Uintah, Wasatch & Northern

Owner: Steve Jankowski
Contact: firesprings@comcast.net
Posted 5/2009

The Railroad:
The Uintah (UWN) is a modern, freelanced regional type railroad loosely based on “what if” the narrow gauge Uintah Ry. survived, standard gauged the track, and continued operating into the 1990s. The route follows the old Uintah Railway from Mack, CO (near Grand Jct) to Vernal Ut. (the Uintah only got within about 60 miles of Vernal. The Uintah's main purpose was to ship Gilsonite (Google it) from the mines south of Vernal to Mack where it was interchanged to the D&RGW for processing near Grand Jct). From Vernal the UWN extends north over the Wasatch Mtns, past the Flaming Gorge to Rock Springs, Wy (interchange with the UP). From Rock Springs it continues north past the Atlantic City taconite mine to Lander, Wy where it connects with the BN (BNSF) with trackage rights to Laurel Mt. (BN/MRL interchange).

The Layout:
The layout will represent about 60 miles of the route from just south of Vernal to Dutch John (near the Flaming Gorge - mostly parallel with State Hwy 191). Vernal to Limestone Summit represents the approximately 35 mile, 2% climb up and over the Wasatch mountains (requiring helpers on some trains).
Specifications:

• Appx 1000 Sq ft unfinished basement, "L" configuration.
• Scale- HO
• Design - linier, double deck/around the wall, point-to-point operation through helix w/ 8 track staging yards at each end.
• Train operations - Single track mainline w/ passing sidings / Track Warrant control with ABS signal system (maybe CTC).
• Track elevations (approximates) Lower deck 36”-42” / Upper deck 56”-70”.
• Bench work & construction- mostly 16” wide shelving (3/4” plywood) supported by shelf brackets. 3’ wide open grid bench work at Vernal Yard. Floor to ceiling 2x4 partition walls will run from the helix down the center of the room with 16" bench work on each side. These locations will become active switching areas for industries off the main line and on both levels.
• Track - Approximately 750' of mainline, codes 100 and 83, sidings and spurs mostly codes 83 and 70. Track base cork.
• Turnouts- mainline sidings #8s or #10s, mainline spurs and yard #6s
• Min mainline curve 32”
• Max grade 2%-2.25%)
• Control - CVP Easy DCC-wireless

Operations:
Vernal Yard will be a division point with a classification yard and location of the railroads general offices. About half the trains operating will originate and/or terminate here. 
Trains that will operate include:   

•  2) yard switchers (at Vernal and Ashley)
• (3) locals out of Vernal
• (1) local out of Ashley
• (4) daily mixed freights (staging to staging)
• (3) coal trains (staging (or mine) to staging)
• Log train (Dutch John to Grand Jct (lower staging))
• Phosphate train (Vernal-Rock Springs, Wy (upper staging))
• Atlantic City Taconite (Atlantic City (upper staging) -Grand Jct. (lower staging)
• Helper operations (Vernal-Limestone Summit)  
• Tourist train (Vernal to Flaming Gorge (upper staging) & return)
• MOW train will likely operate frequently (just to keep things interesting)
• Snowplow train (runs on days it actually snows)
• Extras such as intermodal transfer for BNSF or Utah Belt, director's specials