Is there any kind of track maps of the Vancouver, WA area? I'm planning a new layout modeled after this area and was looking for something detailed to go by. I'm mostly interested in the Vancouver yard and the line running east out towards Camas and Washougal.
Yeah, I'd use google earth, It's a pretty simple design I think. basically a wye two legs follow the river (as does the yard) one crosses it headed for portland. There are a few spurs and of course the ports. This is a neat idea. should make a good layout.
That area has major model railroad operations potential. Depending on your commitment to prototype fidelity, I would: 1)Examine how the different railroads and their facilities are laid out in relationship to each other. 2)Research what different operations each railroad performs and how they interact with each other. 3)Prioritize those operations by their interest level to you. 4)Determine what will fit in your available space, and design the track plan to support the operations you want to model, rather than try to duplicate the prototype's track arrangements. Tom
I've been using local.live.com more than I've been using google earth, lately. Here's a link to the area. You may find yourself using more than one tool to get the details you're looking for. http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=45.636698~-122.683182&style=h&lvl=14
wow Wow, that website has better images then Google earth. Very nice. Thanks everyone for your suggestions. These sites will definately help. Right now I'm just in the planning stages until I get the garage cleaned up a bit. It looks like I will have about a 12x15 space though so I should be able to come up with something good.
With appropriate selective compression, you could fit both the BNSF and UP portland yards along with downtown Architecture. Brooklyn Yard might be a stretch, Still the operations on this would be a dream. UP and BNSF intermodal, Unit Grain, Trash trains, Amtrak Empire Builder, Coast Starlight and Cascades along with 4449 excursions. Plus, again with some license and selective compression some P&W/W&P operations.
vancouver Well this is going to be my second layout (although the first never did get finished) so I'm sure I'll be looking for some help along the way. Not sure if I want to model both the UP yard and BNSF as it may be more then I can chew, let alone the space constraints.. We'll see though. My thoughts are to model most of the Vancouver yard as well as the grain/malting plant. From there I was thinking of going out the BNSF line east for some nice scenery and a long run..
Have you considered modeling the Portland Terminal's yard as the base of layout operations? Both UP and BNSF freights serve the yard, and the PT locomotive fleet was/is very interesting. Tom
I considered it but I prefer the BNSF yard in Vancouver as I can throw a rock at it if I step outside my office building. I get to watch it all the time (including when they switch the grain cars out and block access to the company parking lot at 4:30 when everybody is trying to go home.)
So you work off of Mill plain then? I always wanted to live in one of those houses right there, but they didn't look to be in the best neighborhood. Those new Condos "downtown" were intriguing too.
I work on the port side of the yard right next to Great Western Malting. The spur that cuts off from the yard and goes out to service all of the port area (grain trains, auto racks, and center beams) goes right between my office and the parking lot. And yeah, most of that neighborhood right near the tracks isn't very nice. It's starting to get a little better with some of the houses getting remodeled. The Portlanders are coming in droves to this side of the river buying stuff up.
