The Haywire HCD

[kc9jts]

As we are in the process of moving I had to dismantle my Soo Line layout in progress and decided that this might be the time to try something new.  I do eventually plan on building a Soo-based layout at our new house but before I do that I am contemplating building a HCD layout instead.  With plenty of ideas of what to model I opted for a little-known Ann Arbor subsidiary known as the “Manistique & Lake Superior” and often referred to as the “Haywire”.

The Haywire began as a lumbering railroad heading north out of Manistique Michigan and providing logs for lumber mills in Manistique.  Once the lumber mills closed the Haywire found new life as a bridge carrier between connections with the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic at Shingleton and the Lake Superior & Ishpeming at Doty on the north to the carferries of the Ann Arbor railroad and the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste Marie (Soo) at Manistique on the south.  Local traffic was minimal and consisted of lumber, gravel, and a few industries in Manistique proper. 

After 1961 and the merger of the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste Marie, and the (original) Wisconsin Central the Soo had no reason to route traffic via the Haywire when it could be routed via an all-Soo routing instead; thus drastically decreasing the carloadings of the Haywire.  By this time the Haywire was operating 3 days per week.

In 1963 when parent Ann Arbor railroad was acquired by the DT&I the Haywire experienced a slight rebirth.  The DT&I aggressively marketed traffic via the Haywire and was able to land a contract for ore moves in the winter.  The ore trains originated on the LS&I at Republic, MI, were interchanged to the Haywire at Doty, then taken to Manistique where they were loaded on to a carferry across Lake Michigan and then handed over to the Ann Arbor and eventually the DT&I for forwarding to Ford’s River Rouge plant.  The Haywire’s sole Alco S3 was not up to the task of hauling the ore trains so parent Ann Arbor equipped both of it’s RS1’s with MU and sent them to the Haywire to handle the ore trains.  The roadbed was in such poor shape that derailments were common and a 10mph speed limit was imposed on the entire M&LS line; meanwhile the RS1s proved prone to mechanical failures.  The inability of the M&LS to reliably move the ore trains among other factors enticed Ford to find another routing.  At this point the M&LS was left with barely any traffic causing the Ann Arbor to apply for abandonment of both the M&LS and the Elberta-Manistique carferry route which occurred in 1968; thus ending the Haywire.

The Haywire owned a handful of steam locomotives and then upon dieselization owned a single S3.  As mentioned the Ann Arbor RS1s were supposedly sent to the M&LS (although to my knowledge there is no photographic proof of this) for ore trains.  Cabooses and other cars were provided by the AA and relettered for the M&LS.

So that is where history ends, and the layout begins.  I am opting to model the north and south ends of the M&LS in the mid-late 1960s.  The south end contains an interchange with the Soo, a carferry dock (most likely a removable cassette), the Manistique Paper company, and a few other spurs.  On the plan I had to compress Manistique to get it to fit as in reality there was a yard north of the Soo crossing and then the carferry and paper company to the south.  The north end of the layout primarily will be the interchanges with the DSS&A and LS&I.  An operating session would consist of assembling a train in Manistique of ore empties for the LS&I, and any other overhead traffic to the DSS&A & LS&I, along with any cars for Shingleton.  Once ready the train would depart Manistique, work Shingleton trailing points (and set out any facing point cars for Shingleton).  When done at Shingleton the train would head to Doty where it would drop off all of it’s cars and grab a cut of ore loads and other cars from the LS&I and return to Manistique; switching Shingleton along the way (if needed).  Once back at Manistique the ferry would be switched along with any local industries.  By using the carferry in Manistique and the LS&I connection at Doty the layout will for the most part restage itself.


So far for locomotives I have a pair of Ann Arbor RS1 shells that I plan on putting on some other RS1 bodies that I have.  I also have a pair of DT&I GP38s and an Ann Arbor GP35 that I may switch out on occasion for the RS1s (Geeps never made it to the Haywire in real life; this is me fudging some slightly better economic conditions for the Haywire).  Most cars will be ore jennies along with bridge traffic; the actual number of “home road” cars will be minimal.  I will need to get a few idler cars for switching the carferries, and may also opt to add a few hoppers loaded with rock that were used for ballast on the car ferry when loadings were not even.
We move into the new house in about a month, so will the Haywire get built?  Stay tuned…..

