Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)

This is a tour of the Oregon Western Lines. You can start with the first picture and advance through the album for a virtual tour of the railroad. The OWL is approximately 16' x 32' in size. Many of these modules have been improved with the addition of more details, upgraded background scenery, or modified scenes since this album was originally compiled. If you want to see more recent pictures, you may want to visit my Facebook page for the Train Barn: Home of the Oregon Western Lines. (a link is provided in my signature)

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The appearance of the Mt. Vernon module has been improved with the painting of the background and the "road kill" scene in the foreground. I explained the process of painting the backgrounds in one of my photo albums on my Facebook page. If you would like to see it do a search for-- " Train Barn: Home of the Oregon Western Lines " and click on the "photo" tab.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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The appearance of the Mt. Vernon module has been improved with the painting of the background and the "road kill" scene in the foreground. I explained the process of painting the backgrounds in one of my photo albums on my Facebook page. If you would like to see it do a search for-- " Train Barn: Home of the Oregon Western Lines " and click on the "photo" tab.

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07 Feb 2011
This photo and the next are updated pictures of the John Day/Mt. Vernon modules on the Oregon Westen Lines. This module at one time was home to the circus (which has since moved on). Upgraded background was painted in the summer of 2010.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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This photo and the next are updated pictures of the John Day/Mt. Vernon modules on the Oregon Westen Lines. This module at one time was home to the circus (which has since moved on). Upgraded background was painted in the summer of 2010.

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07 Feb 2011
This is an updated picture of the Silvies module on the Oregon Western Lines as it appears in January, 2011. The background has been totally repainted and more details have been added to the foreground.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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This is an updated picture of the Silvies module on the Oregon Western Lines as it appears in January, 2011. The background has been totally repainted and more details have been added to the foreground.

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07 Feb 2011
This crossing used to be spanned by a double track HO bridge. Now the OWL crosses on a single track, N-scale combination of bridges.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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This crossing used to be spanned by a double track HO bridge. Now the OWL crosses on a single track, N-scale combination of bridges.

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03 Jul 2010
Oregon Western Lines locomotives on the new modules.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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Oregon Western Lines locomotives on the new modules.

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03 Jul 2010
Oregon Western Lines crossing the river on the formerly HO modules now converted to N scale.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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Oregon Western Lines crossing the river on the formerly HO modules now converted to N scale.

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03 Jul 2010
Welcome to the Oregon Western Lines. This is a freelanced, N-scale (1:160) modular railroad. "Freelanced" means that it is fictional railroad designed to fit the operational and creative desires of the builder--it may or may not replicate anything in actuality. This railroad is purely for "N-joyment" purposes.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

Welcome to the Oregon Western Lines. This is a freelanced, N-scale (1:160) modular railroad. "Freelanced" means that it is fictional railroad designed to fit the operational and creative desires of the builder--it may or may not replicate anything in actuality. This railroad is purely for "N-joyment" purposes.

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25 Jan 2009
Utilizing a few facts and a lot of fiction, the Oregon Western Lines pretends to connect the City of Prineville Railway and the Oregon & Northwestern Railroad and their respective Burlington Northern and Union Pacific interchanges. From the imaginary Ochoco Junction (located to the west of Seneca), the Oregon Western Lines also extends north to the John Day Valley via Summit Prairie and Prairie City.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

Utilizing a few facts and a lot of fiction, the Oregon Western Lines pretends to connect the City of Prineville Railway and the Oregon & Northwestern Railroad and their respective Burlington Northern and Union Pacific interchanges. From the imaginary Ochoco Junction (located to the west of Seneca), the Oregon Western Lines also extends north to the John Day Valley via Summit Prairie and Prairie City.

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25 Jan 2009
Every self-respecting railroad needs to have a logo(s) to help it stand out from the competition. The Oregon Western Lines' marketing department created logos and eye-catching paint schemes to give the railroad a recognizable visual appearance and to enhance the concept of this fictional railroad's existence.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

Every self-respecting railroad needs to have a logo(s) to help it stand out from the competition. The Oregon Western Lines' marketing department created logos and eye-catching paint schemes to give the railroad a recognizable visual appearance and to enhance the concept of this fictional railroad's existence.

