0805 OPEN SUNDAY

OPEN HOUSE /RUN SUNDAYS

AUGUST 2005

With the undertaking of building the new Permanent layout, allot of thought went into how and why the tracks and scenery will look. To give you an idea of what we are trying to replicate, here are some pictures and dialog to help complete the concept of the P&E. Some imagination is need to get the whole picture. OK, allot of it would help in some of the pictures. Enjoy the tour.

A pair of P&E "GEEPS" with the "Crater transfer" in tow, is just leaving the CORP yard for P&Es Crater Yard. To the right in this scene will be the MEDCO Saw mill and log receiving area. To the left will be a mock up of the Timber Products Plant.	A shot of the Pacific and Eastern Railway as it ties in with the Siskiyou branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad, now owned and operated by CORP. This area is located in the same area of the new overpass west of the "BIG X" intersection. Local trains would inter via the "Y" (seen to your left) and proceed eastward to crater yard. In the early 1960's, the track was removed and this right of way was used for the logging trucks to bypass Highway 62 to deliver raw logs to MEDCO. What we are trying to replicate is the MEDCO Mill and some of the tracks that ran thru that mill and east to Butte Falls before the tracks were removed.
A P&E "crater transfer" crosses the Interstate and Biddle Road on it's way to Crater Yard.	Here is where the P&E crosses over North Pacific Highway (Highway 99) and just south of the Medford RailRoad Park then east, up and over I-5 and Biddle Road just north of the Withams Truck Plaza. The tracks would continue east for another mile before entering what would be known as Crater Yard just East of the Airport. In 2004 with the realignment of the I-5 interchange, the Bridges over both the Interstate and Biddle Road were removed, the dirt that was used as the approach ramps on either side was removed and trucked to other locations for use in the new interchange. Some of the fill was used in the new northbound on ramp and some was placed further north to be used in other construction projects.
The P&E's "High Cascade" passenger waits for the locals to finish there moves before leaving Medford for Klamath Falls to meet AMTRAK.	This Yard would be located in the area between COSTCO and the Medford/Jackson County Airport. Standing on the back porch of Wal Mart facing west, you'd be looking across the west end of the yard to see the planes landing. Crater Yard is the Western "HUB" of the Pacific and Eastern Railway. Cars for the Siskiyou line (west) are sorted, and trains made up for the eastern haulers, along with the White City, Eagle Point and Butte Falls trains being blocked and sorted along with the East Hauler which goes to Klamath Falls. Many of the P&E Crews start and end their day here. THIS IS WHERE YOU'LL GET YOUR TRAIN ASSIGNMENTS
The Butte Falls turn makes it's way thru the many industries on it's way to The high Cascade community. the bottom right is where the P&E will cross Little Butte Creek and Nick Young Road just west (south) of Eagle Point	A Long way from being finished, here is a shot of the White City complex. The plan is to fill almost this whole area with industries, from Lumber mills to polymer plants to bulk cement distributors. Next to MEDCO, White City will be the most demanding assignment on the west side of the Cascades. Many, many cars will be spotted and or removed from the various industries keeping the"White City Switcher" very busy at operating sessions.
While rail fanning the P&E today we were able to get a shot of both the Butte Falls turn and an excursion with an SP "Mike" on the point with a string of heavy weights climbing the hill above Eagle Point. (The upper track will be hidden with trees and brush when the scenery is finished).	Eagle Point a thriving community with one of Oregons' oldest flour mills. At one time there were many lumber mills along Little Butte Creek and the P&E line. Today there is but a few small mills still in operation, the Willamette Egg Farm receives a few hoppers loaded with feed, a few Reefers for the outgoing eggs, and an occasional grain hopper or 2 will be spotted at the Butte Creek Milling Co.
In this unfinished scene, A local (EXTRA 3704 EAST) is rounding the curve at Derby	Derby Siding is the half way point between Butte Falls and White City. The Dispatcher uses this siding for meets with the "Locals" and the "Haulers". There are times when either the west or East Hauler will have to wait for the Butte Falls turn to lumber (no pun) by with his heavy load bound for the Mills both in Butte Falls and points east. Today's Local was fairly light in that it only requires 2 GP-60s to pull the hill.
As luck would have it. The 3704 is required to hold the siding at Derby so the East bound Butte Falls Excursion passenger can slip by	In this shot we see more of the Derby siding. To the right will be 2 Micro Engineering Viaduct kits end to end to span the "gorge" located just past the white foam in the center of the picture. Once the Local has crossed the trestle, it will be approaching Butte Falls, it's destination for this trip.
3704 arriving at Butte Falls ready for it's chores switching out the empties and loads for the area.	Another picture of the 3704 arriving at Butte Falls. In the foreground will be the Park and trees while in the background will be the small logging community. Once the Local reaches the siding to drop it's cars, it will go to work switching the many small mills in the area then block it's train and head back down the hill to Medford and end it's day at Crater Yard.
The BFT ready to back it's train into the holding track. Just below this area is the Siskiyou staging area.	The Butte Falls turn is one of the more enjoyable Duties on the P&E. If your lucky enough to draw the BFT job, you not only get to run your special power on a good pull, you also get to do some local switching. To complete this Task, you can figure on having a good 2+ hr run up the hill and back on operating nights. You should also be ready to pull out of your stable, at least 3 good pulling engines. The requirement for this run is usually 12 to 16 powered axles. Although on some days 2 GP-60s will do the job just fine.
Turbos howling, flanges squealing and the smoke bellowing, the East Hauler is on the finial leg of the pull to "summit" the highest point on the line.	Here we see an East Hauler climbing the 2% grade between Butte Falls and the Summit. The summit is 62 inches above the floor where as the lowest point (siskiyou staging yard) is only 31 inches. Below in this picture is the West end of White City, just to give you an idea of the climb to this point. There will be more soon, Please check back for other pictures of our run Sundays.