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WP & Y RR Skagway Track Plan

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WP & Y RR Skagway Track Plan
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 3:39 AM

 For a future layout project, I am trying to find a track plan of today´s WP & Y RR rail facilities in Skagway. Google Earth, which was of much help in previous projects, shows only a blurred picture.

Is there help available?

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  • From: Enfield, CT
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Posted by Doc in CT on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 8:37 AM

 Other than getting your hands on Russian spy photos, I would suggest the possibility of USGS topographic maps for your area.  While not always up to date, they do show incredible amount of detail (acquired a bunch of the Windsor, Enfield, Springfield here in Connecticut to assist in understanding the prototype situation).

Also, the State Environmental Protection Agency (or AK equivalent) might also sell detailed topographic maps.

Alan

Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 9:49 AM

 Alan,

I was hoping to find a source which is free of charge. Buying things other than food and necessary clothing is out of question for the moment, as times have turned kind of rough on my family and me. But you as you can see, I still have plans for a brighter future to come... 

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Posted by Doc in CT on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 10:46 AM

 There are free web based USPS topo maps on their site.  I don't remember if you can download them, but they can be "screen captured".

Alan

Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/

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  • From: Sorumsand, Norway
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Posted by steinjr on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 11:22 AM

 

Sir Madog

 For a future layout project, I am trying to find a track plan of today´s WP & Y RR rail facilities in Skagway. Google Earth, which was of much help in previous projects, shows only a blurred picture.

Is there help available?

http://www.bing.com/maps  gives somewhat tolerable overview at maximum zoom in for overhead pix. Except for the tracks on the dock at the south end - that is in the shade of the mountain in the pictures.

 At least you can identify the harbor tracks, a junction, a yard along the side of the southern mountain, and the shops complex at the eastern end of Skagway - with tracks fanning out northwards, a reversing loop going around the shop building, and two tracks going through the shops, it seems like.

 Smile,
 Stein

 

 

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Posted by mreagant on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 12:05 PM

I have the "All Aboard" Onboard Magazine you get when you ride the WP&Y which includes the track layout in Skagway proper (downtown and around the harbor) but doesn't show trackage as far as the facilities on the edge of town.  It also has a map of the entire route to  from Skagway to Carcross, Yukon Territory.  That map does include a sketchy trackplan around the shops.

They have a web site www.wpyr.com and you might contact them to see if they will mail you a complimentary copy of the magazine.  It's free on board so sending a copy might be O.K. with them.  If all else fails, contact me and I'll  try to make copies of the stuff that might help.

Mike

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Posted by Doc in CT on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 12:20 PM

steinjr
http://www.bing.com/maps  gives somewhat tolerable overview at maximum zoom in for overhead pix.

 

As you can count the freight cars, more than tolerable (Google maps show nothing).  Screen capture the image and edit in a photo editing program to brighten.

Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/

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Posted by markpierce on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 3:46 PM

I don't have maps or complete information, but the general track layout is something like this.

The most southern track is on the east (cliff) side of the cruise-ship pier. Moving north, spurs go west past the depot and along the edge of downtown Skagway.

Moving north along the main, one pasts several parallel yard/storage tracks. The shops are also located at the north end of Skagway, and it is circled with a balloon track.

On the pier, looking northeast:

 

Looking southwest, train is on one of the spurs, train aimed toward the mainlinel.

 

Further north, looking southwest at several yard/storage tracks paralleling the main track.

 

Looking west from main track with balloon track partially in view, and with MOW yard in background.  Shops are out of sight to the left of picture. 

 

 

Have fun!

Mark

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Posted by reklein on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 5:32 PM

You may or may not be aware that John Armstrong has a track plan based on the WP&Y> BILL

In Lewiston Idaho,where they filmed Breakheart pass.
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Posted by markpierce on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 8:50 PM

There is little resemblance between the Armstrong plan and present reality of Skagway.  John's track plan is in 101 Track Plans and Bernard Kempinski's Mid-Size Track Plans for Realistic Layouts.  Bernie's G-scale version also has little resemblance.

Mark

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Posted by fwright on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 9:27 PM

markpierce

There is little resemblance between the Armstrong plan and present reality of Skagway.  John's track plan is in 101 Track Plans and Bernard Kempinski's Mid-Size Track Plans for Realistic Layouts.  Bernie's G-scale version also has little resemblance.

Mark

 

John Armstrong's track plan was patterned after the WP&Y of an earlier era.  The layout of WP&Y track in Skagway was very different before the coming of cruise ships and the creation of a National Park out of downtown Skagway.  Most of the WP&Y's track was on the west side of the creek - as was the freight dock - before tourism arrived.  With the tourists wandering downtown, having the rails in the streets as it had been was unacceptable, and the track was moved to the east side of the creek, then extended to the new cruise ship dock.

When I was living in Alaska (Juneau and Kodiak, but with state-wide responsibilities) in the 1990s, Skagway's winter population was around 500.  The 2 grocery stores alternated which weeks they were open.  There was also serious talk of re-opening the WP&Y all the way to Whitehorse, and even extending it to serve the booming mines in the Yukon Territory.  Even a unique 3ft railroad with all its issues was seen as a cheaper way to get the ore to ships than trucking it over the road.  I think the collapse in ore prices in the 2000 recession put an end to such plans.

just my experiences

Fred W

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Posted by markpierce on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 9:54 PM

fwright

The layout of WP&Y track in Skagway was very different before the coming of cruise ships and the creation of a National Park out of downtown Skagway.  Most of the WP&Y's track was on the west side of the creek - as was the freight dock - before tourism arrived.  With the tourists wandering downtown, having the rails in the streets as it had been was unacceptable, and the track was moved to the east side of the creek, then extended to the new cruise ship dock.

On many summer days, tourists outnumber Skagway residents.  When this picture was taken, there were ships from both Princess and Holland American lines, bringing about 4,000 tourists.  Out of sight to the left is a single single track.  Notice that everyone is dressed for the Alaskan summer.  There is still snow not far from sea level in September.

 

 

Mark

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 10, 2009 8:54 AM

 Well, whaddya know - there I have this book "101 Track Plans" and don´t even remember seeing the WP & Y RR Skagway track plan in it... Big Smile

As I intend to model the late steam /early Diesel era - John Armstrong´s track plan should do it - with some adaptions to the given space. Thank you all for answering my query!

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Posted by reklein on Friday, December 11, 2009 4:37 PM

Well the last time I was in Skagway was 1974 and we rode all the way to Whitehorse and back. Pretty cool trip.I think the bauxite had already ended and the road from Skagway to Whitehorse had just opened up. I don't remember anything of the track plan and the engines we road behind were those shovel nosed diesels/ I'm glad John Armstrongs plan will be of help.I lived in Sitka, AK for 28 years moving to Idaho in 2000,so things have changed,sounds like. BILL

In Lewiston Idaho,where they filmed Breakheart pass.

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