“The Current Plan”

I won't pretend that my plan won't change--as it has many, many times before--but this really does represent the best combination of elements that I have wanted over the years, with few exceptions.    So, the plan will be “North Fort Worth to Wichita Falls”.   That’s pretty nebulous and does allow for inclusion/exclusion of certain elements.  But here is a laundry list of key elements, and a few optional things that will be incorporated if possible.

1.       Saginaw Elevators – In the simplest terms, this includes the three grain/flour elevator complexes, and the Interlocking.   Will likely include the Saginaw Chamber of Commerce office/station, too.  The other industry that ties closely to this “triangle” is the building products spur adjacent to the Con-Agra elevator.   This element will also feature the DRGW switcher and the Rescar CF7’s.

2.       North Yard—the former BN yard will be paramount to allowing for interesting operations for the model railroad.  It also adds another grain elevator, and at least two other additional industries including a signature cold storage facility.  Another key feature is the engine service facilities and yard offices, which will really showcase the variety of power in use during the time period.

3.       Saginaw Yard—the former ATSF yard was still a functioning classification yard during the time period modeled, and also served as the Roadrailer facility in the area which greatly adds to the interest and adds a pretty unique modeling opportunity.

4.       Trinity Plant/Trinity Connection—the Trinity Saginaw facility is another key element to set the location.  BNSF’s 5161cf covered hoppers are among the freight cars being manufactured during the modeling period, which really makes it an exciting industry for BN and BNSF fans.   It will also showcase Trinity’s workhorse powder-blue SW-1 switcher.  The Trinity Connection is the trackage that connects the former BNSF Wichita Falls sub with the former ATSF Texas sub, which permits WF Sub intermodals to access Alliance Yard as well as for other trains to be routed between the two lines, including loaded PRB coal trains routing through Saginaw Yard from the WF-sub.

5.       MP11 Industrial Park—this is a series of industries wedged in between the Saginaw Elevators and the Trinity Connection.   Foodstuffs, petrochemical, grain, steel, and cement industries are all represented in a compact space.

6.       (Optional) FWWR Hodge Yard/Tower 60—this yard is adjacent to the south end of North Yard and is both a good source of interchange for ops purposes and an interesting visual element to add.  Could also include the Tower 60/Stockyards area and could even include more of the FWWR line to the northeast toward Grapevine.  This would add sorely needed industry so that an extra job or two could be added to the list.   The “killer app” here is the running of the “Tarrantula” excursion train, either as a static visitor in the yard or via a staging loop.

7.       (Optional) Alliance Yard—this yard is huge, both physically and metaphorically.  It is the largest classification yard in the area for BNSF, and includes a large intermodal facility and engine service area.  Including and modeling it would be expensive and a very key decision point.  Outside of cost considerations is the amount of space needed to do it justice.   One consideration is modeling it as a “visible staging” yard so that I’m not modeling it spike by spike but still incorporation it at some level.   Definitely the biggest unknown piece of the puzzle.   Also could include the adjacent autorack facility and a also a transload track.

8.       (Optional) UP Duncan Sub—this is mostly referring to the Saginaw elements, but there is some thought to modeling the corresponding Duncan Sub mileage all the way to the at-grade rail crossing with the BNSF at Bowie. (Bovord)   Again, a big decision as to whether to model simply a “dummy” track for Saginaw, a staging loop concept , or a full-bore second line modeled to include Bridgeport/Chico’s massive rock crusher industry.

i)      Bridgeport Crushed Stone  TXI Bridgeport, Texas

ii)     Bridgeport Quarry Lehigh Hanson, Inc. Chico, Texas

iii)    Chico Quarry Martin Marietta Materials Chico, Texas

iv)   Hanson Aggregates Perch Hill Plant (Bridgeport Quarry?)

v)    Blue Star Materials

vi)   Chico Limestone (Chico Quarry?)

9.       (Optional) Hicks Airfield Industrial Area—this includes a small BNSF switching area, plus another very large Trinity car repair facility.  The Trinity plan features a neat little GE switcher and tons of freight cars…some smashed up pretty good.  This could also be the exit point for the Duncan sub, either as a staging loop or continuing to points northwest.