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25 Jan 2009
An OWL logo was developed to accent some Oregon Western Lines rolling stock in addition to the "arrow" logo. Most of the Oregon Western Lines logos and paint schemes that you see were designed, custom painted, and decaled by Everett King. The OWL boxcars were a Micro-Trains special run utilizing the designs.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

An OWL logo was developed to accent some Oregon Western Lines rolling stock in addition to the "arrow" logo. Most of the Oregon Western Lines logos and paint schemes that you see were designed, custom painted, and decaled by Everett King. The OWL boxcars were a Micro-Trains special run utilizing the designs.

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25 Jan 2009
Railroad officials were reluctant to place the OWL logo on every piece of rolling stock because of the extra cost involved, and the possibility that vandals might find the logo an attractive target. Some forest product workers who found their jobs in jeopardy because of the Northern Spotted Owl just might be tempted to put a "spot" on "Spotty" themselves if presented with an opportunity.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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Railroad officials were reluctant to place the OWL logo on every piece of rolling stock because of the extra cost involved, and the possibility that vandals might find the logo an attractive target. Some forest product workers who found their jobs in jeopardy because of the Northern Spotted Owl just might be tempted to put a "spot" on "Spotty" themselves if presented with an opportunity.

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25 Jan 2009
As you enter the layout room, the first module that you encounter is the "duck under" module. The first test for your imagination is to assume that the tunnel to your left is the Poison Creek Tunnel on the Oregon & Northwestern.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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As you enter the layout room, the first module that you encounter is the "duck under" module. The first test for your imagination is to assume that the tunnel to your left is the Poison Creek Tunnel on the Oregon & Northwestern.

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11 Jan 2009
In our imaginary Silvies there is a small lumber mill which is producing lumber for export and sawdust for the Pillsbury plant in Prairie City...more on that later.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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In our imaginary Silvies there is a small lumber mill which is producing lumber for export and sawdust for the Pillsbury plant in Prairie City...more on that later.

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11 Jan 2009
Traveling toward Seneca, we pass a small cottage and get an indication of the rural lifestyle of folks in Grant County. Hobbies are an important pastime for many citizens. This person apparently likes to collect junk cars and turn them into works of art (or is it the other way around)?
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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Traveling toward Seneca, we pass a small cottage and get an indication of the rural lifestyle of folks in Grant County. Hobbies are an important pastime for many citizens. This person apparently likes to collect junk cars and turn them into works of art (or is it the other way around)?

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11 Jan 2009
As you can see the Oregon Western Lines has greatly increased commerce in the region, which was one of the primary reasons why the Grant County Economic Development Commission voiced such strong support for the creation of the railroad.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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As you can see the Oregon Western Lines has greatly increased commerce in the region, which was one of the primary reasons why the Grant County Economic Development Commission voiced such strong support for the creation of the railroad.

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11 Jan 2009
The City of Seneca was even fortunate enough to become the site of G.U.A.N.O. Corporation's (Greater Utilization of All Natural Organics) advanced waste utilization plant. One of the facility's main structures is partially visible in this view.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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The City of Seneca was even fortunate enough to become the site of G.U.A.N.O. Corporation's (Greater Utilization of All Natural Organics) advanced waste utilization plant. One of the facility's main structures is partially visible in this view.

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11 Jan 2009
Cow manure from all over the Northwest is hauled in by special Oregon Western Lines' tank cars (tank trucks for local ranchers) to the G.U.A.N.O. facility, converted into a variety of useful products (including compost), and loaded into boxcars and hoppers for transport as far away as the gardens of Haight-Ashbury and Greenwich Village.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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Cow manure from all over the Northwest is hauled in by special Oregon Western Lines' tank cars (tank trucks for local ranchers) to the G.U.A.N.O. facility, converted into a variety of useful products (including compost), and loaded into boxcars and hoppers for transport as far away as the gardens of Haight-Ashbury and Greenwich Village.

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11 Jan 2009
Seneca is a hub of activity. Tankers hauling animal waste and other vehicles carrying dry byproducts can be seen daily on the streets of Seneca. The local grain elevator is also very active during harvest time.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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Seneca is a hub of activity. Tankers hauling animal waste and other vehicles carrying dry byproducts can be seen daily on the streets of Seneca. The local grain elevator is also very active during harvest time.

