Touring Granite Mountain Railway
Doug GeigerDescription
In this video watch Doug Geiger’s Granite Mountain Railroad in operation and listen as Allen Keller narrates. Learn about the various locomotives, routes, locations, and more on the layout.
The route starts in Stillaquamish in the Cascade Mountains where the Milwaukee Road interchanges with the Granite Mountain. A Granite Mountain passenger train travels to the garage helix via a hidden track. Then, it’s onto the top level of Geiger’s layout at Blizzard Pass. This is the highest point in the Rockies that the road crosses.
The Mountaineer heads on to North Quartz Creek. This portion of the Bremer route consists of light rails and wooden bridges to keep the cost down for investors. This is a great fishing spot where train crew workers can stop for lunch on a slower day. The train descends from the creek down to Titanic Mine, though it is still on the top level of the layout, and still above the model’s tree line. Then it is onto the Corkscrew Trestle where the Mountaineer loses even more elevation.
The train comes to Mossy Rock. This houses an engine facility and depot for narrow gauge trains. From here it is onto a hidden terminus at Alpine City. Alpine City is a high country with exciting views, like that of the Crystal River Gorge below. Over the Crystal River is a dual gauge track.
The Mountaineer exits Eagle Tunnel and rounds Granite Mountain on Big Slide Trestle. From there, it travels down to the layout’s second level. Sweet Water River is bustling with trains. The Mountaineer passes close by a Rio Grande Local and a Sante Fe Steamer on its way to Bremer. After arriving in the Colton Stock Yard, the Mountaineer finally reaches its terminal in Bremer.
At Stillaguamish in the Cascade Mountains, the Milwaukee Road interchanges with the Granite Mountain. The electric territory here has overhead catenary. The Milwaukee sea liners use granite mountain track because a tunnel cave in has blocked its track. The Fairbanks Morris units wait for the Granite Mountain's crack passenger train to pass. The motive power is an FP 45, number 857, and an F45 number 809. Some hidden track behind Stillaguamish takes us over to the garage helix. Here the mountaineer makes the loops and re-emerges on the top level at Blizzard Pass. This is the highest point in the Rockies that the road crosses. The snow shed is a necessity up here where the white stuff can run in drifts 20 feet deep. This part of the Granite Mountain is a financial burden on the investors, so they've chosen to keep the light rail and wooden bridges. North Quarts Creek is a good fishing spot that in slower days, provided train crews with a chance to catch lunch. Number 857 is heading downgrade now, and loops across the creek to lose elevation. Even though we're descending, the mountaineer is still above tree line. The Titanic Mine and stamp mill at Overlord is the reason the management keeps this part of the line open. Misery Cut is an example of how costly this section of line is to maintain. Cribbing protects the road bed from disappearing down the mountain side. The next section of the railroad is awaiting attention from the construction crews. We're still on the top level. Corkscrew Trestle is aptly named. The mountaineer will continue to lose elevation here. This is dual gauge country as we approach the interchange with the Granite Mountain and Pacific Narrow Gauge at Mossy Rock. The GMNP Narrow Gauge has an engine facility and depot here at Mossy Rock. The 4% grade will take the narrow gauge to its hidden terminus at Alpine City. The high country offers some exciting views with the Crystal River Gorge below us. The mountaineer resumes its journey toward Bremer. Over the Crystal River there's dual gauge track. Exiting Eagle Tunnel, number 857 rounds the line's namesake, Granite Mountain, on Big Slide Trestle. The mountaineer drops more elevation on a two and a half percent grade and reaches the second level. The Sweet Water River is a busy spot for train watchers. A Rio Grande local moves through the cross junction interlocking while a Santa Fe steamer waits to cross the lift bridge. In the background, the mountaineer makes its dash for Bremer. The Colton stock yard is on the approach to Mesa yard. Mesa has space for 65 cars and three arrival departure tracks. The Burlington Northern interchange with the Granite Mountain is located in the back. The mountaineer finally reaches its terminal at 17th Street Station in Bremer. The motive power has been taken off and a switcher pushes us the final half a mile. A set of RDC cars prepares for its afternoon run by making a quick trip through the car washer.
Excellent layout, fantastic narration & story-line, and great sound effects! This video's a keeper!