Burlington Northern Yellowstone Division

Welcome to the Burlington Northern Yellowstone Division!

The Burlington Northern Yellowstone Division is a representation of the Bismarck/Mandan, ND area and the 5th Subdivision to Killdeer, ND. The Soo Line Western Division is also represented within the City of Bismarck. The time period is the mid-late 1970’s, with no equipment newer than 1980. The roster of Burlington Northern equipment still shows a bit of pre-merger variety against Cascade Green. Soo Line’s red and white are the colors of the day, with the modern parallelogram logo starting to appear. Amtrak’s rainbow and steam-heat eras are waning, and new F40PH’s have arrived and operate with heater cars while we await Superliners. Amtrak’s schedule is taken from the April 1978 timetable.

The layout’s location and era place it in the crosshairs of two major driving economic factors. First, the exponential growth of low-sulphur unit coal trains from the Powder River Basin Wyoming and Montana. Unit coal trains from those mines travel across the layout to the Twin Cities, northern Minnesota, and Superior, WI. Unit coal trains from the Beulah area are shipped to generation facilities in nearby Stanton, ND, and to Fergus Falls, MN. Loose coal also originates in Montana and at Beulah, ND for shipment to sugar beet refineries and University heating plants in the Red River Valley. The second factor is the growth and increasing diversity of wheat exports from North Dakota to USSR and Asia. Branch line elevators are chock full of wheat. Even cars originally designed for livestock have been modified to haul grain, offered on a two-for-one ratio to elevators instead of boxcars. These exports move through Duluth/Superior and the Pacific Northwest. This demand has made every serviceable locomotive, freight car and caboose vital in the effort to keep up. Soon, USSR will invade Afghanistan, and President Carter will put a halt to their exports, part of an economic downturn that will allow Burlington Northern to purge itself of the first-generation motive power and ALCO’s that are keeping the railroad afloat.

The Modeled Layout
The lower deck of the layout contains the three staging areas: points east, north, and south are represented by Dilworth, MN staging, while points west and southwest are represented by Glendive, MT staging. The Soo Line staging represents Drake, ND and its east-west connection to the Soo mainline. Also on the lower deck are the cities of Bismarck, ND, which has a variety of local switching on both railroads, and Mandan, ND, which has classification yard activities, locomotive servicing, local industries and serves as the branch line hub. Both cities have active passenger stations. The 5th Subdivision leaves Mandan and goes up the helix to the upper deck.

The upper deck is the 5th Subdivision that has come up the helix to Stanton, ND. The branch then turns west and goes through Beulah, Republic, Zap, and terminates at Killdeer. Beulah, ND has a small yard, and locomotives are kept here for the Killdeer turn. The branch features a coal shuttle between the Indianhead mine at Republic and the generating station at Stanton, unit coal train loading at Beulah, and regular branch line switching operations at elevators and team tracks.
Layout Operating Mechanics
All lead consist and single locomotives are equipped with ESU LokSound diesel sound decoders. Press the “8” key to activate sound, and to shut off sound when you are done. All locomotives shall operate with headlights lit. Press the “0” key to activate and extinguish headlights. Any locomotive equipped with a warning light, such as a rotary beacon or Mars light, should have it lit when operating. Press the “1” key to activate and extinguish warning lights. Horns should be activated at grade crossings. Press the “2” key to activate locomotive horn. Bells should be activated in the yard and when in the vicinity of grade crossings or other trains. Press the “3” key to activate and deactivate the bell.

Each location has one or more track diagrams for locating the correct tracks for operating. Track names are listed in black and industry names are listed in blue. Some diagrams also contain push-button or toggle switches for turnout operation and LED indicator lights. Each diagram contains a compass for your orientation. All visible BN locations are viewed by the operator as left for railroad west and right for railroad east. The Soo Line is reverse, with left being railroad east and right being railroad west. Return turnouts to Normal position when you finish at a location.

Please do not suffer with a misbehaving locomotive, car, or track. I will fix the offender on the spot or replace if necessary.

Control of Operation
A full-time Yardmaster will do classifying and authorize train movements in and out of the yard with a full-time assistant for hostling, classification, industry work and locals. The Dispatcher grants verbal authority to trains on the 1st Sub, and will issue train orders on the 5th sub. If there is a shortage of operators, the coal trains can be annulled and the 5th sub can run on verbal authority only. Yard Limits are indicated with yellow signs on the fascia at several points.

Each train or switching job will have a computer-generated manifest listing:
- Train Symbol
- Lead Locomotive (used for throttle selection)
- Train Direction
- Train Route
- Special instructions for operating that train
- Scheduled work at each location
- Special instructions for that location
- Car count and length for departure from each location (Note that the caboose is always included in the car count as an MTY).