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11 Jan 2009
The track that you see going through the back of this module is an access track to Ontario, which is used primarily for staging trains during operating sessions. The layout has DCC (Digital Command Control), which means that each locomotive should have a decoder to interpret electronic signals sent through the rails.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

The track that you see going through the back of this module is an access track to Ontario, which is used primarily for staging trains during operating sessions. The layout has DCC (Digital Command Control), which means that each locomotive should have a decoder to interpret electronic signals sent through the rails.

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11 Jan 2009
This is the backside of the module showing Ontario's two staging tracks. Engines without decoders will "sing" with a high pitched ringing. They must be placed off the tracks or on dead sections of track to keep them quiet.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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This is the backside of the module showing Ontario's two staging tracks. Engines without decoders will "sing" with a high pitched ringing. They must be placed off the tracks or on dead sections of track to keep them quiet.

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11 Jan 2009
Everyone in Seneca loves to see the UPS man coming. No module depicting life in Grant County would be complete without the local UPS driver making a delivery. The poor lady appears to have been so happy to receive her package that she has suffered a narcolepsy attack.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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Everyone in Seneca loves to see the UPS man coming. No module depicting life in Grant County would be complete without the local UPS driver making a delivery. The poor lady appears to have been so happy to receive her package that she has suffered a narcolepsy attack.

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11 Jan 2009
The track curving up to the top of this picture leads to the Ochoco Junction yard. Most of the sorting of freight traffic on the Oregon Western Lines is done at Ochoco Junction, and much of the Oregon Western Lines' maintenance of way equipment is kept here when not on a job.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

The track curving up to the top of this picture leads to the Ochoco Junction yard. Most of the sorting of freight traffic on the Oregon Western Lines is done at Ochoco Junction, and much of the Oregon Western Lines' maintenance of way equipment is kept here when not on a job.

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11 Jan 2009
Engines are serviced and repaired at the Oregon Western Lines' maintenance shop at Ochoco Junction. A limited number of spare locomotives or those awaiting dispatching can be stored here on the track next to the engine shop.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

Engines are serviced and repaired at the Oregon Western Lines' maintenance shop at Ochoco Junction. A limited number of spare locomotives or those awaiting dispatching can be stored here on the track next to the engine shop.

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11 Jan 2009
Cars are sorted and readied for movement to their final destinations here at Ochoco Junction. Trains are assembled for the John Day Valley branch line to the north, the Union Pacific Railroad to the east, and the Burlington Northern interchange at Prineville Junction to the west.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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Cars are sorted and readied for movement to their final destinations here at Ochoco Junction. Trains are assembled for the John Day Valley branch line to the north, the Union Pacific Railroad to the east, and the Burlington Northern interchange at Prineville Junction to the west.

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11 Jan 2009
From time to time rolling stock needs repair and must be repaired before being transported or reloaded. Minor repairs can often be made at the Oregon Western Lines' car repair shop and the car quickly returned to service.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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From time to time rolling stock needs repair and must be repaired before being transported or reloaded. Minor repairs can often be made at the Oregon Western Lines' car repair shop and the car quickly returned to service.

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11 Jan 2009
A small industrial siding at Paulina, which sees a surge of activity near the Christmas holidays.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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A small industrial siding at Paulina, which sees a surge of activity near the Christmas holidays.

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11 Jan 2009
This is all "hush, hush," but the rumor has it that the 2005 derailment of an Oregon Western Lines freight train at this location was the result of terrorist activity. It was reported that the train was carrying some highly classified commodity from the Grant County Pot Growers' Cooperative which was destined for Washington, D. C.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

This is all "hush, hush," but the rumor has it that the 2005 derailment of an Oregon Western Lines freight train at this location was the result of terrorist activity. It was reported that the train was carrying some highly classified commodity from the Grant County Pot Growers' Cooperative which was destined for Washington, D. C.

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11 Jan 2009
One hopper still sits on the river's edge. It was never retrieved from the river once it was discovered that the cargo had been removed by vandals. They probably still "get high" just thinking about it.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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One hopper still sits on the river's edge. It was never retrieved from the river once it was discovered that the cargo had been removed by vandals. They probably still "get high" just thinking about it.

