Boomer Bill's Green Bay Southern Railroad

My railroad is named the Green Bay Southern. I model the locomotives and cars of the Green Bay and Western Railroad. I will also model the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range Railroad on the third level.

Construction halted on my prior Green Bay Southern Railroad in September, 2003, when we started planning our new home. We started construction of the new trainroom with house attached at the end of March, 2004. We moved in November 1, 2004. Construction on the railroad started in January, 2005.

This is a photo of the trainroom under construction. Note the holes at the base of the wall between the trainroom and the dining room. I have rolling cabinets that roll in an out under the benchwork. We have cabinet doors that open into the dining room. My wife can use the rolling cabinets for storage. When I need to work under the benchwork, I simply roll the cabinets out of the way. Also notice the "short walls" coming down from the ceiling. I wanted the framers to build the valence over the railroad. Try to explain to a builder or a framer how we build valences. The framers had not problem understanding how to build these "short wall" valences.

The framers and sheetrock crew also coved three corners of the trainroom. These two photos also show the insulation in the interior walls. This reduces the transmission of noise between the trainroom and other parts of the house.

The photo above and the photo below show the completed trainroom ready for painting.

This was the way the trainroom looked when we moved in. The walls are painted blue and the ceiling white. The builder recessed the vertical shelf standards into the wall. These are ready for brackets for supporting the benchwork around the room.

Prior to beginning construction on the layout, some additional room preparation was necessary. I installed a dropped ceiling between the short walls and over the layout.

I also painted clouds.

 

In this photo, the lower staging level is about 60% complete. The second level has just been started in the back corner. The first helix is on the left.

Minimum scenery has been started at this point. Here is the pulpwood millpond with a small stream. I need to add a lot of details.

The Pulpwood Mill is now on site. Finish work and detailing is not done yet.

 

The first helix is located by the entry door. The first and fourth level extend out beyond the main part of the helix and have small scenicked sections. The extended levels create a shadow box effect as well as allowing for industry switching.

Another view of Amherst Junction showing a few of the industries.

Another section of Amherst Junction showing minimal green grass. In case of fire, visitors and operators can sound the alarm and teletype signal in the fire station. That's a 48-star flag since I am modeling 1956.

Two of the industries at New London.

This is a view of Norwood Yard in Green Bay taken from the engine terminal. Yes, on the prototype there is a grain elevator overlooking the yard. Actually the grain elevator is inside the wye upon which the yard is built.

After more than a year waiting, Walthers finally started shipping the 90 foot turntable. Now I have to build the roundhouse.

This is the CNW mainline along the river in Green Bay. The Broadway tower and crossing with the Green Bay is in the upper right of this photo. Pictured is a small part of the Riverview Industrial District. The Green Bay Southern RR currently provides service to 50 industries The cutout newspapers in this photo represent the footprints of unbuilt industry structures.

I model 1956, but I use modeler's license that results in the inclusion of a few anachronisms. This scale model of Noah's Ark is a four-plus millennia anachronism. God is bringing the animals to the ark for loading in this scene from 2348 B.C. Although God doesn't need the help, the GBS does need the revenue. Stock cars are routed to Noah's siding along with boxcars of feed. Just to the right of this photo is the carferry which is the eastern terminus of the railroad.

UP Challenger 3985 and other prototype photos.

The photographs on this page are copyright 2005-2006 by Wm. E. Wright.