Module: Cascade, ID

By hagen

Cascade, Idaho. Is consists of eight segments and has a total length of about six meters. It has three industry tracks with a total of about 14 spots, a three meter long passing siding and a wye to connect a to a branch or turn trains.

The prototype

Photo: RICHARD STEINHEIMER, 1960s, private collection
Photo: RICHARD STEINHEIMER, 1960s, private collection

Photo: LEE RUSSELL, 1941, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Photo: LEE RUSSELL, 1941, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

The Module

 

Trackplan for the Cascade module (dark) with two extensions.
Trackplan for the Cascade module (dark) with two extensions.

Switching Cascade

Its not always that busy, but someone wanted to run trains with 70 cars.
Its not always that busy, but someone wanted to run trains with 70 cars.

The module It has four spurs with spots to be served but not every spot is served every day. No matter what direction your train is coming from, one of the spurs is always facing you. Thus you have do a run a round move or – if working on a turn – serve it on the way back.

The Industries

Team Track

Looking over cascade and other modules in the far. Module totalling more than 10 m straight track. The team track to the left, with a few cars spotted. A 30 car refer extra is waiting on the siding to let a passenger train pass.
Looking over cascade and other modules in the far. Module totalling more than 10 m straight track. The team track to the left, with a few cars spotted. A 30 car refer extra is waiting on the siding to let a passenger train pass.

House Track

 

Hallack & Howard Lumber Company

Lumber Warehouse served in the eighties.
Lumber Warehouse served in the eighties.

How it all came into beeing

It took about three years to build and complete this module. You can read more about the construction module in my Building-Cascade series.