A modern shortline in the Palouse

[conrailthomas519]

Introducing my portable 48"X70" n scale modern day shortline layout, based in The Palouse.
The pics are of my current progress. Now that all the right of way is planned and drawn on the plywood, cookie cutter work will begin. Highest elevation being at the lumber site.
1.) BNSF mainline on edge ducking under state highway 95. The branchline to the left of the main, heads up grade.
2.) Interchange track and the potato warehouse siding.
Note: a river will run down this edge as the mainline follows it West.
3.) Lumber Transloading site. (Rail to truck) nearest siding is for storage.
Note: This is also the end of the shortline. Every train movement is counter clockwise.
4.) A closer look at the state route 12 trestle bridge in scale height.
Note: just behind the bridge will be a house or two and maybe a couple of local businesses.
5.) An aero view of the grain elevator scene.
Note: This area will sport that rolling hills of harvested wheat look. A back drop skyboard will separate the scene from the other side.

[sirenwerks]

Palouse! Excellent selection!

[GaryHinshaw]

Palouse! Excellent selection!

Yes.  I love that part of the world.  Do you have to change your username now?

[nkalanaga]

Being from Washington, the Palouse is more or less "local", although I never was in it much.  But I can't find a "state route 12" in the Palouse.  As far as I can find, neither WA nor ID has a "state route 12", and US 12 runs south of the Palouse in both states.  Or did you choose a fictional route number on purpose?

I've driven parts of US 95, also sometimes called state 95, in the Palouse, and agree that it would be an interesting area for modeling a shortline.

[sirenwerks]

That's curious, because 95 runs from Florida to Maine.

[GaryHinshaw]

That's Interstate 95 on the east coast.  He's referring to US Route 95.

[C855B]

... As far as I can find, neither WA nor ID has a "state route 12", and US 12 runs south of the Palouse in both states. ...

Some sources consider the Palouse region to extend as far south as Oregon.

Is the objective basically what is now the Washington & Idaho Railway?

[Hamaker]

That's Interstate 95 on the east coast.  He's referring to US Route 95.

I once won a $50 bet with a friend on this very subject.

[conrailthomas519]

Fellow members, the road names are just names at the moment.
The U S 95 is actually in Idaho near Mozart.
State route 26 " Inland Empire Highway " would be a better name for my overpass.
With that being said, YES my layout is inspired by the 2 railroads that have operated in the Palouse area.  The WIR and the PCC. I have taken some from both and created my own shortline.
1.)  The Class 1 railroad should have been the Union Pacific, I chose the BNSF.
2.) My interchange track, and the warehouse are fictious to the location, named Dishman?
3.) The grain elevator is of prototype somewhere in the Palouse, but Im not real clear is to where it is from at this time.
4.) The bridge trestle, should be re named to U S 95 instead of 12.
5.) A photo found on the web, of this prototype bridge,  was found in western Washington.  So a little modelers license is being used.
6.) The lumber Transloading site, is fictious. It replaces the Bennett Lumber Mill. (Their mill is in Idaho, I believe.)
6.) My choice in secondary motive power is fictious as well. GP38's and one GP40 replaces the PCC's GP35's, GP30, and GP50.
7.) I'm considering on moving the river creek to the shortside, verses the long side.

I hope this information helps you fellow members out with my modeling concept for this layout. It's a representation NOT an EXACT!

[nickelplate759]

Will you model the giant worms?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Palouse_earthworm

[conrailthomas519]

  Since you're not referring to the long strings of covered hoppers, I am not.

[sirenwerks]

That's Interstate 95 on the east coast.  He's referring to US Route 95.

I'm aware. I was on the latter just last week, travelling for work, and am only a year out from being a survivor of the former.

[conrailthomas519]

Here is some reference material I found.

[nkalanaga]

There is a Dishman, WA, but it's a suburb of Spokane, just east of the ex-NP yard, along Sprague Avenue.  However, it's a "Census Designated Place", not a town, and is part of the city of Spokane Valley since 2003.  Since it was named for an early settler and quarry operator, having an actual town named Dishman in the Palouse wouldn't be unlikely.  It could have been named for another member of his family, or, if there was a quarry, gravel pit, or other "mine" there, could have been another of his operations.

The NP/BN did have lines in the Palouse, so a BNSF interchange would be believable.

[conrailthomas519]

This idea and layout has been scrapped in favor of a much Bigger idea!