Cars to be picked up and are red, while cars to be set out are blue. If a car goes from one spot to another within a location they are listed in brown. Each car listed shows:
- Reporting Marks (Road & Number)
- Type
- Length
- Load or MTY
- Pick up, set out, or spot track

Trains transporting TOFC or COFC have each flatcar and trailer or container counted as one car on the manifest. Trailers are containers are indicated on the manifest by leading underscores. Pick up, set out, and spot these cars based on the information listed with the trailer(s).
Train Descriptions - Burlington Northern

Mandan Yardmaster: This operator is responsible for all the classification work, making up and breaking down locals, and any local switching at Mandan Yard, as well as issuing verbal authority for all movements in and out of the yard. If attendance allows, the Mandan Yardmaster will call a hostler to handle movements into and out of Mandan Roundhouse, as well as any additional classification and switching as requested.

Bismarck Turn: 43408 - This train runs Monday-Saturday and is called for 08:00. The crew assembles the train at the direction of the Mandan Yardmaster and proceeds to Bismarck to conduct local switching. The train then returns to Mandan and does any local switching before tying up at the roundhouse.

Mott Local: 43620 and 43621: This train runs westbound on Mondays and Thursdays, called for 10:00 at Mandan Yard, and return eastbound in the early morning hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It departs Mandan and proceeds to the Mott staging track inside the helix. The eastbound train departs Mott staging and arrives in Mandan. The crew ties up at the roundhouse.

Dickinson Local: 43622 and 43623: This train runs westbound on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, called for 07:00 at Mandan Yard, and returns eastbound on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in the late evening. It departs Mandan and proceeds to the Dickinson staging track at Glendive. The eastbound train departs Dickinson staging and arrives in Mandan. The crew ties up at the roundhouse.

Beulah Turn: 43812 - This train runs Monday-Saturday, called for 04:00 at Mandan Yard. It departs Mandan and travels up the helix to do local switching along the 5th Sub at Stanton and Beulah. After arrival at Beulah, the train leaves its cars and makes a run to Beulah Mine, doing any morning switching there. After returning to Beulah, the train is assembled for the return trip to Mandan. Proceeding back through Stanton and down the helix to Mandan to tie up at the roundhouse.

Killdeer Turn: 43817 - This train runs Monday-Saturday, called for 12:00 at Beulah. The crew assembles the train at Beulah and departs west to do local switching along the 5th Sub at Republic, Zap, and Killdeer. After returning to Beulah from Killdeer, the crew runs to Beulah Mine, doing any afternoon switching there. The crew then ties up for the day at Beulah.

Coal shuttle: ZZ001 and ZZ000 - This train runs Tuesday-Sunday and is called for 01:00 and 13:00 at Republic. After the crew builds the train and spots any empties, the run is made to UPA Stanton Station. Here the train uses the two return loops in a clockwise manner to complete the swap of loads for empties. Once the swap has been made, the train returns to Republic. The locomotives, caboose, and spare empty cars are tied up on the siding. The cycle repeats with the afternoon run. Yard limits are in effect at Republic for the train to complete its work.

Otter Tail Power Coal Loads: BU38 - This train runs Monday-Saturday mornings and handles loaded coal hoppers destined for Fergus Falls, MN (Dilworth staging). The locomotives and caboose depart Mandan yard and run westbound up the helix to Beulah. After assembling all the coal loads from the Knife River Beulah Mine, the train runs eastbound back down the helix to Mandan. Here, the train must reverse itself to continue eastbound to Dilworth staging.

Knife River Coal Empties: BU39 - This train runs Monday-Saturday in the afternoons and handles empty coal hoppers destined for Beulah Mine. The train departs Dilworth staging and runs westbound to Mandan. Here, the train must reverse itself to continue westbound up the helix on the 5th sub to Beulah. After completing all switching at the Knife River Beulah mine, the locomotives and caboose return to Mandan and tie up at the roundhouse.

Through Freights: 085, 086, 157, 158, X03, X04 - Up to six freight trains (three each way) run through Bismarck/Mandan during a session. They are called at various times according to the lineup. Trains depart staging on authority of the Dispatcher, proceed to Mandan Yard for their pickups and setouts, and then depart Mandan arriving at the opposite staging yard.

Coal trains: B18, B19, C06, C07, C60, C61, D26, D27, W06, W07, W90, W91 – Up to four of these coal trains (two each way) run through Bismarck/Mandan during a session. They are called at various times according to the lineup. Trains depart staging on authority of the Dispatcher, proceed to Mandan yard for fuel and to set out any bad orders listed on the manifest, and depart Mandan arriving at the opposite staging yard.

