the front trackwhile the switcher runs through theescape track to get behind them. It nowshoves the train, caboose first, acrossLee Street and into Alliance. Then itreverses direction and pulls the carsacross Lee Street again and around thecurve into Oakton. The caboose is lefton the Lee Street curve while the crewshoves the two cars across ThackerAvenue and spots them at Excel Elec-tronics and the Leonard Paint Co.

When it returns to the yard, theswitcher gathers its outbound cars. Anair test is made, and then the train clat-ters across the diamond and heads intostaging track two. Between operatingsessions, you’ll need to back the trainsout and rearrange their consists withextra cars that are stored nearby.

Optional additionsThere’s space to add a third staging

track within the appliance plant tointensify operations. However, expand-ing the number of industries may becounter-productive. You don’t wanttracks to fill every bit of real estate.Instead, I’d change a few industries toones with higher volumes of traffic thatneed more switching.

As it is, the PCBL will give you anidea of what switching is like in a met-ropolitan area. The layout will providemany hours of excitement and con-stantly changing switch moves that willchallenge both newcomers and veteranmodel railroaders. 1

The Pike CityBelt LineHO scale – Peco smallradius turnouts Scale: 3⁄4" = 1'-0"

1

ce

Two-story building

Four-story building

Staging track 2

ILLUSTRATION BY KELLIE JAEGER

ILLUSTRATION BY TERRI FIELD


Northeastern Alberta Rys.

This track plan will give you ideas onhow to improve an otherwise ordi-nary 4 x 8-foot HO layout. The

Northeastern Alberta Rys. (NEAR) is setin the farmlands east of Edmonton.Most of the NEAR’s traffic is agricul-tural goods, shipped out of the regionon the Canadian National’s Edmontonto Lloydminster, Alberta, line.

At Mann Lake, the layout’s opera-tional center, there is a short passingtrack and a good-sized frame depot. Onthe opposite side of the backdrop, asmall passenger shelter and storageshed mark Royalite, a village thatlargely owes its existence to the UnitedGrain Growers elevators. In addition, aspur leaves the main line at this point toconnect with a drop-leaf fiddle yard.

Track planThe plan is designed to use Atlas

no. 4 Custom-Line turnouts and 18"-radius curves on the main line.However, I decided to give the fiddleyard lead a 30"-radius curve. The tracks,roads, and backdrop run at angles tothe benchwork edges for visual effect.

Setting the scene The scenery should suggest gently

rolling farmland dotted with clumps ofwhite poplar and evergreens. The treesare used to disguise the backdrop open-ings the trains will pass through. Tomodel the tall prairie grass, I’d try themethod that Eric Bronsky described inthe book Scenery Tips & Techniques,published by Kalmbach (books can bepurchased by telephone at 800-533-6644 or by e-mail to [email protected]). For an illusion ofgreater depth on each side of the back-drop, the fur’s texture and coloringcould be evened out slightly toward therear of each scene.

DetailingOne advantage of a small layout is

that you can go all out on detail with alot less work than on a larger system.Mann Lake and Royalite should look asthough they’ve been around a while.Plant flowers in the ditches and tallweeds as appropriate, and load theroads and parking lots with as manyvehicles for your chosen era as you can

lay your hands on. Firsthand observa-tion and photos of the prototype areawill give you many great ideas.

OperationWithout a fiddle yard, operation on

the NEAR would be hampered by thelack of a runaround at Royalite and bythe lack of someplace for the train to goother than around the oval. The fiddleyard helps solve both problems.

The yard is a 6" x 36" shelf attacheddrop-leaf style to the end of the layout,with a length of track to connect thespur with Royalite junction. The spurrepresents the interchange with CN.

You’d begin a typical day’s operationon the NEAR by assembling a train inthe fiddle yard and running the trainthrough the junction onto the main.

