Skookumchuck Belt Line (N Scale, modular layout)

[delamaize]

Ok, so I've shown the few rolling stock I have painted, and talked about writing up the history, so here we go.

I'll cover the history, then go into what I've got for the layout for now.

History (Well History in my world):
in 1870 the NP came thought the area of Skookumchuck valley, scouting a route for their new main line to Tacoma Wa. They scouted 2 routes, One that became what was later known as the "Prairie Line," Running thought Tenino, Rainier, Yelm, Roy, Camp Lewis, Lakewood, then finally Tacoma. The other proposed route was very similar, with the route running up the Skookumchuck valley, bypassing Tenino, Connecting to Vail, south of Rainier, then following the Prairie line alignment. The thought to this route was a flatter, more water level route, until just east of Rainier. In addition (In my world) there was already a lot of Farming, Logging, mining, and lumber industry in the Skookumchuck valley.

Ultimately, the NP chose to take the more northerly route, though Tenino, Rainier, and the rest of the route. The people of the Valley were pretty upset about this, as the NP representatives had pretty much promised the line was coming. To add insult to injury, the citizens had already donated property, and started to do preparations for a station. The Prairie line was Completed in 1874. In 1875, the people of the valley decided that they were just as able to build a small railroad to fill their needs, as anyone else. property owners donated and sold the right of way rights to the new "Skookumchuck, Vail, and Rainier," Although the railroad would never operate under this name. The grading, and track laying was all done by the citizens of the valley, with help from former NP and GN MOW employees, laid off after several lines in the area were finished. By 1900, the final spike had been driven, and the Skookumchuck Belt Line commenced operations. The line took off from the NP at what is now 184th Ave near Tenino, and followed the same routing until it was able to meet up with what was Blumauer Lumber/Turvey Bros lumber ROW, then followed that line on the north edge of the valley until it got to the end of their ROW, near what is now Thompson creek Rd area. At that point, the line crosses the valley, to the south edge, and then utilizes a portion of the Mutual lumber company's ROW to continue east. Once at the end of Mutual's ROW, they blazed their own ROW to the Vail area, then the line continues Northeast, eventually meeting the prairie line at what is now Koeppen Road, between Rainier and Yelm.

I'm at work currently, When I'm back home, I will try to get a map sketched out, and posted. I'll also try to get an industry list typed up also.

As for the layout, It's a Module layout, kinda following oNe Trak, Kinda Following Modutrak. The basic module is 12" wide, with the "Main" being centered on the 6" line. I'm also adding 2nd line, 1.5" on center off the main, I'm doing this so I can have end loops. Currently I have 2 end loops One being a simple hill, which will have a farm, and forest on it, the other corner is going to be a field of some kind of crops, with an animated Center Pivot Irrigation System. I have a 1' x 4' strait module, that is my station module, and another 4' that has a 45 degree bend Integrated into it. The final module I have set up is a simple 45 degree corner. the  4' that has a 45 degree bend, and the 45 degree corner are recent additions, scavenged from my old around the room layout Plywood prairie that I tore down to give my girlfriend's eldest daughter her own room when they moved it. Now my trains, and this layout are in the garage. The whole thing is set up on modular shelving. I'm planning on building legs for the modules, because I'd like to be able to use these modules for a show that Mt. Rainier N scalers do in Illwaco, Wa every year, where we set up some oNe Trak, with out N Trak end loop layout. I'll have to Recruit our very own @x600 to help me with the legs when the time comes. Era wise, I'm kind of up in the air, I'm painting and lettering all kinds of stuff from various eras, But I think I'll ultimately land on 1930's to 1950's.

I'm having a lot of fun with this, I'll get some picture when I'm off duty Saturday. and I'll try to update this as I make progress, if there is an interest.

[delamaize]

Here are a few pictures of the modules, in the plywood Prairie stage
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[delamaize]

Not anything spectacular to report. got the ground color down on the one corner


and I got a mock up of the sprinkler done, and it's working well. It's attached the miniute hand of a basic AA Battery clock mechanism. Now to add details and scenery.

[delamaize]

Not my layout, but Mt Rainier N scalers N Trak layout, which we are set up at the washington state history museum christmas train show. Today, I got some run time on the mountain line, and snapped this shot of some of my custom painted stuff.

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[S Class]

and I got a mock up of the sprinkler done, and it's working well. It's attached the miniute hand of a basic AA Battery clock mechanism. Now to add details and scenery.

That is a sweet idea, will you go full 360 or only 180/270 radius for the movement?

[delamaize]

That is a sweet idea, will you go full 360 or only 180/270 radius for the movement?

It goes the full 360

[Mike C]

Not anything spectacular to report. got the ground color down on the one corner


and I got a mock up of the sprinkler done, and it's working well. It's attached the miniute hand of a basic AA Battery clock mechanism. Now to add details and scenery.

  If you would like to see the full workings including the motor and controls for the sprinkler check out Laura Farms on Facebook . You'll probably have to sort through Her vids but she has a few shots of them .

[delamaize]

Long time, no update right?
Finally got off my butt and did some scenery. Needs some variation in color to break up the "all green all the time" look, and I need to make some more trees, I used all the prefab/recycled trees that looked OK. Im pretty happy with the results so far.
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I need to scrape the gravel driveway back up, and use something different. The size of the gravel would be scale like 8 to 10 inch rocks, so, yeah....

I also bought some streetlights from "wehonest" on ebay, the same seller I have been getting battery powered coach lighting kits from. They run on 3 volts, like the coach lights, so I built a battery powered power distribution block, for all the resistors and such. I gotta wire up 3 more poles still, but it looks so good so far. I'm thinking Im going to figure out a magnet/reed switch  on/off circuit, like the coach lights have, and hide the reed switch in the station somewhere.
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Im on a roll with scenery now, Maybe Ill get the station module done sooner than later now.

[delamaize]

Got some more scenery started Yesterday and today, Even with the Adulting Gods trying their best to keep me from it.

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Still a ways to go, Needs Trees, Bushes, Touchup and some other things, But I'm happy with the progress overall.

[delamaize]

Just another cool night shot I took the other day. TV i have above the layout was on this time, and kinda added a moonlight-esq lighting to it. Im having fun with this lighting stuff.

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[N Scale Train Boy]

That lighting really is gorgeous!