UP and BNSF Prototype Rail and Yards

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

I have been unable to find maps, templates, schematics of actual track layouts of Union Pacific and BNSF. Especially the following: Ogden UT rail yard,
Sherman hill and Cheyenne Wy rail yard, the Wasatch, Raton pass and Trinidad, Cajon pass, San Bernadido rail yard.

Also, does anyone have a layout that uses Union Pacific Challengers, Mallets, or Big Boys.

I am interested in building a steam era layout that includes changing to diesel. I think the twenty years from 1950 to 1970.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Your best bet is to try the UPRR Historical Society and that Santa Fe Historical and Modeling Society. There never was a yard for Raton Pass, Cajon Pass and Trinidad CO. The main yard for the ATSF in Southern CO was located at LaJunta CO.

[wp8thsub]

There's some great information, including maps, in the book "Ogden Rails" by Don Strack (published in cooperation with the Golden Spike Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society). The book shows the evolution of the yards and engine facilities through the entire history of Ogden. Don has a web site at: http://www.utahrails.net/index.htm .

There was also an article on the Weber Canyon area in the last issue of the UP Historical Society magazine "The Streamliner." Note that the summit is spelled Wahsatch.

[Anonymous]

Thank for the replies. I was interested in modeling a lay out from Raton to Trinidad to go over the Raton Pass. Cajon Pass and San Bernadino yard. Or The Ogden Yard to Evanston. Sorry about no being clearer in the previous post I made. The other would be Sherman Hill into the Cheyenne Yard. I am familiar with all four areas I just mentioned. The big question in my mind are they to ambitious to do in layout form. Just thought there might be some else that had entertained the same thought and tried it or not tried it.

Thanks again for the replies so far. [:)]

[wp8thsub]

I considered modeling Ogden to Evanston (including the Park City branch) in the basement under the new home my wife and I are considering building. Even in the 1200 square foot train room I found I was making too many compromises to be satisfied with the design in HO. Had I wanted to consider N scale I would have had better luck but didn't want to change scales.

I operate semi-regularly on Ted York's Cajon Pass http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cajonpass/index.htm which fits well in the space Ted has allocated and really gives the feel of the prototype. Note that San Bernardino to Cajon Summit is only about 1/3 of the railroad of Ogden to Evanston, so less selective compression was required.

How successfull your planning will be will depend on how many signature scenes you think are needed and how willing you are to selectively compress or omit what won't fit. What I'm considering for my next layout is a combination of scenes which will evoke the feel of real Utah railroading but won't try to copy it. A good example of that line of thinking is John Signor's layout in the current issue of Great Model Railroads; he used elements of the Santa Fe, SP and UP in southern California.

[Anonymous]

One place to look for general track arrangements for any given area is a topographical map. You can vist mapserver.maptech.com or http://terraserver-usa.com/. You can see a topographical map which includes railroads for most areas in the US. Try the 24,000:1 for the most detail. You can also order a map of any area that you wish.

-Joe Johnson

[Anonymous]

wp8thsub. Spent some time looking at Ted Yorks setup. Looks like the San Bernadino yard is operational but changing? Gave me some ideas. Really want to have the Big Boys and other steam locos running to show how UP kept trying to move more freight faster. With examples of the change to diesel.

jcj4875 terra server works fine. Not all the tracks show clearly in the Cheyenne, Evanston, or Ogden yards, but enough so a person can figure it out fairly well. can even see individual cars and the round house show clearly.

This info I am getting is saving me alot of digging and I appreciate the inputs from all of you.