One cannot see the forest without the trees or something like that.

The Columbia Cascade and Western club models a proto-freelance line between Albany and Bend Oregon over Santiam pass through the Deschutes National Forest. The club layout was featured in issue #36, February 2013, of Model Railroad Hobbyist.

This layout is a huge complex and ambitious project (at least for me). The way to undertake large projects is to break them into smaller steps. I've debated the best way to break things up to be more manageable. The traditional approach is one type of construction at a time: (e.g. bench work, track / electronics, backdrop). The one module at a time approach, turns this around: build one section (module) until mostly complete before moving to the next section.

I've landed on a approach somewhere between those: phasing.

I want to model the Burlington Northern branch line between Hillyard and Kettle Falls in the early 70s. My goal is for the model to eventually both look and operate like the prototype.

Others might model this branch line differently. I like yard operations so Kettle Falls yard was a requirement. I also like: the feeling the train is going someplace, heavy industry and branch line switching. My choices reflect my preferences.

The Kettle Falls Branch, where is that?

The Kettle Falls Branch connected with the former Great Northern mainline north of Spokane, at Dean / Colbert. The Kettle Turn (the 6th subdivision) would run from Hillyard to Kettle Falls WA and return. The Kettle Falls turn served as a bridge connecting between to Nelson BC and to the 7th subdivision connecting to Republic WA via Grand Forks BC.

1970 Spokane Division BN Timetable:

Room prep started in August 2019, after deciding the current house was going to be the home of the layout.

Wife insists that the garage door must remain functional and household storage, including refrigeration, must remain or be improved. The electrical panel, furnace and water heater to all remain in current location.

Room mostly cleared (that took some planning). I had eight light fixtures and 6 additional outlets installed and the garage door opener moved to a side mount. Like this:

This blog will document the layout in my garage...

My hope is this turns into a prototypical based model inspired by a Burlington Northern Branch Line in Eastern Washington. The Burlington Northern line extended north from Spokane Wa / Hillyard to Kettle Falls Wa and beyond into Canada. The model will be HO scale (~1:87) in a 21x18 foot garage with significant other constrains. Target era is the early 70s.

Expect slow and irregular progress.

Thanks for reading, more to come...