Author Topic: Soo Line Eastern Division  (Read 3598 times)

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kc9jts

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Soo Line Eastern Division
« on: September 09, 2012, 07:37:56 PM »
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After moving into a new house and then having an unpacking frenzy I am finally able to work on my layout.  Our new house contains a spare bedroom that will be utilized for a layout room.  Layout will be the Soo Line's 1st sub of the Eastern Division (Chicago-Fond du Lac) centering around my hometown of Burlington, WI.  Era will be early-mid 70s.  The bed needs to stay put, so the layout will be around the walls.  I have posted a track plan here under the files section: https://sites.google.com/site/soolineeastdiv/home/files   Images of the layout room can be found below, including the survey crew assisting with the planning process.



I am hoping to get the benchwork done this fall so track laying can commence in the winter.

Enjoy.

Nick
Omaha, NE

GimpLizard

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Re: Soo Line Eastern Division
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2012, 07:29:32 PM »
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Interesting, Nick. I currently work in Burlington WI. On the south side of town. the factory is on McHenry St., right next to the old Soo Line spur to the glass factory. I look forward to seeing your progress.

w neal

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Re: Soo Line Eastern Division
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2012, 06:37:34 AM »
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Burlington always struck me as a RR town that yells "model me!". Looking forward to seeing your progress.
Buffering...

mcjaco

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Re: Soo Line Eastern Division
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2012, 09:48:27 AM »
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As a Soo fan, this will be fun to watch.  What era?
~ Matt

kc9jts

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Re: Soo Line Eastern Division
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2012, 10:11:27 AM »
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Interesting, Nick. I currently work in Burlington WI. On the south side of town. the factory is on McHenry St., right next to the old Soo Line spur to the glass factory. I look forward to seeing your progress.
  St Gobain?  Lavelle?  Air Liquide?  That spur on the south side is actually the former Milwaukee Road "Southwestern" line between Racine WI and Savanna IL.  I plan on representing the Milwaukee with the interlocking and interchange track in the corner on the layout.  I have a Milw SD7 for that purpose.  When driving on McHenry St the Milw depot used to be located north of the tracks on the west side of the street where a storage place is now located.  On a historical note the Soo took delivery of many new locomotives and cars from the Milwaukee in Burlington (something about a delivery tax if they posession in Illinois).

As a Soo fan, this will be fun to watch.  What era?
Early-mid 70s.  I will still have a few Alco RS1s/RS3s for switchers (even though they were in yard duty by that time and spent much of their life in North Dakota).  Likewise the newest power will be the Parallelogram SD40-2s.  I will also have a good mix of GP7s/GP9s/GP30s/GP35s/GP40s/SD40s/U30Cs and of course the lone SD9.  I also have a RS11 that I may paint in Soo colors (even though they never owned any).

Burlington always struck me as a RR town that yells "model me!". Looking forward to seeing your progress.
Thanks!

Nick
Omaha (formerly Burlington WI)

wcfn100

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Re: Soo Line Eastern Division
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2012, 10:31:04 AM »
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Early-mid 70s.  I will still have a few Alco RS1s/RS3s for switchers

Ah, very interesting.  So the SOO retrucked (more than) one of their RSC-3s.  That's going to be a very interesting loco to make.

I always liked the SOO until it took over the MN&S.  But I guess if someone had to do it, the SOO is as good as anybody.

Jason
« Last Edit: September 11, 2012, 10:45:52 AM by wcfn100 »

GimpLizard

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Re: Soo Line Eastern Division
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2012, 06:23:20 PM »
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  St Gobain?  Lavelle?  Air Liquide?  That spur on the south side is actually the former Milwaukee Road "Southwestern" line between Racine WI and Savanna IL.  I plan on representing the Milwaukee with the interlocking and interchange track in the corner on the layout.  I have a Milw SD7 for that purpose.  When driving on McHenry St the Milw depot used to be located north of the tracks on the west side of the street where a storage place is now located.  On a historical note the Soo took delivery of many new locomotives and cars from the Milwaukee in Burlington (something about a delivery tax if they posession in Illinois).

Nick
Omaha (formerly Burlington WI)

Lavelle. Been here (according to my boss) 29 years, last month. (I could have sworn it was 30, but they ya go.) I have fond memories of WC GP-30's, rolling past the plant, on their way to service Foster-Forbes. (As it was known then.) And shoving Nestle's cars into the siding outside our plant.

kc9jts

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Re: Soo Line Eastern Division
« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2012, 05:59:38 PM »
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Ah, very interesting.  So the SOO retrucked (more than) one of their RSC-3s.  That's going to be a very interesting loco to make.

