The Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific
a 2 rail, O scale layout in progress
For the past 2 ½ years we have been building a nearly 4000 square foot layout. We
are working with a small crew; numbering 4 people at most and often only two on the
job site. This is truly a labor of love for all involved. We are building this layout
as if it is in our own basement, with great attention to detail and deliberate planning
and model work. This is not a “run of the mill” contract job. The final railroad
will be a fine example of 2 rail O scale modeling that reflects both the owners’
and my own vision.
Above are a couple of shots of a Red Caboose GP-9 painted and lettered for the Canadian
National Railway.In the early years of dieselization; the CN ran its units long hood
forward. The DWP RS-11’s were set up to operate this way as well. This Geep has been
re-powered with a drive from P&D Hobbies and has a QSI sound decoder installed. So
far it has been a fairly reliable loco though a little light. Extra weight has been
added to make it a little more sure-footed.
The following photo journal is hoped to be an entertaining and informative document.
This project is one of our current and certainly largest projects. We hope that some
of the techniques and strategies employed in the construction of this layout will
be useful to other modelers. Please do not attempt to locate or contact the clients
involved. Any questions or comments may be directed to Scott Anderson, sanderson@scaleartmodels.com.
The layout is not presently available for visitation. Open houses and other events
will be announced when the layout is deemed to be in a suitable condition to host
such events for the public and our fellow enthusiasts. Thank you for your consideration
and interest.
The DWP or “PEG” is a 170 mile line that travels through some fantastic scenery
from Duluth Minnesota to Ft. Francis, Ontario with connections to Winnipeg. The railroad
dates back to the late 1800’s and is still in operation today. The DWP is a subsidiary
of the Canadian National so the equipment and operating procedures bear a striking
resemblance to the CN. We will be modeling 1956, steam was still the primary form
of motive power, but diesel power will take over soon as 11 Alco RS11s will replace
all steam within a year. Steam locos on the PEG were all 2-8-0’s built by Schenectady
and Brooks. There were some visiting power from the Grand Trunk Western and Canadian
National as well as connections with Great Northern, Chicago and Northwestern, SOO
Line, Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range and Burlington; to name a few. Our layout is
a very compressed version of the entire route originating at Duluth, Minnesota and
terminating at Ft. Francis, Ontario. Major industries found along the line are paper
and iron ore. While the DWP did not carry ore, it did interchange with the Missabe
near the town of Virginia, Minnesota. Much of the scenery is rural which means thousands
of trees, however there are two large urban areas; Duluth/West Duluth and Virginia.
Operations consists primarily of freights; pulpwood north to Ontario and paper goods
south back to Duluth. Passenger trains ran once or twice a day. Train orders were
passed to stations by telegraph well into the 1970’s. There is no signaling. When
finished the layout will require 8 operators, but one person can run the layout,
sit back and enjoy the trains as they pass trough a miniature Minnesota landscape.
The plan above shows the overall size and shape of the layout as well as some of
the major points. The building is approximately 100’ x 59’. The lowest tracks are
42” at Duluth and they climb to 62” crossing over the aisle in the lower left corner.
There is nearly 3000’ feet of Atlas Flex track and 150 plus Atlas turnouts involved.
Each yard can hold upwards of 150 cars. There are 3 six stall roundhouses and 3 turntables.
Many of the structures are unique and will be scratch-built. Many or the depots are
built to Canadian National standard designs. There is one tunnel on the line located
at Ely’s Peak just North of West Duluth. There are numerous bridges. The layout is
loop to loop. Each reverse loop is automatic using CVP Products auto reversing boosters.
The railroad is DCC using CVP Product’s Easy DCC system. There are 12 power zones.
Control is by wireless hand-held throttles . There are two 24”Millhouse River turntables
and one 36” Bowser turntable. The mainline minimum radius is 60” and the steepest
grade is 1.5%. Most of the switches use Caboose Industries ground throws, there are
some Tortoise switch machines used as well. Benchwork is L girder. Wiring is 12 gauge
stranded for the buss and 18 gauge stranded for the feeders. The roadbed is Midwest
cork on 3/4” plywood sub-roadbed. Scenery is expanded urethane hardshell over foamboard
formers. Many of the structures will be scratch-built while kits and ready-built
will be used where a specific prototype is not required. The majority of the steam
locos are re-detailed Weaver 2-8-0 Consolidations. The RS-11s are also Weaver. As
decoders and details are added to the locos I will add segments to this journal as
to how and what is done.
To the right is an un-modified, except for a MRC decoder, Weaver 2-8-0. While the
manufacturer intends them to be Baldwin products, they have a fairly generic look
that will pass as the Brooks and Schenectady locos used by the DWP. The details of
the DWP locos are very “Canadian National”. The loco in the photo has been running
on the layout for about a year. It is reasonably reliable although we added more
pickups to the loco and converted the tender to pickup track power as well. Look
for more info on these changes and more as this journal progresses.
Check back often and see what is new.
Some of the N-2-a class had Elesco feedwater heaters while other had Coffin type
feedwater heaters. It will take some work to get the Weaver 2-8-0s to look like this!
