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Starts06-24-2024Ends06-24-2024Robert J. Thomas
San Antonio, TX -
The initial revision of a system map is shown below. In addition to the original Wichita Northwestern system map, the system incorporates the Frisco's Burrton and Wichita Subdivisions, and portions of the ATSF H&S Subdivision.
-Bob T.Robert J. Thomas
San Antonio, TX -
I have worked up a few concepts for this project. One (most likely at this time) is to build a an outbuilding or addition with room for this layout. The concept is a fictional version of Ellsworth, KS (not a prototypical track arrangement) with interchange to the UP.
This is a 12 X 14 - ft version, but we're hoping 14 X 16 ft is going to be possible.
-Bob T.Last edited by KansasBob; 06-26-2024, 07:43 AM.Robert J. Thomas
San Antonio, TXComment
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For those interested in the historical Wichita Northwestern RR, I refer you to the book by Lee Berglund.
Robert J. Thomas
San Antonio, TXComment
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So it was an actual Railroad then?
Interesting...
So I have to ask Bob, what is it about the WNW that tripped your trigger enough that you want to model it?The Little Rock Line Blog
Rule #1 of model railroading.
It's probably responsible for the greatest number of shoddy layouts because no one feels compelled to improve themselves. Meh, good enough...Comment
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So the "Wichita Northwestern" was an actual railroad. According to Lee's book (with foreword by Lloyd E. Stagner), it operated from about 1912-1940. Originally incorporated as the "Anthony & Northern" with the name change to the "Wichita Northwestern" in 1919. The last revenue run was in Aug 1940, with the line scrapped in 1941. Envisioned to run from Wichita to Pratt and then northward through Larned to Hays, it never was completed end-to-end. (reference system map above). Tough times in the dust bowl era, but had it made it through the times of WW II, maybe would have had a different story.
We imagine an alternate reality in which the planned railroad was completed from Hays to Wichita (historically only completed from Vaughn, KS to Pratt, KS with a branch to Kinsley, KS). It survives, being re-incorporated with the change of name to "Wichita & Northwestern" as WWII begins. As the years pass and the Frisco lines are abandoned with the BN merger, we see the W&NW revive the Burrton Sub (Wichita to Ellsworth) and the Wichita Sub (Wichita to Fredonia), providing several additional interchanges and another connection to the UP. We include a short section of ATSF line to provide connection through Hutchinson KS and Kingman KS (and giving us a town "Pretty Prairie" on the system....who doesn't want that?).
How did I find this railroad and choose it as a subject? Well, I am from Kansas, I model SE Kansas on the Frisco (1905-1930-ish), and always looking for cars from the region to include. In particular long-lost names. K4 Decals made a WNW set for a Mather boxcar (turns out one of the last buys by the WNW). There is a great Proto (2000?) model of these cars (with the K4 decals):
A little research on the WNW, and you find Lee's book ... then you are hooked. This gives me an outlet for modeling some more "modern" equipment and to scratch an itch to do some freelance modeling. I could always turn the clock back to the late 1970s and model as the Frisco! Who knows.
And hey, who would not love this herald? -- complete with Wheat Belt Route slogan, customized to "Shocker Yellow" of Wichita State.
Hope this answers the questions, at least in part....
-Bob T. Last edited by KansasBob; 07-19-2024, 09:32 AM.Robert J. Thomas
San Antonio, TXComment
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Yup, that makes sense Bob.Originally posted by KansasBob View Post
Thanks.The Little Rock Line Blog
Rule #1 of model railroading.
It's probably responsible for the greatest number of shoddy layouts because no one feels compelled to improve themselves. Meh, good enough...Comment
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Here is the ORER image of the Wichita Northwestern route. I am not sure from which year.