For more information on the M&LS:
http://www.trainweb.org/mlsrr/
https://schs.cityofmanistique.org/manistique-lake-superior-r-r-haywire-line/
http://www.railroadmichigan.com/manistiquelakesuperior.html
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d1/2/9/8/7298.1340428743.jpg

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I dig it!

[davefoxx]

HCD layouts are awesome.  I’m looking forward to watching this build.

DFF

[GaryHinshaw]

Nice concept - definitely off the beaten path. Do you have a personal connection to this line?

[kc9jts]

Nice concept - definitely off the beaten path. Do you have a personal connection to this line?

I do not have a personal connection to the M&LS.  I first read about it when the Soo Line Historical Society ran a small feature about it in about 1993.  After that article I’ve always had a closet interest in the M&LS and the Ann Arbor.  Thanks for asking.

[lajmdlr]

Have been reviewing plans for over 40 years so couldn't help coming up with revisions to this plan. Made most changes to the bottom left industry area. Added a couple more spurs plus some other industries. Also added an engine house to end of yard in middle. Good to see this is a point to point plan instead of the boring roundy round variety. Did this in Picasa so it's not up to MR CAD standards at all!
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[DKS]

Hate to be a wet blanket, but those are some seriously sharp curves, and the switches required are likewise uber-tight, especially the one at the top right corner.

What kind of track were you planning to use? I can tinker up some plans with correct track geometry once I find out.

Good to see this is a point to point plan instead of the boring roundy round variety.

Looks like a roundy-round to me, although that's not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Spades]

All of what DKS said.  Byron Henderson on his website Layout Vision has a Hollow-core plan that does a lot of what you want to do. 12 in m radius  Might want to use it as a basis for your planning. http://mrsvc.blogspot.com/2011/09/1-of-43.html

[lajmdlr]

The connection on the right side is so faint couldn't see it at first glance. But the layout could still be run point to point. Just use the roundy round for loco break in.

[kc9jts]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.  To answer a few questions:

Hate to be a wet blanket, but those are some seriously sharp curves, and the switches required are likewise uber-tight, especially the one at the top right corner.

What kind of track were you planning to use? I can tinker up some plans with correct track geometry once I find out.

Looks like a roundy-round to me, although that's not necessarily a bad thing.
 

It is a roundy-rounder technically speaking as I do have a continuous running connection.  I figured that way I could run a few laps around between towns to create distance.  Operationally though it would be point to point.

For track I am planning on Atlas C55.  I see what you mean about tight curves, I am not opposed to make the curve on the right side of the layout lengthened.  I drew this up in Microstation where I did not have any templates for track/switch sizes so was winging it a little bit.  If needed I don't have a problem with shortening Shingleton siding or moving the Doty connection a few inches down to widen the curve; I'm also fine with curved turnouts.  I'll have a few Atlas Geeps/RS1s and the cars will be primarily ore jennies and 40' boxcars, so accommodating larger locomotives such as SD70MACs or large cars such as autoracks isn't a concern.

Don't worry about being a wet blanket.  I posted this for the purpose of having someone throw a wet blanket on it, getting feedback and having someone point out potential issues now as opposed to when I start.

Have been reviewing plans for over 40 years so couldn't help coming up with revisions to this plan. Made most changes to the bottom left industry area. Added a couple more spurs plus some other industries. Also added an engine house to end of yard in middle. Good to see this is a point to point plan instead of the boring roundy round variety. Did this in Picasa so it's not up to MR CAD standards at all!
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Thanks, expanding the paper mill area is one thing I have thought about.  I do have a small GE 44-tonner that I was thinking of using as a paper mill switcher instead of the M&LS switching it directly.

[lajmdlr]

The LAJ has one place with an 85 degree curve about 10" R HO scale. Laid a 1/4 circle & was able to run 4 axle diesels plus 40' boxcar both directions with no problems. Couldn't do it with a 50' car though. ~}

[DKS]

I'll start messing with this tomorrow.

[Jbub]

This just might persuade me to build a HCD layout to run my GP60's and some <60' freight cars around. It can do nothing but improve modeling skills and have fun with it too. I'll be following.

[lajmdlr]

Here's an N scale 30" x 80" HCD plan by Byron Henderson.

[OldEastRR]

If you want super-accurate drawings of track to see what actually fits use AnyRail. The pgm has every brand of track made, each piece matching to any other piece. Best way to do layout plans.

And congrats on doing an HCD layout. Those are my best threads to read. Used to be a lot of HCDs on TRW but most of them went to N Scale Heaven. R.I.P.