CN Yellowhead Division

[packers#1]

That version looks a lot better and the flow should be much improved for a single deck. I do have two questions that spring to mind:

1) Any chance to include those mills from the previous versions, or are they on the section of trackage that was cut out?

2) does Jasper function more as visible staging, or is there any plan to have a staging yard? Would one even be needed with the ops scheme you plan to run?

[Scottl]

Jasper is basically visible storage.  I was never very happy about my hidden staging on my last layout.  I've gravitated to visible storage on this layout, along with as little hidden track as possible.

The mills were cut out and it is pretty hard to fit them in to this section of prototype- it is all a national park.  That was a tough bit to drop out.

[Scottl]

@GaryHinshaw's intervention was timely.  Thankfully the benchwork I had pre-built works with the revised plan as I am now committed to the new design 

[GaryHinshaw]

Awesome!!  It's one of the most exciting phases of a layout build.  Keep it up!

Today I had a chance to check out the photos you posted and correlate them to Google Map locations.  I like the plan you've come up with, and it's a cool stretch of railroad!  My only comments are minor:

* The Snaring River and Windy Point scenes are pretty close together.   I think it might be hard to pull off a river crossing and a causeway in ~6 ft of real estate.   If I were to choose one to keep, it would be Windy Point, since you have the other cool bridge scene at Snake Indian River.

* I would avoid putting the tunnel across a gate boundary (if I read the sketch correctly).  It will be hard to verify that the tracks are lined properly.

Other than that, I think you'll have a great time bringing these scenes to life.  And we'll have a great time watching.   
-gfh

[Scottl]

I'm hoping that I can pull off the Windy Point-Snaring R combo, in part because I love both scenes (and I bought the bridges already  ).  I'll see when I lay down the benchwork.

I've already pulled the track in the Jasper Yard about 8" further from the wall to make room for some of the townsite (station, main street, CN buildings) and replaced Geikie with the road overpass going out of Jasper.  I don't want to cram too much into too little space.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm not sure what you mean in terms of too much.  The amount for the space (too much layout for the room) or the number of tracks in the various yards, or something else?   It is basically a nolix of a busy mainline where nothing passes through the same scene twice.  Appreciate your thoughts.

Wow, sorry I never replied!

My point was mostly about the area over on the left in Hinton. I guess I'm too unfamiliar with the area, but it feels a good bit more "PRR in Philly" than CN in the Rockies.

[Scottl]

Wow, sorry I never replied!

My point was mostly about the area over on the left in Hinton. I guess I'm too unfamiliar with the area, but it feels a good bit more "PRR in Philly" than CN in the Rockies.

That makes sense.  BTW, I agree completely.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That makes sense.  BTW, I agree completely.

Whew. I was afraid I was going to throw a wet blanket on the most exciting phase of a project for a second.

[lock4244]

Wow, sorry I never replied!

My point was mostly about the area over on the left in Hinton. I guess I'm too unfamiliar with the area, but it feels a good bit more "PRR in Philly" than CN in the Rockies.

So if I'm reading you correctly, replace friends and allies with with track and we have you're philosophy on the correct amount of trackage on a layout?

[N_DaveS]

If I am looking at Jasper Yard correctly I don't see any way of getting from the tracks on one side of the main to those on the other without going to the very end of the yard leads. You mentioned this is visible staging so perhaps it is not necessary, but a crossover (or 2) before the ladder tracks on either end would add flexibility. Just my .$02 and looking forward to seeing this come together!

[Scottl]

@N_DaveS Yes, you are correct.  I was going to add a few crossovers after I run it a while and get a feel for what would be useful.  There are not many in the prototype Jasper Yard.

[lock4244]

@N_DaveS Yes, you are correct.  I was going to add a few crossovers after I run it a while and get a feel for what would be useful.  There are not many in the prototype Jasper Yard.

Looks like a single cross over at the west end from south to north track heading west, and a double crossover at the east end. Plus a single cross over east of the station from south to north track as you head west (is/was for passenger moves?). I'd assume their main use is for flexibility in yarding trains. At roughly 1.2 miles in length for the average track, there's not a lot of space in the yard for CN's land barges.

If I'm not mistaken, Jasper is largely a staging yard for trains waiting for rested crews, so beyond the odd local car or bad order set outs, not a lot of switching going on there anymore. In days past (I think) the yard would originate / terminate trains for the Prince Rupert line, but unless there's a local based in Jasper, nothing originates there. I was there is 2018 for two days, didn't see much going on beside crew changes... kinda perfect for exposed staging.

[Scottl]

AFAIK there is a Jasper local that serves the Hinton mills (a dozen or so cars) and a VIA train originates there (The Skeena) which might tickle my fancy at some stage.  Bad cars and other minor moves like the local should offer some activity, but I'm not quite sure yet how to accommodate them.   Three of the 11 yard tracks are shorter and suited for storing cuts of cars and the like.  I can add some cross overs after I get a feel for it as I don't have a lot of operating experience.

[lock4244]

AFAIK there is a Jasper local that serves the Hinton mills (a dozen or so cars) and a VIA train originates there (The Skeena) which might tickle my fancy at some stage.  Bad cars and other minor moves like the local should offer some activity, but I'm not quite sure yet how to accommodate them.   Three of the 11 yard tracks are shorter and suited for storing cuts of cars and the like.  I can add some cross overs after I get a feel for it as I don't have a lot of operating experience.

If that's where the crews are then makes sense the local originates there. If you want a better idea of operations in Jasper in terms of local(s) originating there or anything in general really, I could ask Tim Stevens for you. I've known him since he was a teen living in Bowmanville. He's been living in Jasper for years, works for CN as a maintainer, is a fountain of good info.

[Scottl]

For those of you who have not visited Jasper, I found this fantastic cab ride from Jasper east to the Snake Indian River.  It is basically the stretch of line I am modelling with Park Gate missing.

Starts at the rock cuts at English (0:10)
Henry House and the Snaring River bridges (6:00)
Windy Point (6:30)
Devona siding (9:46)
Snake Indian River bridges (12:20)

Great stuff on a beautiful day.