Robert J. Thomas
San Antonio, TXComment
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You can also explore the route on Abandoned Rails website:
https://www.abandonedrails.com/wichi...rn-railroadRobert J. Thomas
San Antonio, TXComment
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Coming to terms with the fact that I won't get to an addition or outbuilding soon. Here is an alternate plan for the Wichita & Northwestern "Ellsworth" (not prototypical) concept that meets my constraints for storage of a sectional layout, the FastTracks fixtures I have, and an area of 1/2 of a two-car garage. I'll be retiring the old "Crawford & Cherokee" until I can build it in reduced footprint form. I'll re-use several pieces of the 18-inch wide benchwork.
Comments are welcomed.
-Bob T.Robert J. Thomas
San Antonio, TXComment
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"I'll be retiring the old "Crawford & Cherokee" until I can build it in reduced footprint form. I'll re-use several pieces of the 18-inch wide benchwork."
NOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOT THE CRAWFORD AND CHEROKEE! Too lovely to retire. :-)
Trust in the sage advice of Thomas the Tank Engine. "Coughs and sneezles spread diseasels". :-)
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Update: Concrete foundation is being poured this week for the new outbuilding. A ways off, but some progress on the new build. The final building design is about 14x14ft, and I'll be updating this plan...watch this space.
UPDATE: 14x14 ft version.
I reversed (removed the switchback) for the loco service area--several different people gave me that feedback. Karl Brand sent me the engineering drawing for the trestle over the Smoky Hill river. I gave it a little more space to make it more realistic, but still compressed to 60% of actual length if I scaled right.
I'll continue try to shave down the shelf width where possible. That will help with reach-in distance and give me a bit more floor space. I'll also post the lower level plan for the move of the Crawford and Cherokee for reference here and in its thread.
Take Care All,
-Bob T.Last edited by KansasBob; 07-19-2024, 10:45 AM.Robert J. Thomas
San Antonio, TXComment
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Hi Bob:
Curious on what a "day on the railroad" looks like. Looks like the crew goes on duty at the W&NW / Frisco yard. Picks up interchange from the UPRR, drops of any interchange from the W&NW / Frisco on the UPRR interchange track, assembles train, does air test, buggers off to other side of room. Once there, what are your intentions for working what I assume is Ellsworth. Do you work trailing point switches, and off-spots, leave any Ellsworth facing point work for the return trip, and then proceed to Wichita? In this scenario, you would "fiddle the train" with return traffic, and do the return trip, working the former facing point industries (which are now trailing point), and spot any facing point moves for the next day.
Or, do you intend on working Ellsworth in it's entirety, running around as needed, finish all work, go to Wichita, "fiddle" the train, and then work the whole town on the return? -
Jerry, thanks for the interest. The location was at the far end of the Frisco, at the end of the Burrton Sub. There the Frisco tracks ended with several industries and an interchange with the UP. I have couple of schemes in mind, some based on reality:
A Frisco Historical Based Theme.
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-- A train comes in from Wichita once a day, brings in cars for the local industries and interchange. It exchanges cars on the interchange track and returns to Wichita. The job includes blocking cars for outbound on UP and for local industry, as well as organizing what is headed to Wichita. Optionally, cars can be picked up and dropped on the center track by the elevator, serving as an industry/off-spot track.
-- A switcher is located on the service track (or road power remaining, exchanged from the local on the return trip). The local switcher/left behind power builds a train from the interchange (the other two tracks in the yard are a run-around) and services the industries. Maybe enough for two jobs here in a cycle. Both trailing point and facing point are serviced, using the lower run around near the lumber yard.
A UP or Independent Industry Park
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The line to Wichita is assumed to be cut off from the world, and the UP has a local switcher to distribute cars from the interchange to the town's industries. This allows us to run UP power, or make another freelance loco for the industrial park.
Now I don’t have much info or experience to say prototypical, but trying to maximize the fun….
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Which version are you going to go with Bob?The Little Rock Line Blog
Rule #1 of model railroading.
It's probably responsible for the greatest number of shoddy layouts because no one feels compelled to improve themselves. Meh, good enough...Comment
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