Soo Line

The Soo Line is a challenging assignment in a compact space. The prototype Soo Line stubbed into Bismarck. Seventh St. is the correct west end of track for the era. On the east end of town the line splits, with one subdivision going east across the BN toward Oakes, ND, and the other east to Drake, ND. Only trains to/from Drake are represented on the layout. Industries are located along both sides in Bismarck, facing Main Ave. & Broadway with a small yard down the center. The Soo Line operators can picture themselves standing on Broadway looking south during operations. Successful operation of the Soo Line will utilize the run-around track formed by the crossover between yard tracks two and three. The turntable should not be utilized for any run-around other than the caboose. When switching the BN/Soo Interchange, the locomotives must remain east of any freight cars. Soo Line locomotives are not allowed past the center point of the interchange tracks or to foul the BN main at any time. Permission must be obtained to occupy the diamond from the BN’s Dispatcher. There are push-buttons to operate the turnouts for the interchange tracks from the Soo Line side, and an uncoupling magnet so the crew does not need to occupy the center aisle at any time.

Drake Local: 92 - This train runs Monday-Saturday and is called at Bismarck for 05:00. The train includes working the industries west of 19th St, as well as the BN/Soo Interchange south of Main Ave. The locomotive is inside the roundhouse, and the caboose is on the adjacent track or in the yard. The eastbound departing train can be built on yard tracks two or three as capacity permits. The spurs for Peavey Elevator and Klein Lumber/Coca-Cola can be used for temporary storage as the outbound train is built and run-around moves are made to service Quality Builders and McQuade’s. Once all the work is complete, 92 proceeds around to Drake Staging and ties up there.

Bismarck Local: 91 - This train runs Monday-Saturday and generally arrives at Bismarck around 16:00. The train arrives from Drake and works the industries east of 19th St. as well as the BN/Soo Interchange south of Main Ave. The westbound arriving train can leave its train east of the 26th St. crossing while switching. When switching is complete, the train should be brought to the yard four cars at a time, run-around, and stored on the correct yard tracks. The spurs for Peavey Elevator and Klein Lumber/Coca-Cola can be used for temporary storage as the inbound train is yarded. Once all the work is complete, 91 spots the caboose outside of the roundhouse or on a yard track and the locomotive inside.


Amtrak

The train arrives from staging, does station work at both locations, and returns to staging. Both stops require a double-spot. The crew must first stop for baggage and coach passengers, then double-spot for sleeping car passengers. Line up the station bay windows with the paired vestibules on the first coaches for the first spot, and with the paired sleeper vestibules for the rear spot.

North Coast Hiawatha: 1017 – This train runs Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday and is scheduled to depart Bismarck station at 03:30 and Mandan station at 03:50.

North Coast Hiawatha: 1018 – This train runs Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday and is scheduled to depart Mandan station at 02:35 and Bismarck station at 02:48.

Through train operations

Two operators will be assigned to through freight operations, one in each direction. These operators will run at least two and up to five total trains from one staging yard to the other and perform work at Mandan as required. Each staging track is named for a siding either east or west of Mandan. When the fast clock indicates it is time for one of your trains to depart, contact the Dispatcher. Identify your train, which “siding” you are leaving, and for permission to enter yard limits at either Milepost 192 (westbound) or Milepost 5 (eastbound). Follow the instructions of the Dispatcher through town the Yardmaster for Mandan Yard instructions. Amtrak requires multiple station stops at both Bismarck and Mandan. When you are ready to depart Mandan, contact the Dispatcher for permission to depart and proceed into staging. Any available track may be used. If there are no available staging tracks, you will have to hold in Mandan until an opposing train arrives.

Crew Assignments:
Mandan Yardmaster – Call time 00:01 at Mandan
Daily switching at Mandan, Classification and forwarding of cars through Mandan Yard

Assistant Yardmaster/Locals - Call time 00:01 at Mandan
Hostling duties and assist Yardmaster as necessary
Run locals 43620, 43621, 43622, 43623, and 43408 as called.

Eastbound Through Trains – Call time 00:01 at Glendive
Run Amtrak, up to three through freights (086, 158, X04), and two coal loads as scheduled

Westbound Through Trains – Call Time 00:01 at Dilworth
Run Amtrak, up to three through freights (085, 157, X03) and two coal MT’s as scheduled

Pools one through four:
Run one coal train and one local freight each session.
1. 43812/BU39
2. Soo 91/2-ZZ000
3. 1-ZZ000/Soo 92
4. BU38/43817

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   BN 1910.pdf

Layout Owner

Micheal Farley

Location

Bismarck, ND

Scale

HO

Layout Size

31 ft x 29 ft

Era

Late 1970's

Crew Complement

4 - 8

Completion

Track: 100%
Scenery: 50%
Electrical: 100%

Control System

NCE - Radio

Wi-Fi Throttles

Yes

Communications System

Family radio system

Dispatching Method

Timetable and Train Order

Car Forwarding

JMRI

Fast Clock

6:1

Pets

None