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11 Jan 2009
Elk or Camel? Railroad employees stated that the derailment resulted from a collision with a herd of cow elk. However, personnel from army intelligence, who insisted upon investigating the accident for themselves, reported seeing wild camels in the area and reasoned that the animals were, most likely, runaways from a secret terrorist base located somewhere nearby. You have to wonder what those investigators were smoking.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

Elk or Camel? Railroad employees stated that the derailment resulted from a collision with a herd of cow elk. However, personnel from army intelligence, who insisted upon investigating the accident for themselves, reported seeing wild camels in the area and reasoned that the animals were, most likely, runaways from a secret terrorist base located somewhere nearby. You have to wonder what those investigators were smoking.

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11 Jan 2009
This is definitely not a camel, but there was an unconfirmed report of Osama bin Laden hiding in the Izee area. It seems that a delivery driver had been delivering packages for the last two years to someone living in the Izee area who resembled Osama bin Laden; but, he claimed to be a chiropractor from the east coast who was living in the area while writing a book.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

This is definitely not a camel, but there was an unconfirmed report of Osama bin Laden hiding in the Izee area. It seems that a delivery driver had been delivering packages for the last two years to someone living in the Izee area who resembled Osama bin Laden; but, he claimed to be a chiropractor from the east coast who was living in the area while writing a book.

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11 Jan 2009
This is a bear--not a terrorist, but information gathered by the army on fugitives in the area was enough to convince the military that they needed to open a base near Prairie City to insure the safety of all the army's classified shipments in the region.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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This is a bear--not a terrorist, but information gathered by the army on fugitives in the area was enough to convince the military that they needed to open a base near Prairie City to insure the safety of all the army's classified shipments in the region.

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11 Jan 2009
Traveling west over the Crooked River, the tracks enter the east end of Prineville. Construction is more noticeable here than on other portions of the layout, but this will eventually be a major industrial switching point and the western end of the Oregon Western Lines. From Prineville trains go west on the City of Prineville Railway to Prineville Junction which is represented by the nearside two tracks of the Ochoco Junction Yard modules.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

Traveling west over the Crooked River, the tracks enter the east end of Prineville. Construction is more noticeable here than on other portions of the layout, but this will eventually be a major industrial switching point and the western end of the Oregon Western Lines. From Prineville trains go west on the City of Prineville Railway to Prineville Junction which is represented by the nearside two tracks of the Ochoco Junction Yard modules.

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11 Jan 2009
Much work is still to be done here; but, for operational purposes, industries on the west end of Prineville will serve as the cities of Burns and Hines on the southern end of the Oregon Western Lines. Union Pacific trains will interchange with the OWL here; then, move the traffic on to Ontario.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

Much work is still to be done here; but, for operational purposes, industries on the west end of Prineville will serve as the cities of Burns and Hines on the southern end of the Oregon Western Lines. Union Pacific trains will interchange with the OWL here; then, move the traffic on to Ontario.

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11 Jan 2009
We continue our journey over the Oregon Western Lines by returning to Ochoco Junction for departure to the east--just like the "Kimberly Turn" (a scheduled train's name). After passing the Porta Potty Plant and circling the layout once to go through Seneca, this train will eventually reach Kimberly at the end of the line; then, return to Ochoco Junction after setting out and picking up cars along the way.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

We continue our journey over the Oregon Western Lines by returning to Ochoco Junction for departure to the east--just like the "Kimberly Turn" (a scheduled train's name). After passing the Porta Potty Plant and circling the layout once to go through Seneca, this train will eventually reach Kimberly at the end of the line; then, return to Ochoco Junction after setting out and picking up cars along the way.

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11 Jan 2009
Trains will often take a lap around the layout between towns. "Through" trains utilize the outside track as a single track main line. The lap gives added operational interest and simulates a greater distance between towns than actually exists on the compressed layout.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

Trains will often take a lap around the layout between towns. "Through" trains utilize the outside track as a single track main line. The lap gives added operational interest and simulates a greater distance between towns than actually exists on the compressed layout.

