ROAD TRIP!

As Spring came forth in Oregon, it was time for a road trip!  My SP Cascade Line scenery will reflect late April foliage.  My blog post last May (http://espeecascades.blogspot.com/2012/05/on-site-research.html)took note of the Spring foliage along the Cascade Line.  It was time for another visit and lots of photos. 

We began in Springfield.  My model Springfield already has the track installed and wired, so this trip gathered photos of structures, industries and the overall landscape (think backdrop).  The historic Springfield depot still exists, albeit moved a couple of blocks.  It now serves the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

Preserved Springfield Depot

The preserved and moved Springfield depot now stands closer to the Willamette River with a park-like setting.  This provided closer access to the river and railroad bridge than on my prior visits.  I took a number of photos from both sides of the bridge.  Although the Walthers bridge kits I chose to use for the pair of main spans do not exactly model the Southern Pacific’s spans, they still capture the “look and feel.”  I also discovered the Springfield side bridge approach is a ballasted deck pile trestle, albeit fairly short—three and a “half” bents.

Willamette River Bridge

Alongside the approach to the Willamette River is the Momentive (ex-Borden) Chemical plant.  Borden established their plant at Springfield in 1960.  Although the nominal year for the physical plant of my HO scale Cascade Line will be 1954, I will exercise “time rubber” to include interesting industries.  Borden heads that list, so it will appear in model form.  The challenge will be picking through chemical plant features appropriate to an earlier era than today.

Momentive (ex-Borden) Chemical plant.

One industry present in 1954 and still functioning today is Rosboro Lumber.  This is an extensive mill with several tracks, switched off of multiple drill tracks alongside the main and siding in Springfield.  Selective compression will be needed, but several features will identify Rosboro Lumber.  First is the characteristic round roof main mill.  Second will be the shed with “Rosboro Lumber” still visible on the side.  Finally, another characteristic structure with a clerestory needs to be modeled.  Rosboro will be a major shipper on my HO scale railroad.

Rosboro Lumber main mill shed.

Rosboro Lumber Co. sign on building side.

Rosboro Lumber clerestory shed with mill power plant stacks in background.

Our road trip took us on up the Willamette Pass highway.  I took more photos of the hillsides behind Oakridge.   In spite of the overcast skies, these will prove useful for backdrop painting.  The overcast eventually closed in around the 4000 feet level in the pass, so there were not many photo opportunities on this trip.  Not to worry; last year’s photo trip provides lots of photos for higher elevations.

Oakridge yard and nearby hill sides seen from Crestview Street bridge.