Oregon & Northwestern Railroad in a DQ

[upguy]

I decided to post the progress of this layout in another thread since there is almost enough done to begin railfanning. This is an N-scale layout that is planned to be displayed in a Dairy Queen in John Day, Oregon, once it is completed. It is a feeble attempt to represent the Oregon & Northwestern Railroad that operated between Seneca and Hines, Oregon.

If you would like to see previous pictures in the development of this layout see the topic: Northwest Modeling Mecca??

On the right side of this first picture is the portion of the layout where Seneca will be located. The train has apparently already left town, so we will try to catch up to it before it reaches Silvies, about half way to Burns, Oregon.

 

[upguy]

Here the train is exiting a narrow section of canyon to the south of Seneca, Oregon. On the way to Silvies the valley broadens and the train lumbers across a stretch of relatively flat country. Then, to the south of Silvies, the tracks leave the valley to cross over Divine Ridge, thus avoiding the much longer route along the river.

For some reason we are seeing foreign power on the ONW today.

 

[upguy]

Just before beginning the climb over the mountain, the train passes the old water tower at the lower end of this broad portion of the Silvies Valley. From here the train winds its way to the Poison Creek tunnel that will take it into the upper reaches of Poison Creek once it breaks through the divide.

 

[upguy]

With a little luck and some knowledge of the area we have arrived just in time to set up the camera, catching the train coming out of the Poison Creek tunnel. From here the train will be on a downgrade all the way to Burns.

Unfortunately, there is no road along the tracks here; so we will have to head back to the highway and hope to catch up with the train where Poison Creek meets the creek coming out of Divine Canyon.

 

[upguy]

This was a hurried shot to get the train coming out of the Poison Creek drainage and into Divine Canyon. For a little while now we will be right beside the tracks, but since I will be driving I don't think I can get any pictures until we reach Burns.

 

[upguy]

In Burns, Oregon, the Union Pacific has a small depot and interchange with the Oregon & Northwestern. It is unusual for the UP to be sending an engine over the ONW like it did today. The Oregon & Northwestern engines were apparently down for maintanence today, so we had a rare treat to see borrowed power on the ONW.

I'll try to get a photo of one of the Oregon & Northwestern engines on the next visit to this area.

 

[upguy]

Here is a last look at the railroad as we fly out of the Burns airport. The last few years it has been really dry in this part of the country. It looks like all the vegetation has been scorched! I hope that they get some rain soon or all the ranchers will have to sell their cattle before they die.

 

[trainmasta13601]

coooooooool o and very nice job

 

[Tyson Rayles]

Neat-o upguy!

 

[Catt]

I am impressed with both the layout and your storyline.

 

[kettlestack]

WOWEEEEEEEE upguy, That's no itzy bitzy layout!!!!
It's coming along real nice. Lots of interesting aspects for customers to drool on.
Is this the first of your idea catching on in John Day???
I sure hope it is and that the interest spreads like wildfire.
Good thinking there my friend, and the modelling is super.

Keep the progress photos coming, it's going to be a real cracker of a layout.

Errol

 

[Lighthorseman]

Ah, yes, but will there be a Dairy Queen, along with a little brown truck parked outside on the layout?

 

[upguy]

Actually, the DQ is too far from the railroad to include on the layout itself; however, there has been talk of custom painting a reefer for DQ.

Here is another DQ layout picture taken 5/12/03.

 

[upguy]

The mountains have been repainted with a brown with not as much red in it.

 

[Tad]

Looking good, Rett.

 

[davidstrains]

nice piece of work.

 

[upguy]

Pictures after tonight's work session. The first is the Seneca end with a view of the Poison Creek tunnel.

 

[upguy]

Middle section.

 

[upguy]

Burns/Hines end of the layout.

 

[upguy]

Descending the Poison Creek drainage...