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11 Jan 2009
The "Kimberly Turn" is seen here on a Prairie City industrial siding on its return trip to Ochoco Junction. Upon leaving Ochoco Junction, the KT drops off a cut of cars in John Day for the local to switch the industries at John Day and Prairie City, and picks up cars going to Ochoco Junction on the return trip. The KT does the local switching in Mt. Vernon, Dayville, and Kimberly.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

The "Kimberly Turn" is seen here on a Prairie City industrial siding on its return trip to Ochoco Junction. Upon leaving Ochoco Junction, the KT drops off a cut of cars in John Day for the local to switch the industries at John Day and Prairie City, and picks up cars going to Ochoco Junction on the return trip. The KT does the local switching in Mt. Vernon, Dayville, and Kimberly.

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11 Jan 2009
Prairie City has shown remarkable changes with the coming of the Oregon Western Lines. The Economic Development Commission has succeeded in bringing in more jobs to Grant County in the form of a Pillsbury plant that processes sawdust and forest biomass into breakfast cereal.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

Prairie City has shown remarkable changes with the coming of the Oregon Western Lines. The Economic Development Commission has succeeded in bringing in more jobs to Grant County in the form of a Pillsbury plant that processes sawdust and forest biomass into breakfast cereal.

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11 Jan 2009
The Oregon Western Lines has also benefited by the recent takeover of the Oxbow Ranch by the United States Department of Defense to use as a training facility for various military operations that can only be known to those with high security clearance. Sorry, you are not allowed to take pictures here.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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The Oregon Western Lines has also benefited by the recent takeover of the Oxbow Ranch by the United States Department of Defense to use as a training facility for various military operations that can only be known to those with high security clearance. Sorry, you are not allowed to take pictures here.

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11 Jan 2009
Progress has not bypassed John Day, as the new paper mill attests. The major lumber mills that the OWL was originally built to serve were forced to curtail operations with the changing harvesting practices of the Forest Service. However, with prescribed burning banned on the national forest, alternative uses for the decaying vegetation and small diameter trees were needed.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

Progress has not bypassed John Day, as the new paper mill attests. The major lumber mills that the OWL was originally built to serve were forced to curtail operations with the changing harvesting practices of the Forest Service. However, with prescribed burning banned on the national forest, alternative uses for the decaying vegetation and small diameter trees were needed.

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11 Jan 2009
Large grants from the Oregon Lottery and tax incentives from the United States Government made Grant County attractive to the paper industry--resulting in another major industry along the Oregon Western Lines' right-of-way.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
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Large grants from the Oregon Lottery and tax incentives from the United States Government made Grant County attractive to the paper industry--resulting in another major industry along the Oregon Western Lines' right-of-way.

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11 Jan 2009
Another surprising job producer for the area resulted from the liberalization of marijuana laws. Again, the Economic Development Commission was instrumental in receiving exclusive rights from all federal and state agencies to grow and distribute marijuana products related to medicinal uses. Several elevators were built for the storing and distribution of this lucrative crop which is now being grown extensively in the very favorable climate of the John Day Valley.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

Another surprising job producer for the area resulted from the liberalization of marijuana laws. Again, the Economic Development Commission was instrumental in receiving exclusive rights from all federal and state agencies to grow and distribute marijuana products related to medicinal uses. Several elevators were built for the storing and distribution of this lucrative crop which is now being grown extensively in the very favorable climate of the John Day Valley.

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11 Jan 2009
Pivots are now bringing more efficient irrigation practices to grow the valley's new "cash cow"--marijuana. Beef is still an important export for the county, but recreational hunting is not what it once was. Deer and elk populations have been reduced to record lows because so many inebriated animals have been hit while crossing the highways after feeding in the fields.
upguy

upguy

Oregon Western Lines (N-Scale Modular Layout)
0 x

Pivots are now bringing more efficient irrigation practices to grow the valley's new "cash cow"--marijuana. Beef is still an important export for the county, but recreational hunting is not what it once was. Deer and elk populations have been reduced to record lows because so many inebriated animals have been hit while crossing the highways after feeding in the fields.

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11 Jan 2009
upguy, Jan 4, 2009
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