Layout changes planned for 1997

The layout is everchanging. In 1997, the club has several projects in mind. The most noticable change will be moving the Olympia Freight yard The club has approved new construction. Look for train bridges to be replaced. Currently the circus has set up their big tops in Olympia. In February this mini-scene will be replaced with something new!

After much discussion and exploration, the Olympia Freight and Passenger yards are going to get facelift. Originally a project of the Boy Scouts' Explorer Post at WCMRS, it was completed back in 1979. The whole function of the yard is about to change. It will now also have passenger service facilities to complement the passenger yard.

The new yard and the operator pit are going to be turned around. This way the operator when running trains in the yard will be facing the public. The yard won't be exclusively for freight anymore. Next to the passenger yard, there will be spurs for post-office railway express cars, cleaning racks for passenger cars, and food services for dinning cars.

The interurban tracks will stay where they are, and be behind the operator. These aren't going to be disturbed. Neither is the branchline, which winds it way up the mountain side.

In September 1996, rubbings were taken from the freight yard approaches (turnouts X3 and X5). The yard is being built offsite, and will replace the existing yard. The rubbings provide a template to locate the new yard tracks. Once the trackwork has been laid down and the turnout solenoids connected, the old yard will be ripped out. Then the new yard will be dropped into place. This should minimize the down-time for Olympia. We're gunna try to salvage some of the track and below-board goodies like the control solenoids for the turnouts.

Bridge Replacement

With all the construction around the Narrow Gauge, there wasn't time in 1996 to start on bridges before the Holiday Show. The first bridge replacement this year will probably be made from brass. This bridge is behind and to the right of the baseball diamond in Olympia. This replaces a wooden bridge that has been beaten up my members ducking under it trying to get to their train. Many people (this author included) have bumped a bridge with head or back.

The scenery committee needs to refurbish the double-track bridge. The curved bridge shown here at the right, is also targetted for replacement. It is behind the Diablo yard, to the left as seen from the alsie. In April 1996, the wood support girders were removed, leaving just the pillars and the roadbed. The bridge is being changd from wood supports to a flowing concrete structure.

The Scenery committee envisions the new bridge to be a sweeping concrete arch. This should look great especially since the bridge curves to the right as the track heads uphill! However, bridges are usually curved. We're researching bridge photos to see what is prototypical. Currently, we're looking at an east coast style aqueduct