BC Rail Chetwynd Sub

[BCOL 747]

Scott and Gary

As requested below is the track plan for the BC Rail Chetwynd Subdivision. I had to take a photo of my layout display board which I use for shows so the quality isn’t that great. Someday I will have to figure out how to post a PDF. If anyone would like a better copy I would certainly be open to emailing you one. 

There have been a few changes to the track plan since fellow Railwire member Greg Kennelly made these up for me but, most are minor and not worth mentioning.



Have a good weekend,
Chris

[Scottl]

If you send the pdf to me I can convert to a jpeg or png file for posting.

It looks great- lots of room to work with, and you have already demonstrated that it is a long scenic run 

[GaryHinshaw]

I like it too, but I'm afraid I have to deduct a few point for stacking your yards in front of a narrow aisle.    Has that worked out ok?  What happens at the bottom end of each yard? Do you have reversing loops where the helix is located?

But again, this is an extremely nice pike!

[BCOL 747]

Yes Gary I understand why I lose some points here. Because I have only operated by myself it hasn’t been a huge problem having the yards stacked but I can certainly foresee some issues if there were two or three good sized operators in there.

When I designed the layout we didn’t think we would be in town for very long and I thought I would rebuild it properly in larger room somewhere down the road. Both my wife and I have taken better jobs within our respective companies here in Prince George so it looks like we will be here for a few more years anyway. The two yards will be the last place on the layout that will receive scenery so by the time I get around to it we may find ourselves in another city anyway.

The bottom of the lower level yard leads past the helix and into another room where I have my staging. The upper deck is just a dead end at the moment but will be a reversing loop at some point in the near future.

Chris 

[coldriver]

Really like your layout - lots of attention to detail that make the scenes completely believable.  I made it that far north following BC Rail once (in 2004) and you've done a great job capturing the area.  The talus, ground foliage, trees, rock outcrops, etc, are all nicely done.  And the trains look like BC Rail trains should look! 

[BCOL 747]

Fellow RW member Scott was kind enough to convert the track plans to PNG files for me. This offers a better look with more detail. Thanks Scott.





Thanks for all the kind compliments.

Chris

[BCOL 747]

Chris, that is amazing work!  I especially like the comparison at the end showing the actual location with the layout model.  The layout is breathtaking and the trains are works of art. The video quality with sound is excellent!  Did you paint and detail the BC Rail locomotives and cabooses?

Hi Albert

Thanks for the kind compliments. Yes all the locomotives and a good portion of the rolling stock are custom painted. I did most of it but the M630 706 was purchased from a friend. I believe it was painted by Jeff Briggs from Briggs models. The cabeese are stock Atlas stand ins until I have the time to build several of the Kaslo Shops EV cabeese which are prototypical for BC Rail.

Chris

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok, I might've asked before, but what's up with BC Fall's light show up front?

Is it just that that run through the real wilds, or is there more to it.

How do the extra ditch lights function?

[Missaberoad]

Is it just that that run through the real wilds, or is there more to it.
How do the extra ditch lights function?

That's pretty much it, there was a series of pretty bad rock slide accidents in the 1970's in BC and ditch lights became common on all Canadian locomotives leading in the province. BC Rail being Provincial Government I imagine spared no expense both sets are at different angles lighting up the ROW pretty effectively..

My rules instructor was a former CN engineer had a story he liked to share about paralleling a highway with a BC Rail leader. A Truck driver decided to flash all his lights including the bar on the roof at him (taking offense to his headlights I assume). Being a bit of a He flips on all the locos ditchlights turning night into day, and causing the Trucker to turn off his lights pretty quick...

[bdennis]

Chris,
Nice looking plan.. Where is the entry into the room and are you doing a lift bridge / swing bridge or a duck under.
Also what are your deck heights?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That's pretty much it, there was a series of pretty bad rock slide accidents in the 1970's in BC and ditch lights became common on all Canadian locomotives leading in the province. BC Rail being Provincial Government I imagine spared no expense both sets are at different angles lighting up the ROW pretty effectively..

My rules instructor was a former CN engineer had a story he liked to share about paralleling a highway with a BC Rail leader. A Truck driver decided to flash all his lights including the bar on the roof at him (taking offense to his headlights I assume). Being a bit of a He flips on all the locos ditchlights turning night into day, and causing the Trucker to turn off his lights pretty quick...

Ah, makes sense. I thought there was some rock slide component to it. I was curious about the aiming too. Sounds like they were pretty impressive to see. I'd love to see some photos of them all on at night.

[BCOL 747]

Ah, makes sense. I thought there was some rock slide component to it. I was curious about the aiming too. Sounds like they were pretty impressive to see. I'd love to see some photos of them all on at night.

Ed, Ryan hit the nail on the head with his answer. Maybe BC Rail had more money than CN or CP as they added a third set of ditch lights to most of their locomotive roster in the early eighties. Most of the other two RRs just had one set of ditch lights if I recall correctly.

I will see if I can find a night shot in my collection with a BC Rail locomotive with all the lights on. It is pretty impressive.

Chris

[Missaberoad]

Most of the other two RRs just had one set of ditch lights if I recall correctly.
I will see if I can find a night shot in my collection with a BC Rail locomotive with all the lights on. It is pretty impressive.
Chris

You remember correctly... Both CP and CN chose to go with a more traditional setup, although for a while CN had removable ditchlights that looked like photo floods

as for the lightshow not my video but shows it pretty good!

[BCOL 747]

Chris,
Nice looking plan.. Where is the entry into the room and are you doing a lift bridge / swing bridge or a duck under.
Also what are your deck heights?

Brendan, entrance to the room consists of a swing bridge between Wakely and the helix on the lower level. I am six feet so it is a little bit of a duck under the second level as well.

I have added some layout statistics below that should answer most questions.

Chris

[bdennis]

Chris.
Thanks for the update. Am following along with interest.
Have you measured your passing sidings as some look to be a bit short to cater for a 28 car train? Especially the ones on the area of Pinesul on both decks.