blackburn49
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 | | 08/27/2008 11:59 PM |
| One of my goals for my large-scale model was to include a small pipeline construction camp. I have already been looking at the pipe-crawlers that are available in 1:25 scale for such a layout. So, somewhere down the line . . .
Pump Station 6 on the Yukon River, 1977.
The above is a completed pump station. My camp will not quite look like that, but it will include a section of pipeline like you see here, naturally--once I figure out how to build it, that is.
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 12:14 AM |
| Here is an example of pipeline construction-era barracks--stacked as doubles. These were at Pump Station 6 where I was stationed as a treatment plant operator in 1976. These are called ATCO structures. They were everywhere up and down the line until well after construction had ended. It is something like this which will be created for my pipeline construction camp layout sometime in the future within the existing Phase II-III area.
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 12:32 AM |
| Here is the pipeline construction camp across the Yukon River from Pump Six at a place called "Five Mile."
This is closer to how any future layout I may build of such a camp would look. I lived in one of these style constructs, too. Except it was much larger.
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 12:38 AM |
| Here are two vintage shots of the 48 inch pipe being laid using sidebooms. Any pipeline construction camp diorama I ultimately build will include such a scene, complete with the crew bus, if those ever become available in this scale.
For my layouts I always build in 1:24. Thus 1:24 and 1:25 are the two acceptable sizes of cars, trucks and related equipment I can include in my layouts.
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 12:44 AM |
| The 1:25 diecast sidebooms are remarkably similar to the ones actually used in great numbers during construction of the Alyeska Pipeline. I will be acquiring a few of these when the time comes, assuming they are still available then.
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 12:52 AM |
| In any case, this idea is nothing all that new. Ever since I contemplated building my Phase II model railroad line about three years ago, I have wanted to include elements of the oil pipeline. Originally I just wanted to build a segment of the oil line itself. But with the gas line being in our local news for the last several years and even more so in the last few months, it is time to seriously look at putting a model pipeline construction camp together.
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 12:40 PM |
| Posted By blackburn49 on 08/27/2008 11:45 PM And so it begins: the early beginnings of the construction of the trans-Canada gas line which could ultimately bring about the expansion of a true transcontinental railroad through Canada into Alaska: dateline 27 August 2008: TransCanada begins work on gas pipeline project
adn.com
TransCanada Corp. doesn't yet have the state natural gas pipeline license legislators approved, but an executive with the Calgary-based energy firm says it has already started working on the huge project. . .
"The economic viability of the proposed Alaska-Canada railway connector could be substantially enhanced in the short term, because of the considerable freight traffic generated for equipment and material transport by the construction of the Alaska natural gas pipeline between 2010 and 2017. The construction of the Alaska natural gas pipeline, simultaneously with or immediately following the completion of the Alaska-Canada railroad connector, will substantially increase the freight traffic on the railroad by 10 to 30 million tons per year in the short term, following startup after 2010.
"These increased freight traffic volumes will be especially great for the Fort Nelson route option, which substantially parallels the pipeline over most of its route distance in the early years, where freight traffic volumes of up to 120 million tons per year can result over the Alaska-Canada railway, without the Bering Strait tunnel being built. With the Bering Strait tunnel, freight traffic volumes of up to 300 million tons per year become possible over the entire route or greater. The cost savings to the natural gas pipeline project from reduced material transport costs with the prior construction of the Alaska-Canada railroad could nearly equal the cost of the railroad between Alaska and British Columbia."
Check this out: An actual artist's conception of the ALCAN Railway connection at Kluane Lake, Yukon Territory:
(click image for larger one)
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 1:13 PM |
| My own model railroad presumes the existence of the Alaska-Canada Rail Connector
Using the supplied map, you can see the rail routes included in my model in its full proposed form as the
Alaska-Canada Northern Expo Consolidated Railway System:
(click image to view a larger map)
Incidentally, this is a very new map, only recently published.
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 3:30 PM |
| That this Alaska-Canadian rail line extension keeps re-appearing, lately more in the context of the larger world-wide railroad linked at the Bering Straits, is fascinating. Will it happen? The numbers are beginning to work in favor of what would become the largest construction project ever.
(click)
As the possiblities of this becoming reality over time increase--or so it appears--so also will my ALCANEX model continue to expand to reflect what one day may very well be the future. And this will mark a true resurrection of the railroads--a new Golden Age of Rails.
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 3:41 PM |
| A pipe dream? Maybe. But the prospects are not unrealistic--no longer out of the realm of possiblity-- and they certainly are exciting. And Russia remains a potential partner in financing this world-wide endeavor.
