Awesome

Beautiful work. Awesome scenery and I really like the detail and weathering on that CNW GP9. More photos please! And also what is size of your layout and do you have a trackplan for it?

Track Plan....Final Version 3.0

Thank you for your nice comments. The layout is about 27 x 27 feet overall.

Hans

Thanks

Wow! Big layout compared to mine. Thanks for the follow up with the trackplan. That's really helpful.

Nice work

Great looking layout.  Please keep sharing.

Tell me more about the house model, please.

Tell me more about the house model, please.

Terrific Pics

Those are amazing pics! I love the backdrop in the last pic. Is the crane on the truck a scratch made or purchased model? I could use one for a lumber operation I plan on using on my not yet built basement layout.

Newbie - Ed

Miner's House

Hi Milt,

Some years ago, I saw this abandoned classic miner's house near Jesseville, MI. It looks like the owner added on to it as his family grew. I took some photos and measurements knowing it wouldn't be there long. The Ironwood, MI area is like a time capsule of the 1950's and I really enjoy researching and recording its rich history.

Thanks for your interest,

Hans

Pulp Grapple

Ed,

It's a Herpa 326-51491 pulpwood grapple mounted on a box truck frame with the box removed.

Hans

Nice Yooper layout... yah, eh?

Although this reply is coming from a "Troll" (Michigander living under the Mackinaw Bridge - downstate) I spent some of my younger days in college at NMU in Marquette. Hans, in my opinion you've truly captured the spirit of "da U.P." on your layout - I can almost smell the pulpwood bark at the woodlot, the sulfur wafting in the air from a distant paper mill and hear the rumble, rattle and squeals from the old ore jennies as they pass by.

Since spending occasional summer vacations "up North" growing up in the '70s and my college days I've grown to love the U.P. and only wish I could have experienced it when there was more active track. Being a C&NW fan I'd love to model the lines between Escanaba and Ashland, WI or perhaps Eland, WI north - so I could run the Flambeau 400 besides the local freights.

Well, sometimes we've got to compromise and settle on one theme - and keep the others for our dreams.

Thanks for sharing!

More Yooper Layout Pics

Hi DM,

Thank you for your kind comments. Even though my wife won't move to the UP, at least I can have a piece of it in my basement.

Hans

Looks great

Late Response - Thanks for the details on the house

But of course it spawns more questions, like how to replicate the siding.

You may or may not know, as Thomas probably is aware, those houses look a lot like the ones along the Mesabi and Vermillion ranges in northern Minnesota.  There must be something about the economy or house building skills that is shared by these mining areas.

Well done, my friend; houses, layout, all of it!  But feel free to expound further if you wish.

Miners' Homes

Some of the common features of homes in upper midwest mining locations are steep pitched roofs, "insulbrick" or asbestos siding, a volume minimizing footprint to conserve heat, and several additions and sheds.

A good source for modeling these homes is Clever Models. They sell several CDs that allow you to print out structures on heavy cardstock which you fold and glue to shape. They have some samples on their website that you can try free. The gray house I did was scratchbuilt of styrene, and then I glued on the siding from my Clever Models CD. 

I was in the Ely, MN area several years ago and toured the Soudan Mine. We went down almost 2400'. That was the   best $8 I ever spent!

I really enjoy the historical research aspect of the hobby. Going to the local museums, talking to the old miners and railroaders, and taking pictures. It's really important to take pictures before it's gone. Attached is a shed I saw that had an old sign with a 4 digit phone number. The next week it was demolished. I made a decal from the photo and now it lives on on my layout.

Hans

Loader

In the 1:1 world the loader on the truck would have to be a Ramey loader. They were the first ones built. They were built in Two  Harbors, MN. I went to school with the son of the man who invented the grapple for it. His name was Richard Anderson and Ramey built it until the patent on the grapple expired and then many companies started to manufacture them, You have the right color on the loader as they were all painted red. Was down in Mississippi before Christmas and spotted an old one sitting on the ground. First one I had seen in years.

Just thought you might like a short history on it. Great looking pictures of the U.P. It reminds me a lot of N.E. Minnesota and many houses like yours are still around and being lived in. Of course in much better shape than the one you photographed. Hope to see more of your work in the future.

Log Loaders

Bing's comments got me thinking about the loaders.  This one looks like a Hiab, because of the extendable boom like we used on the Stores truck at the Soo.  I was also familiar with the Barko models that Koppers used in Superior, WI at their tie treating plant.  I got to run those a few times.  Took a LOT of getting used to.

I never saw a Ramey, so the reference had me Googling it.  I also came across pre-hydraulics era loading using a sling and a small steam shovel, complete with a chain from the teeth of the shovel to the sling.  Came away with lots of ideas.

Hans, I especially likes the way you painted the steel of the claw on the loader.

Yooper Layout

Dan,

It looks like we are sorta neighbors. Get in touch with me off site at richhard01@comcast.net  Maybe we can get together as I model the CNW in the NE corner of Wisconsin & the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Richard Superintendent CNW - Peninsula Division

http://mrhmag.com/blog/richard_harden

Gogebic Range

These are some great pics keep them coming. Glad to see someone else modeling the CNW and the Upper Peninsula

Richard   Superintendent CNW - Peninsula Div.

http://mrhmag.com/blog/richard_harden

More Pictures

Here are some more pics. I'm presently working on building the Newport Mine, one of five that will be on my layout.

Hans   

Log Loader

Bing,

Thanks for the info on the log loader. I just looked through the Walthers catalog and kind of cobbled it together with a Mini Metals truck body and a Herpa grapple not realizing it had a prototype.

Hans

Gogebic Range

Keep the pictures coming they are great and they show what looks like a real nice layout. Maybe you could give more info on how you are building some of the structures. What materials you are using especially the houses.

Richard - Superintendent CNW - Peninsula Division

http://mrhmag.com/blog/richard_harden

Nice work

Really nice work, Hans.  I love that concrete bridge, I recognize it from photos I've seen.  Keep up the good work and please keep sharing your photos with us.

Chris

Mansfield St. Viaduct

Thanks Chris. 

The concrete viaduct was built in 1923 and was demolished in 1995. I happened to be in Ironwood the weekend before it was to be torn down and took lots of pictures. My model is a Rix deck with scratchbuilt supports. I cut a pattern out of foamboard, made a latex mold, and then cast them in plaster. The foamboard has a natural surface texture that looks close to concrete.

Hans

Thanks

Thanks for the update.  The bridge came out great, the texture and color on the columns is super.   I' ll check back often to look for updates.  Keep up the great work.

Chris

Movie Scene

Hans,

I was thinking about this picture the other day,

it reminded me of a scene from Anatomy of a Murder.  It is a great movie for a lot of reasons, but there is a scene towards the end where a CNW train just like this one pulls into and out of a station.  I knew the locale was to be Michigan, so I checked IMDB and it was filmed in the UP, and listed the Ishpeming  train depot as a filming location.  If you haven't seen it, it is definitely worth a look.  There is also a quick view of the LS&I earlier on too.  I thought you might be interested.

Chris