10.   Avondale/Herman/Decatur passing sidings & Poco Graphite in Decatur.

11.   Decatur Hill/LBJ National Grasslands

12.   “Bovord”—this represents one of the most significant examples of “modelers license” in the whole concept.  In reality this will be a morphing of two small towns that both have significant roles for BNSF.  Alvord, TX is the smaller of the two and rests at the base of Decatur Hill.  The two key elements in Alvord are a passing siding and a small spur that hosts the BNSF helper locomotives in operation during the time period.  Bowie hosts a MOW maintenance yard and a couple of industries.  The plan is to embellish further with the addition of a few other feasible online industries to make a viable and interesting operations spot.  This is also where UP’s Duncan sub crosses…not an active interchange point but an interesting feature nonetheless.

13.   Bellevue/Dickworsham/Henrietta passing siding—another space-eating passing siding, but a chance for a much needed run to add some distance between Bovord and Wichita Falls.  A slight change of scenery as well, with a bit of “wild west” kind of plateaus jutting up ever so slightly.  Another unique feature is a pasture of camels that roamed near the passing siding during the period.   Not many model railroads can sport a legitimate herd of camels!

14.   Rhea/Southeast Wichita Falls passing siding/industrial-coming into Wichita Falls is effectively a long passing siding the splits off at Rhea Junction and is the result of the two railroads the served the city from the southeast.   The Fort Worth & Denver and the Katy both had lines the paralleled each other from Henrietta, and the remnants of that form parallel lines from Rhea until right up to the Wichita Falls yard.   There are two notable industries along these lines.   This element is still up-in-the-air with regards to how it will be included.   One thought is to basically extend the passing siding through the yard and use some modelers license to reconfigure trackage to make that workable and still maintain operations.  (accomplished by a third bridge over the river, serving as a yard lead for both yards to keep the mainline clear.)

15.   Wichita Falls Yard—this is the center of operations for Wichita Falls and is located near downtown.   It is pretty unusual in that it has a grade crossing right through the center of the yard which adds complexity to yard switching and ensures mainline trains don’t dwell too long.   Another nice feature is the Wichita Falls Railroad Musuem, although it’s not 100% certain it will be included.   Industry –wise, the prototype has an out of service elevator and a team track within the yard limits.   The elevator may be utilized as an active industry.   There are minimal yard facilities otherwise, and a small office that will probably be downsized further. (think BLMA yard office)   There is a signature, picturesque doubletrack bridge on the northwest side of the yard that will be a must-have.

16.   UP/WT&J Yard/Industrial—the UP has trackage rights on most of the Fort Worth & Denver for various reasons but has always had rights to Wichita Falls since acquiring MKT in 1989.   They run mostly grain trains and a local to the WT&J yard for interchange with the shortline.  The yard itself is fairly small with a two stall enginehouse as it’s signature spotting feature.  Also, a rather large scrap metal facility runs pretty much the length of the yard and provides quite a few carloads.  

17.   BNSF Industrial—there’s not a ton of industry in Wichita Falls from BNSF’s standpoint.  Certanteed and Cryovac (in nearby Iowa Park) are two of the more noteable, plus the aforementioned grain facilities.    There will likely be some more embellishment here, including what used to be a cement facility between the river and the WT&J Interchange.   I think there was also a feed mill as well that might pop back up from the dead.    There is an Attebury grain elevator, scrap yard, and perhaps one or two other industries to the southwest of the BNSF yard as well.

18.   WT&J Sheppard/Burk line—I intend to model a portion of the WT&J as essentially an industrial park of sorts…the line runs due North near Sheppard AFB and serviced a number of industries including PPG Glass before moving along to Burkburnett with a large Agribusiness facility on the edge of town and decent size elevator downtown before hopping over the Red River into Oklahoma.   I will for sure be modeling the industries and maybe Burk, depending on available space.   It may call for compressing a lot together but it will be important as a switching job for ops.