The Woodstock Short Line
Introduction - Construction - Why 18" Gauge? - Roster - Mud Duck

The Woodstock Short Line (WSL) is a backyard light railway for hauling firewood to my home in Colorado. At least that's the thin excuse I use to explain the 18-inch gauge tracks and half-sized railway equipment in my back yard. The real reason is that I'm a train nut who isn't satisfied with watching/photographing/riding trains; I build and run 'em, too.

From its humble beginning as 50 feet of track to test a 1/2 scale motorcar and transport firewood, the WSL has slowly expanded South and Eastward around the perimeter of our 2.5 acre lot. See the map below. First we added a switch, then a gallows turntable with storage tracks, then a one-stall enginehouse, and it's still growing after 18 years.

The WSL keeps within a modest model railroader's budget by using second-hand materials where possible. For example, we purchase rail only at scrap price (5-20 cents/pound), rather than purchasing new rail at ~$2/foot (FOB Dallas, TX). Ties come from shipping lagging and discarded construction materials (nominally 4x4s). Spikes are purchased new by the keg from the foundry. Equipment is built mostly from scrap metal. Unlike building models, however, we have a railway that does real work hauling track, ties, ballast, garden material, hay and firewood. We operate and carry passengers inside enclosed cars in any weather. And the "feel" of operating 1/2 scale critters is just like the full-sized versions, but more fun!

The next few pages describe building the WSL and show you some of its rolling stock. The lead photo above shows the Mud Duck Eastbound on the Elm Creek bridge with combine Willow Creek in tow. The next photo shows the Mud Duck running light past the Elm Creek depot on a Winter evening.

Contents

Construction Highlights (includes map)
Why 18" Gauge?
Equipment Roster
The Mud Duck
Future topic: Juicing the Woodstock (building the M-10)
Future topic: Gandy Dancing
Future topic: Other Local 18" Gauge Lines


Maintainer: al_j@fc.hp.com
Last rev: 11 Oct 96