I always liked the SOO until it took over the MN&S.  But I guess if someone had to do it, the SOO is as good as anybody.

Jason
The RSC-3s are actually available from Atlas under their RS-3 line.  I know it's not a perfect match but I figure it's pretty close: http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/NLocomotives/nrs3/1008/42094_TQ.jpg  Protoype: http://sooline.dieselrosters.com/photo.aspx?lineageId=77&photoId=54 

Lavelle. Been here (according to my boss) 29 years, last month. (I could have sworn it was 30, but they ya go.) I have fond memories of WC GP-30's, rolling past the plant, on their way to service Foster-Forbes. (As it was known then.) And shoving Nestle's cars into the siding outside our plant.
  I always thought they stored Foster Forbes cars there; but I could be wrong.  I also remember the WC GP30s and other power on the local disrupting class when I was in high school (some of them were that loud).

Nick
Omaha

GimpLizard

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Re: Soo Line Eastern Division
« Reply #8 on: September 12, 2012, 06:11:06 PM »
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Best I can tell, they've always "stored" Foster-Forbes cars on the FF spur. Even before they double tracked the tail end. That way the cars were available & ready for the cable to pull them through the unloading shed.

I remember, more than once, the cable operator not paying attention and running the string right off the end of the spur. Pushed the track bumper right over the edge, and down the slope, of the berm. Putting at least the first truck on the gorund. (Occasionally both trucks.)  :facepalm:

What I never understood is how that could happen. Because the bunper was still attached to a short section of rail. that's right. The bumper, rail, ties & all, would be pushed right over the edge and down the embankment. Almost like it had slipped out of the rail joiners. But I would have thought it was all bolted together.

Maybe it happend once too often, and the maint crew decided less damage was done if they just let the track come apart. I don't know.  :D

wcfn100

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Re: Soo Line Eastern Division
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2012, 09:38:24 PM »
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The RSC-3s are actually available from Atlas under their RS-3 line.  I know it's not a perfect match but I figure it's pretty close:

I guess I wasn't really meaning that you should change the cab windows, doors or any other spotting differences between the Altas RS-3 and a SOO RSC-3, just that what I assume to be a winterization hatch and ducting back to the cab would be really cool to see modeled.


Jason

kc9jts

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Re: Soo Line Eastern Division
« Reply #10 on: September 13, 2012, 09:23:20 AM »
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I guess I wasn't really meaning that you should change the cab windows, doors or any other spotting differences between the Altas RS-3 and a SOO RSC-3, just that what I assume to be a winterization hatch and ducting back to the cab would be really cool to see modeled.


Jason
I agree with you wholeheartedly that those details would be nice, just need the time  :)

Best I can tell, they've always "stored" Foster-Forbes cars on the FF spur. Even before they double tracked the tail end. That way the cars were available & ready for the cable to pull them through the unloading shed.

I remember, more than once, the cable operator not paying attention and running the string right off the end of the spur. Pushed the track bumper right over the edge, and down the slope, of the berm. Putting at least the first truck on the gorund. (Occasionally both trucks.)  :facepalm:

What I never understood is how that could happen. Because the bunper was still attached to a short section of rail. that's right. The bumper, rail, ties & all, would be pushed right over the edge and down the embankment. Almost like it had slipped out of the rail joiners. But I would have thought it was all bolted together.

Maybe it happend once too often, and the maint crew decided less damage was done if they just let the track come apart. I don't know.  :D
Oh, ok, I was thinking of the spur right next to Lavelle proper and not the track through the FF plant.  I do remember seeing some on the ground also as you described.

Nick
Omaha

kc9jts

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Re: Soo Line Eastern Division
« Reply #11 on: September 13, 2012, 08:58:29 PM »
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I have a few photos of my previous layout on my flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kc9jts/sets/72157600621931922/with/6676597975/   I hope to accomplish something similar to this old layout on my new one.  The old layout is now in a corner of the garage and I never did get the scenery finished.  Enjoy!

Nick
Omaha

kc9jts

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Re: Soo Line Eastern Division
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2013, 04:29:26 PM »
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It's been a while since I posted an update.  I have most of my track laid and am working on switches and wiring.  Unfortunately my regular camera broke while on vacation in Virginia Beach this past fall; so all I have is a cell phone picture.  This is at the east end of the yard in Burlington.  The rear end of the train going by the depot is the mainline; while the GP40 and SD9 are on the house track.

Layout 1-5-13 by Sooline733, on Flickr

NBT