After running a fixed number of lapsaround the oval, you’d stop the train atMann Lake, having reached the mod-eled “end of the line.” You’d switch thetwo industries here and run the enginearound by way of the short passingtrack. If there are more than just a fewcars in the train, it could take a couple

HO scale Canadian prairie railroading in a 4 x 8-foot track planBy Greg Panas

1 0 G R E A T E S T H O B B Y . C O M

of trips through the siding to get thelocomotive and caboose on oppositeends of the consist. If you’re sharp you’llremember to keep any cars bound forRoyalite blocked next to the engine for the trip back.

When ready to return you’d start thetrain out and run half the number oflaps around the oval that you used toreach Mann Lake; the train could thenarrive in Royalite. After you switch theelevators, you’d take the train out againfor a similar number of laps before tak-ing the junction turnout and ending therun back in the fiddle yard.

EquipmentThe NEAR’s equipment should be

representative of a prairie branch line.For the steam era, 40-foot boxcarswould be dominant on the freight ros-ter, with an assortment of tank, flat, andrefrigerator cars added for variety. A 2-6-0 Mogul or 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelerwould be typical of locomotives used onthe prairie branch lines.

For a modern-era NEAR you’d wanta small fleet of government-ownedcylindrical grain hoppers. An EMDswitcher or a Geep would do nicely tostretch the slack.

The NEAR’s sharp curves put it inthe freight-only category for most mod-elers, but for the steam era a shortcombine at the end of the train mightbe used to offer mail, express, and pas-senger service to the prairie villages.

Simple but funThe NEAR is simple and small, but

has the potential for success. No matterwhich era the layout is set in – fromsteam to diesel – you’ll have hours ofenjoyment rolling grain trains throughthe Canadian prairies. 1

Suggested building kits

Mann LakeLumber Co., Atlas no. 750Station, Wm. K. Walthers 933-3063

RoyaliteGas station, International Hobby Corp.

no. 4108Passenger shelter, Atlas no. 701

(use without tower supports)Storage shed, Con-Cor no. 9033Store, Design Preservation Models

116 Carr’s PartsStore, Design Preservation Models

102 Robert’s Dry GoodsGrain elevator, Campbell no. 384

with no. 449 storage bin


F I V E C O M P A C T T R A C K P L A N S 1 1

Oval track plans are popular for firstlayouts or tight spaces, but they’reoften outgrown as their builders

realize the implausibility of a closed-loop rail system. Railroads, even modelones, need interchange connections tosurvive. Here’s an oval plan for a branchline using a barge to connect with theoutside world.

An isolated historyTo reach isolated railroad branches

along glacial valleys, the CanadianPacific used to have several car ferry

operations on lakes in British Colum-bia. Instead of transferring loads fromfreight cars to ships, the railroad loadedthe cars onto ferries or barges.

The last of these operations, on Slo-can Lake, used a barge and a tugboat.The whole train was ferried up the laketo work a branch from Rosebery toNaksup and New Denver.

The Kootenay wayOur N scale layout is loosely based

on the CP barge operations on Koote-nay Lake. The barge was used between

Procter and Lardeau, B. C. At Lardeauthe train took to the rails again on thebranch north to Gerrard.

The main industry in this part ofCanada is lumber and wood products.There’s also a little agriculture to theeast so we’ll use some modeler’s licenseand add a grain elevator to give morevariety in freight cars.

Construction considerationsThe Kootenay Lake Navigation Co.

layout has a 2"-thick extruded foamboard base. A piece of 1"-thick foam is

The Kootenay Lake Navigation Co.An N scale layout with a watery interchangeBy Keith Thompson

Structures

1. Model Power1522 gantry crane

2. American Model Builders610 grain elevator

3. Design Preservation Models514 Erik’s Emporium

4. Wm. K. Walthers933-3224 Merchant’s Row II

5. Life-Like 7463 country store

6. Wm. K. Walthers 933-3201 Water St. Freight Terminal(lumber mill main office)

7. Design Preservation Models506 Gripp’s Luggage Mfg.(millwork warehouse)

8. Wm K. Walthers 933-3236Mountain Lumber Co. Sawmill(main mill building and slash burner – 9)

STEVE PATTERSON


used on top of the thicker piece to raisethe subroadbed above lake level. Thefoam makes the layout light and easyfor one person to move.