A Southern Terminal of the Proposed Alaska-Canada Rail Link
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 4:19 PM |
|
  Â"The main rail corridor extension of the Alaska-Canada rail connector would be along the eastern end from Edmonton, Alberta to Portal, North Dakota along the existing routes, in parallel to a new natural gas pipeline. A new rail line along the proposed Central North America Trade Corridor would then need to be built from Portal, North Dakota to Del Rio, Texas for hauling coal, oil, gas, farm products, and other commodities. This new rail line could then be extended from Mexico to Columbia through Central America to South America. This rail-line corridor could then be extended through South America, in parallel to a proposed new natural gas pipeline from Venezuela to Argentina. This new Latin American railroad corridor could then serve as the focus for economic development and peaceful relations, so that the present need for immigration to the United States could be reduced if not eliminated." | |
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 5:06 PM |
| "It has been determined that the technical feasibility of the Alaska-Canada railroad connector is basically independent of the proposed Alaska natural gas pipeline, because it can be built independently and in advance of or simultaneously in conjunction with the proposed Alaska natural gas pipeline.. . "
(click above for larger image)
The Alaska connection opens up the possibilities for a complete revitalization of America's railroads, including new high-speed lines.
   Â"The expected freight traffic volumes on the other connecting railroad lines in North America will generally increase from the range of 5 to 10 million tons per year in the first 3 to 5 years, between 40 and 50 million tons per year over a 20 to 30 year period. In addition, it is expected that the proportion of the freight traffic hauled over the Alaska-Canada rail connector will be between Alaska and the Upper Midwest and Eastern States, with an expected 65 to 75% of the total. A relatively small proportion of 25 to 35% of the expected freight traffic will originate or terminate in the Pacific Northwest, as at present. In fact, it is likely that there may be substantial political opposition to the proposed Alaska-Canada rail connector project from the maritime interests in the Puget Sound area, whose businesses would be adversely affected as Alaska's trade center shifts to the east from Seattle to Minneapolis." | |
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 6:21 PM |
| Thus, as you can no doubt tell, I am working out the storyline behind my Phase I & II combined railroads. Just about have it down, too.
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 9:09 PM |
| Although the proposal I have seen calls for a tunnel, there is also the possibility of a 50-mile bridge which includes provisions for a high-speed rail lines along with vehicular traffic, pipelines, power and communication lines. I find the bridge to be particularly appealing.
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ThinkerT
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| | 08/28/2008 9:54 PM |
| Hmmm...
Most of the pictorial descriptions seem to cenvision an *electrified* railway. This jives with the proposal that was percolating on one of the oil boards not that long ago calling for double tracking and electrifying most of the US railway network. Guess Blackburn will have to update his locomotive fleet...once he figures out just what sort of electric loco's they'll be running. And stringing up all that overhead wire could be a pain... | | | |
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 9:56 PM |
| The Bering Strait bridge concept definitely recognizes what I believe to be the future in ground transportation:
High-speed trains (finally) in North America. Let us hope so.
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blackburn49
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| | 08/28/2008 10:05 PM |
| Posted By ThinkerT on 08/28/2008 9:54 PM
Hmmm... Most of the pictorial descriptions seem to cenvision an *electrified* railway. This jives with the proposal that was percolating on one of the oil boards not that long ago calling for double tracking and electrifying most of the US railway network. Guess Blackburn will have to update his locomotive fleet...once he figures out just what sort of electric loco's they'll be running.And stringing up all that overhead wire could be a pain...
Electric locomotives? That's what ran through Cle Elum--the railroad town adjacent Roslyn, prototype to my mythical town of Cicely, AK. If I could come up with one of these Milwaukee Road "Little Joes" I would happily add an electrical system to go with it. After all, Milwaukee Road will be one of the featured railroads. So the possiblity remains.Â
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John J
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| | 08/29/2008 5:08 AM |
| | I have been watching Ice Road Truckers on the HISTORY CHANEL. According to the program they found large natural gas deposits up in the North West Territories near the town of Inuvic. So they will probable be building a pipe line to it too. | |
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blackburn49
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| | 08/29/2008 9:48 AM |
| John McCain has picked Sarah Palin, our enormously popular Alaskan governor, as his VP running mate. This does have a relationship to my on-going post in an odd sort of way. Commentary to follow.
The Anchorage Daily News breaks the story:
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blackburn49
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| | 08/29/2008 11:24 AM |
| Posted By blackburn49 on 08/29/2008 9:48 AM John McCain has picked Sarah Palin, our enormously popular Alaskan governor, as his VP running mate. This does have a relationship to my on-going post in an odd sort of way. Commentary to follow.
The Anchorage Daily News breaks the story:
Recall that I have maintained all along that a rail link to Alaska would be closely bound to construction of a gas line--something which WILL occur. But NOW we are likely to have a VP in office who can influence the President on a choice to open up the 1002 area of ANWR to drilling. NOW we are talking about opening up the flood gates of the vast energy potential powerhouse that IS Alaska. And with it is our single BEST chance of FINALLY achieving that long-sought rail connection. Today we advanced one step close to that possibility.
Hmmmm. How odd. Plenty of readers. No responses. What am I to make of that? | |
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