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WHITE PASS AND YUKON

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  • Member since
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  • From: Port Huron Michigan
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WHITE PASS AND YUKON
Posted by oscaletrains on Saturday, June 27, 2009 8:24 PM
I recently took a trip to Alaska and one of the highlights of the trip was a trip on the WP&Y railroad. I then got the idea to model a portion of the white pass, at the least, by the station and down Broadway street, about 1920/1930, my problem is finding a good track diagram, or any other information besides photos from that time. if anyone has any references for modeling the white pass or any help with how the track once was it would be greatly appreciated. thanks so much, Tom
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Posted by tomikawaTT on Saturday, June 27, 2009 8:44 PM

John Armstrong had one layout design, fitted to one stall of a two-car garage, meant to be modeled in On3.  I can't recall which of his layout books it was in, and my own copies seem to have gone AWOL.

Perhaps someone else will be able to narrow the search further.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

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Posted by markpierce on Saturday, June 27, 2009 9:32 PM

Well, I know for certain it is in Kalmbach's 101 Track Plans.  It is elsewhere, but I stopped looking after I'd found it.  Nevertheless, I don't know how close the plan accurately portrays the trackage...OK, OK, I'll look some more....  Sheesh. even my copy of Cy Martin's Gold Rush Narrow Gauge doesn't include any track diagrams.  I do believe, however, that previous to the along-the-vertical-cliff-ship terminal that exists now is relatively new and that the old dock terminal was further out in the bay/sound/fyord.

Mark

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Posted by markpierce on Saturday, June 27, 2009 9:48 PM

Regardless, this photo shows the along-the-cliff dock where the trains take aboard Alaskan cruisers.

 

Cruise ships berth behind the above photographer.

 

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Posted by markpierce on Saturday, June 27, 2009 9:56 PM

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Posted by markpierce on Saturday, June 27, 2009 10:06 PM

An arched roof.  Isn't that from Sumpter Valley?

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Posted by fwright on Saturday, June 27, 2009 10:07 PM

You might try posing this question at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/whitepassfanlist/ and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HOn3/.  The 1st group is devoted to the WP&Y but I don't know how much historical info is available - I'm not a member of the group.  The second group is all things 3ft gauge in HO of which the WP&Y is a prime example.  There are narrow gauge historians who know the origin of nearly every car and loco on the WP&Y.

During my tours in Alaska, I have ridden the WP&Y twice, and driven the road a couple of times as well.  I also got an opportunity to walk the old roadbed in Whitehorse along the waterfront.  I know that the trackage in Skagway was changed considerably when the town became a National Park and a cruise ship destination.  Originally, nearly all the track was on the west side of the river (in town), but was later moved to the east side.  I also heard a business presentation in about 1995 on re-opening the WP&Y as a freight operation all the way to Whitehorse and possibly extending to serve some mines in YT.  That was when metals prices were climbing, and the railroad seemed like a more economical transport to an international harbor than trucking ore over the road.

Micro-Trains made some very nice RTR models of reefers that the WP&Y purchased from the C&S.  Much of the WP&Y locomotive roster has been done in HOn3 brass at one time or another, including the shovel nose diesels.

hope this helps

Fred W

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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Sunday, June 28, 2009 8:41 AM

 John Armstrong's plan also appears in The Classic Layout Designs of John Armstrong with more of a writeup than 101 Track Plans - I think it's a reprint of the original article in MR with a sidebar commentaryMid-Size Track Plans for Realistic Layouts by Bernard Kempinskihas a G scale plan.

Railmaster Hobbies http://www.railmasterhobbies.com/loco.htm has Sn3 kits.

Enjoy

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
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Posted by maxman on Sunday, June 28, 2009 11:43 AM

I've read in several references that the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps are a good resource for the type of information you seek.  I Googled the subject and came up with the following reference: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/sanbul_AK.html (scroll down to Skagway)

It looks like the Alaska State Library has a  6 page selection of Sanborn maps dating from 1914, and University of California, Berkeley has a revision from 1948.  I don't know what's involved with obtaining copies, but that'll give you something to do.

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Posted by markpierce on Sunday, June 28, 2009 3:24 PM

IRONROOSTER

 Mid-Size Track Plans for Realistic Layouts by Bernard Kempinskihas a G scale plan.

as well as Armstrong's original On3 plan.

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Posted by David Elliott on Thursday, September 12, 2013 10:50 PM

Greetings all

 

I have a set of photos taken in July 1970 which may help. At that time there was a Y at Scagway with I think 3 tracks on the wharf. The Frank L Brown was docked at the time. At Whitehorse there was a passing siding and a siding at the station and the track ran north to the reversing loop.. Let me know if I can help.

I now have a request. A source of  drawings for WP&Y stock, and supply in HOn3

 

Thanks

David Elliott

Victoria BC

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Posted by "JaBear" on Friday, September 13, 2013 5:45 AM

Gidday David, Welcome to the forum.

Here's some links that you may not be aware of that may help....................................

http://narrowmind.railfan.net/index.html#wpy

http://www.whitepassfan.net/whitepass/fan-list/drawings/index.html

Cheers, the Bear.

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by DSchmitt on Friday, September 13, 2013 10:35 PM

Portion USGS Map Skagway B! dated 1951, Imprint 1952  from  

  skagway_zps96b72b26 by Donald Schmitt, on Flickr

 

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

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Posted by EMD.Don on Saturday, September 14, 2013 12:41 PM

This railway was featured in a kids show, Mighty Machines: Riding the Mountain Rails. It's about a 40 minute documentary type video designed for young kids. But...it has some really good full color video of train operations, scenery, equipment etc. Worth the watch in my humble opinion (Netflix has Mighty Machines for those who subscribe). My young Son loves the Mighty Machines videos so I have seen them all more times then I can count. As an aside, Mighty Machines also has a show called At the Train Yard and it follows a CP SD40-2 and a couple switchers around a train yard, with a track repair crew and one or two CN loco's thrown in for good measure. I like watching it with my Son too...Whistling.

Happy modeling!

Don.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time. The good news is that you decided to take the train and not fly."

N Scale Railroader.
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Posted by DSchmitt on Saturday, September 14, 2013 6:01 PM

Some books:

The White Pass Route Railway by Graham Wilson

White Pass Gateway to the Klondike by Roy Minter

Gold Rush Narrow Gauge by Cy Martin

Rails North Railroads of Alaska and Yukon by Howard Clifford

White Pass Plans by Railhead Publications

White Pass & Yukon Handbook by C. E, Mulvihill

Alaska Yukon Railroads by Howard Clifford.

The Skagway Story by Howard Clifford

 

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

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Posted by martinden on Sunday, September 15, 2013 1:08 AM

Original John Armstrong plan: MR, March, 1953, p. 44.

Martin

 

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