The 3 x 6-foot size was chosen so therailroad can go through just about anydoorway. Because foam board comes in 4 x 8-foot sheets, you’ll have some mate-rial left over after you trim it to its fin-ished size.

The leftover foam pieces can becarved and piled in layers to make theridge that serves as a view block downthe middle of the layout. Figure 1 showshow this is done. Use a Stanley Surformrasp to give the mountain and the edgesof the lakes their finished shape.

The finished layout can be set on adining room table for operation andstored under a high bed or in a closet.However, if the layout doesn’t need tobe moved around, you can make itmore permanent by attaching it to apair of shelving units.

Trackwork and wiringThe track plan combines Atlas N

scale sectional and flextrack. Start bylaying the sectional track throughLardeau and the two half circles, andthen cut the flextrack sections to fit. Allof the straight track sections are 5" longand unmarked curves are 11" radius.Unmarked turnouts are no. 6s.

You can use latex Liquid Nails toattach the cork roadbed to the foamboard and lay track on that, or you canuse self-adhesive roadbed, such asAMI’s Instant Roadbed.

Since the KNC would probably onlyneed one locomotive at a time, you canwire this railroad without any electricalblocks. However, you can run twotrains independently with cab controlor Digital Command Control (DCC).The plan shows insulated rail joinersand feeders for blocks with commonrail wiring for cab control.

For more information on commonrail wiring and using flextrack, take alook at the Kalmbach book Beginner’s


F I V E C O M P A C T T R A C K P L A N S 1 3

Guide to N Scale Model Railroading. It’savailable at your hobby dealer or directfrom Kalmbach by calling 800-533-6644or by e-mailing [email protected].

Locomotives and carsA GP7 or GP9 will fit right in on the

KNC. Freight cars for the lumber millshould be either double-door boxcars orbulkhead flatcars, depending on the erayou’re modeling. Log-hauling flatcarsare also needed to get the timber fromGerrard to the mill pond.

The grain elevator would use 40-footboxcars in any era up through the1970s. You can substitute Canadiancylindrical hoppers if you want tomodel modern operations.

StructuresBecause there are no kits for the

barge or the landing, you’ll have to

make them on your own. The barge canbe carved from a piece of 1 x 4 pine, asshown in fig. 2. Once it’s set in thewater, made from plaster or epoxy, the 3⁄4"-thick board will be just below thelayout’s average railhead elevation, typ-ical of real barge operations. Make thebarge’s landing apron from styrenestrip, rail, and wire, as shown in fig. 2.

The rest of the structures are com-mercial kits. Four are used to make thelumber mill complex big enough to jus-tify rail shipments. Paint all of the lum-ber buildings similar colors so they looklike they belong to the same owner.You’ll also need to dig out a roughly 1⁄2"-deep mill pond with a Surform rasp.Add a log dump by the tracks and aramp up to the mill.

OperationsA workday on the KNC begins with

the locomotive pulling its train off the

barge and into the yard. Next, the loco-motive grabs empty log cars waitingthere and heads for Gerrard. Here, thecrew exchanges the empties for loads,which will be dumped into the millpond at Lardeau.

With its logging duties done, thecrew swaps empty boxcars for loadedones at the lumber mill. The grain ele-vator also gets switched at this time, if itis necessary.

Finally, the outbound cars, caboose,and engine are switched onto the bargefor the trip back to the main line. Keep-ing this weight evenly divided betweenthe two tracks so as not to capsize thebarge makes for interesting work.

The Kootenay Lake Navigation Co’s.barge connection shows how easily youcan have an interchange on an other-wise closed-loop railroad. It’s also agreat excuse for moving a variety ofrolling stock on and off a small layout. 1


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