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Gilman, VT LDE Journals/Blogs
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Super User 1,277 posts ChrisNH Super User 1,277 posts
ChrisNH

The July 2009 issue of Model Railroader features a track plan for the west end of the Maine Central's mountain division. Included prominently in this plan is the paper mill at Gilman Vermont. Since I am including this industry in my design as well, I thought it might be interesting to see what I came up with, too.

GilmanVT.jpg 

My two primary resources for this plan were the maps and descriptions of switching the mill provided by Dave Poor on the MECRR yahoo group as well as the August (I think) 1989 issue of Model Railroading magazine which featured a story and images of the mill being switched. My version of the mill is a somewhat more modern version then that which was featured in model railroader.

aperMill.jpg This paper mill was located on the Connecticut River in Vermont. It was not a pulp mill. It received wetlap which was then turned into specialty paper. Operationally, this makes it interesting as it generates traffic betwen Gilman and the paper mills in northern NH such as the one in Berlin. This in turn lead to cars being exchanged with the B&M for travel north at Whitefield NH. as well as cars headed to St. Johnsbury and cars headed back to Portland. This gives the local crew more to think about.

One interesting thing about the mill is that it did take pulp and waste paper. Those were burned to provide steam. This was common in pulp mills, its an interesting addition to a mill that does not otherwise use pulpwood.

The mill will be designed to run along the front of the facia. In N-scale, even this large a mill will only need to be a few inches high. The operator will effectively be standing in the back half of the mill facing the CT river. A nice detailing project I could explore would be providing interiors to the buildings that have interior tracks.

An operational comprimise I made was the orientation of Pages siding and the spur to the mill. The mill switch should be facing the other way. This is going to slightly change how the crew approaches bringing cars down to mill. The siding at pages was used for storage as well as run-around. The siding at the bag mill was also exploited to reduce switching moves.

I did my best to replicate the mill operationally so that an operator could follow the directions for switching it provided on MECRR group and get the correct results. Its not to often one gets that kind of prototype info and I think it will make a compelling experience. I expect this local to be one of the most popular jobs on my layout. With 19 spots (house 4 and new 4 have 5 spots total..) and interchange in three directions it will keep a crew very busy!

I expect this to be refined quite a lot. I actually think it may be a premature release.. but I thought it would be very interesting to compare to the MRR plan. The track layout of the mill is not an easy one to fit into a space even with the prototype's switchback easing things a bit. The MRR plan used a peninsula to make it work. I used a facia mounted industry.

Attached also is my the current state of my layout design doc. Its only a rough in at this time. In fact, I am using the yard tracks from my Brunswick Maine design to stand in for Newport! However, it will help to show where Gilman falls into the larger scheme of things.

Regards,

Chris

StJ Layout Design Doc

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”           My modest progress Blog
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Scarpia Prolific poster 2,152 posts
Scarpia

Gilman

Chris,

Here is an excerpt from the track profile chart for Gilman. Note that it normally viewed vertically, I flipped it for this post.

This is from the set offered by Scott Whitney in Claremont, NH, if you don't have them, they are well worth the money.

 
HO, early transition erahttp://www.garbo.org/MRRlocal time PST
On30, circa 1900  

 
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ChrisNH Super User 1,277 posts
ChrisNH

I do

Thanks.. I do have them.. just got the latest set that included MEC. You can see on your track profile how the track should be oriented. I have the spur to the plant facing the opposite way..

The most useful track plan for Gilman I have found was one posted on MECRR by a guy who used to switch it. I have taken that as my "Authoritive" source. It is a slighly later period.. mid 80s into the 90s.. but I am ok with that for my 1979 time. The article in Model Railroading is about the plant in 1978 and seems to be the somewhat simpler version that is more like what is in Model Railoader this month. Not simple.. but simpler.

Chris

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”           My modest progress Blog
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rfbranch Frequent poster 588 posts
rfbranch

How will this be serviced?

Hi Chris-

Sorry for taking so long to post on this, Iv'e actaully read through a few times to make sure I'm digesting everything you've mentioned here.  A great post as always!  I did have a question on how you planned to switch the paper mill. 

Will you be using a dedicated switcher at the plant, or will this be switched out by the local that is passing through?  Assuming a "typical" 2-3 hour operating session, I could almost see this as it's own job, is that what you're planning?  I have to say the operational potential you've packed into a 2' x 4' space is really impressive, and you've done it without making anything look over compressed. 

I'd love to hear your vision of how your operators will work the mill.  Again, thanks for another great blog entry!

~Rich

 

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~Rich

20Banner.jpg 

Proto-Freelanced Carfloat Operation, Brooklyn, NY c.1974
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ChrisNH Super User 1,277 posts
ChrisNH

Operation

Hi Rich..

My version of it will be a lot like the prototype operation. The main difference is the Portland-STJ train (YR-1, RY-2) will drop cars at Whitefield rather then Lunenburg where (I think) that actually occured. Lunenburg is being omitted and it's turntable may be worked into Whitefield. The Model Railroader track plan for the same location combines Pages and Lunenburg. I think it would be more interesting to have all the easts go to Whitefield and all the Wests go to StJ. More on that in a minute..

A local will run between Whitefield, NH and St Johnsbury, VT. It will switch Gilman using cars picked and dropped from both locations. The primary pickup at Whitefield will be Wetlap dropped by the B&M from Berlin Mills and perhaps from maine papermills via RY-1. The wetlap is used to make paper by "non pulp" mills. Empties go back in the opposite direction. Fuel Oil and pulpwood (for steam) would come in on YR-1.

In the 80s, Paper went out to a sister paper mill in Iowa via CP in STJ by cars in captive service. This is kind of interesting and I will likely model it. It lets me get away with less cars... Rosin, Starch, Clay, and bagged stuff came and in from the south via Guilford through a circuitious route that ended in StJ. I am still looking into where B&M would have routed these products. I am thinking that some will come in at StJ via the Pool Train from WRJ.

As for actual switching.. I would follow the prototype. I wish I could post the posting I have from MECRR but I will need to get permission first to be polite. Basically it goes like this (take with grain of salt, I am probably murdering the prototype here..)..

0. Arrive from Whitefield.

1. Sort and setout cars to be spotted from train and siding storage leaving them on the main.

2. Go into the mill and pull the empties using the bag mill siding to hold them as required.

3. Push the empties out onto the siding, fetch the cars to be spotted.

4. Grab cars to be spotted on track 6 1/2 - 10. Leave rest at bag mill siding.

5. Spot 6 1/2 - 10

6. Grab remaining cars at bag mill and spot.

7. Return to siding and sort Easts and Wests.

8. Leave Easts and go to St J with Wests.

9. Return from St. J picking up Easts and dropping cars for Gilman from St J. Switch mill if requested (acting as agent, I can go in and move some cars and create a few interesting partial switching requirements..).

10. Pick up Easts and head home to Whitefield. Mmm.. almost time for Beans..

There are some stiff grades in the mill, hence the name "hill track". Likely I will enforce some limits on switching. I could also just limit the length of the tail track to create the same effect.

I think this local combines interesting decisions in moving cars to and from STJ and Whitefield as well as some interesting switching. Its NOT a switching puzzle. Its intended to be more about making railroad decisions then being a brain twister.

Chris

 

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”           My modest progress Blog
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