Eureka branchline

In previous posts, I spoke about operations and adding branchlines and then the Kalispell branchline in particular. In this article, I talk about the Eureke branchline.

The internet and google is an amazing resource. I mentioned in the "Adding Branchlines" article that I had fount that the Mission Mountain Railroad ran (run) two branchlines. The one being Kalispell and then the other, Eureka. So, I then did a search on rail industries in Eureka. First link to pop up was the "Gwynn Lumber and Reload Inc". I was looking for more industries to enable additional and varied cars to be sent to this town. However, again, this Gwynn Lumber and Reload came up trumps. By reading the information in the web page, the following was stated: -

"Gwynn Lumber and Reload Inc, is an international reload facility. Our speciality is transferring dimensional lumber from truck to rail car or truck to truck. We ship lumber all over the continental U.S. and some overseas markets. Our facility is not just subject to lumber products. We have also reloaded wood pellets and wood pulp. Gwynn Lumber has many enquiries about other products coming from and going to Canada. We have the capacity to handle them in most cases. Some of these products include diesel fuel, coal, heavy equipment, and various other products".


By looking at the above, I can have petroleum cars, coal hoppers, flat cars with heavy duty vehicles on board and all this to compliment the normal wood products of the area.

Now, again, how was I going to incorporate this into my existing layout? Initially, I thought about putting a siding on the other side of the peninsular before heading to the visible staging. At the time I was thinking about the return loop for the Kalispell branchline. What about doing something the same on the other side. The visible staging from Whitefish I had called Seattle as this was where my trains were going. But, after looking at the prototype map, the Eureka branchline splits from the BNSF mainline at Stryker. Why not make the visible staging for trains approaching from Whitefish, Stryker. Brilliant!

Locals could enter Stryker from the left on the main line and head all the way to the end. From there, the train could unhook, do a run around and then push the cars onto the interchange track. This was just fantastic. So, without a track plan, lets go to a pictorial again: -

Today, the local heads out of Whitefish heading West to Stryker and Seattle beyond

Here he will be travelling through some scenic areas on the way: -

Stryker at last and entering onto the "Stryker" mainline. On the visible staging there are two tracks that are always empty and are considered mainlines: -

A view of the local heading down the mainline between the two staging yards, Stryker (Back) and Shelby (Front): -

At the end of the yard, the local disconnects, moves forward and then reverses and runs around its load to be able to push the wagons onto the interchange track. The engines use the second mainline to do the run around: -

Lastly, we see the local has pushed the wagons onto the interchange track and is returning to Whitefish empty: -

Now, you may be asking, which cars do you know go here and which cars go elsewhere. For that, I am putting together a 4 card car operating system which I have taken a liking to. If you see this comment, you will know I have yet to post it. I will be putting a link to that post here, once the article is done.

Till next time...