WC White Pine Subdivision

[jpwisc]

So some of you know I did sell my Skally Line layout. I decided to start a new layout. It is being based on White Pine Michigan in 1996. The location was the home of a large copper refinery that will be my main source of ops. This one is also being built to FreemoN specs, so I can bring it out to interface with the larger railroad world.

Here is the trackplan:
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I have made a couple small mods since I drew this. I added another spur (because there was one running back to the White Pine power plant, and I connected the other end of the 5th yard track to match the prototype. You learn as you scour photos.

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The frames are 3/4” birch plywood, capped with 1/4” birch ply and 1” extruded foam. The right module is 6’-3”, the left two are 6’ 1-1/2” each.

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After transferring the track plan onto the foam, I put down 3/32” basswood at the module ends for the PCB ties and 3/32” sheet cork down everywhere else track is going.

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The UP of Michigan isn’t flat, so I added some extra foam in spots and did some contouring, making sure to leave room for a pulpwood loadout next to the yard. After making 1100 trees for the Skally, I’m not looking forward to that process already.

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Once I’m roughly satisfied with the land form, I touch it up with spackle and paint it a nice mud brown. Vegetation and rocks will cover it all, but this gives me a nice base to work from.

I glued down some of the PCB ties at the module ends and now I’m waiting for my track order from MBK to arrive. The fascia will go on after I finalize my turnout control.

[Philip H]

Dang - the Skally is gone.

But this looks way cool.

[jpwisc]

Dang - the Skally is gone.

But this looks way cool.

The Skally still exists, a friend bought the whole thing. It seemed a win/win. He gets an instant layout, and we can bring the Skally and the White Pine together for shows.

[keeper]

Oh, Michigan UP!
I will follow with interest.

The year 1996 means WC days?

Thomas 

[jpwisc]

http://magazine.trainlife.com/prn_1996_8/

Here is a great article by Dean Sauvola on the real White Pine. Why did I choose it?
For a few reasons:
1) One man ops.
I typically ran my last layout solo or with one other person. I wanted to be able to do that here too. The White Pine was a test bed for RC loco operations, so it was literally one man ops. The WC used a modified Port St. Charles caboose (who doesn’t love those) as a radio receiver for any loco hooked to it.
2) Fantastic loco roster. The power used on this line is very much to my liking. Ex-Algoma Central GP9s, WC GP40s, SDL39s, I even have pics of the WC using a Missabe SD18 up there.
3) Compact. This one is mostly me. I let the Skally get too big. It outgrew the space I had available. I am a minimalist by nature, so it does me good to focus and have less. That way I can keep myself from drifting.
4) Sentimental value. The White Pine Sun runs around the northern shore of Lake Gogebic on its way to White Pine. My grandparents would set their camper up at that lake every summer and I have great memories of fishing there with them and my dad.

[jpwisc]

Oh, Michigan UP!
I will follow with interest.

The year 1996 means WC days?

Thomas 

Oh yeah! WC in its prime!

[keeper]

But don't tell me you have an SDL39.....

Do you?

[jpwisc]

But don't tell me you have an SDL39.....

Do you?

It’s not done yet, but yes... I will have an SDL
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[keeper]

It's a bit off topic, but please tell me more about it...

[jpwisc]

It's a bit off topic, but please tell me more about it...

Soon enough, I’ll create a separate thread for that one.

[SirTainly]

Also would like to see the thread on the SDL39 - found my old attempt at one the other month

[Vince P]

Will miss the Skally lines.

But this should be a very cool new direction for you.

[Ike the BN Freak]

Now the Skally is closer to me...now I need to come up with some LDEs and work on a layout for myself

[keeper]

Am I right in thinking that the White Pine Sub originally was DSS&A country?

Thomas

[jpwisc]

Am I right in thinking that the White Pine Sub originally was DSS&A country?

Yes, this was DSS&A trackage. I believe the WC acquired the line from the Soo Line.