This is the story of the Puget Sound Iron Goat Railway (PSIG), established in 1935, a mythical, wholly owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway as it was in the month of October, 1938, located in the Pacific Northwest region near Bellevue and Issaquah on the eastside of the Greater Seattle region in Washington.
Founder & First President - James J. Hill, Great Northern Railway. The year of 1890 brought momentous change to the city of Seattle. With a population of some 40,000 people; and not yet 40 years old, the city was rebuilding its business district after the devastating downtown fire. It was the year the Great Northern Railway decided to come to town. This was probably the biggest single factor in the city's growth and subsequent prosperity.
Earlier in 1889, Hill's chief surveyor, John F. Stevens, confirmed a crossing through the Cascade Mountains which later would become known as Stevens Pass. Hill was anxious to have a western terminus with access to the Puget Sound harbors, and the GN's predecessor, the St. Paul Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway had already extended west to Butte, Montana by 1988. In 1889, Hill officially incorporated and the Great Northern was born to bring the Manitoba to Puget Sound.
Hill selected Seattle Judge Thomas Burke to be his local contact and negotiator with the city engineers and politicians. Burke created the Seattle & Montana Railway to serve as the GN's legal and contracting agency in Washington. On September 28, 1890, Hill paid his first visit to Seattle, and the '90's soon became a period of challenge for the required land and right of ways demanded by Hill. He also established his own newspaper, the Telegraph, and gave financial support to the Post-Intelligencer in return for support and positive public relations. In 1896, Col. Alden Blethen's Seattle Times became a staunch Hill supporter. Hill also talked midwestern lumber baron Frederick Weyerhaeuser into the sale of 900,000 acres of Washington timber land in 1899 creating an enormous lumber industry.
J.J. Hill had in some 15 years given Seattle a transcontinental railroad, a trans-Pacific trade link and modern railroad facilities including the King Street Station, which continue to serve the city over a century later. He often said "We made Seattle" and his love of the Pacific Northwest never wavered.
On August 3, 1909, Minnesota Day at Seattle's Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, Thomas Burke dedicated a large bronze bust of the Empire Builder on the University of Washington campus. There it still remains, peering into a future of infinite possibilities. Prior to his death in 1916 at the age of 77, he advised his son, Louis W. Hill who became President, to always remember the contributions of the Seattle community.
Much later in 1929, the Cascade tunnel was constructed 7.79 miles in length becoming the longest railway tunnel, at the time, in the Western Hemisphere. Forty three miles of steep and winding track was replaced by 34 miles of an easier, faster and electrified line. With a number of older steam locomotives replaced by the electrics, families of Weyerhaeuser, Burke and Blethen who now resided in the luxurious estates on Seattle's eastside, approached the GN about purchasing the steamers. Remembering J.J. Hill's request, the GN agreed.
Now with motive power, the families decided to create their own short line for their personal convenience and to impress visiting guests and celebrities. Originally designed to go between large estates, the entrepreneurs realized the profit potential in expanding their vision to include various local industries and a limited passenger service. They decided to call their venture the Puget Sound Iron Goat Railway utilizing "Rocky" the GN symbol in a way to acknowledge the legend and achievements of J.J. Hill, the original "Empire Builder." In 1935, they had finally completed all the trackwork, and the families hosted a fabulous golden spike ceremony officially opening the PSIG on August 6.
The next year, 1936, GN updated their corporate logo; and PSIG was granted permission to also change their logo to conform to the new version. Proudly, the PSIG logo appears on most PSIG locomotives; however, there are still some GN identification marks remaining which makes the "old timers" smile as they recall memories of days past when the mighty iron horse rode the rails and steam was king.
This freelanced 12' x 14' walk-in layout when finished will include logging, mining and sawmill operations, a city, three small towns, a residential neighborhood, waterfront piers with associated businesses, various siding industries, a dairy farm, stock yards, passenger depots and a train yard with a turntable and maintenance shop. Freight train operations are planned in addition to a passenger service, based on the Great Northern Cascadian, complete this themed steam era layout. Plus lots of people, landscaping and loads of junk and details.
The 49" to 52" high, L-girder bench work and cookie cutter roadbed construction are all completed. Shinohara code 70 track is laid over a new prototypical roadbed material,Vinylbed. Installation of a Lenz Digital Plus DCC system, including a reverse loop, is wired and operational. The backdrop is painted Masonite by Woody Winter, a fabulous faux artist, while the overhead lighting is a combination of fluorescent bulb fixtures and dimmable incandescent tracks lights.
Some of the current completed scenery includes a 7' tall mountain pass and a wooden trestle bridge between two tunnel portals, a rusting train wreck, a hobo camp, a neighborhood of luxury homes, an abandoned gas station, a refrigerator car icing platform, a depot, a freight building, a small town of various merchants and a double track truss bridge. Stay tuned, there will be more soon.
In the midst of all this, we have created what we affectionately refer to as the "fantasy wing." The stairway leading up to two bedrooms, a bath and a bonus room have all been totally re-painted by master faux painter Woody Winter into a total railroad environment. We're talking scenes on all the walls and even the ceilings. It's really something to see.
Upon arrival, guests are treated to a scaled down version of the original Issaquah train station exterior, and in a wonderful print by internationally acclaimed railroad artist, J. Craig Thorpe. At the head of the stairs is a full size ticket window welcoming you into the layout area.
One of the bedrooms has become a log cabin interior complete with a painted fireplace, log walls, log bed for the engineer and cracks in the ceiling timbers with the sky showing through in places along with a raccoon looking in from the roof.
The second bedroom is known as the forest room with giant trees, trails, paths, mountains and critters plus sound effects of crickets, frogs and birds. My work bench area has the old shanty look of grey weathered wood with painted tools, a wood burning pot belly stove, a ladder to a faux ceiling access door while the rest of the ceiling is a decaying roof blending into the layout ceiling of sky and stenciled clouds. Railroad memorabilia serve as accents to complete these scenes. It's like a neat movie set.
This is a story of the real heroes who are responsible for the development and construction of this small HO scale branch line. They serve as officers, and on the PSIG Board of Directors.
Chairman of the Board, Emeritus, is Bob Christopherson. A retired Navy Master Chief, Bob has been a modeler for over 25 years, and several of his layouts have been featured in publications including the Gazette, in two issues on May/June, 1994 & Sept/Oct, 1997. He works part-time at The Inside Gateway, my local hobby shop of choice in Bellevue; and from the beginning, Bob took time to provide counsel and advice. Then on his own, Bob would come to my home after work and show me how to do it.
You see, this is my first layout. Sure I had Lionel as a kid on two 4' x 8' sheets of plywood, but they're long gone. Then about 1995, my friend Steve Smith took me to a train hobby store. I got the bug, and decided this model railroad thing was for me.
Before I actually started the PSIG bench work and backdrop construction, I intensively researched and read everything I could for over two years. I should get an award from Kalmbach Publishing for most books bought during this time. About this time, my wife and I purchased a new home which she accuses me of buying so I could have room to build a layout. She's very perceptive.
Then the spirit of James J. Hill, the founder of the Great Northern Railway and known as "The Empire Builder," led me to Bob with my track plan in hand. " Too much track...need longer passing sidings...grade's too steep" was the beginning. Since then, Bob helped lay track, explained all the proper materials, showed how to wire turnouts, install Tortoise motors to switches, install a Lenz DCC system and much more. He even took some locomotives home and installed decoders, as well as some Sound Trax decoders, and then explained how to program everything. He also introduced me to his narrow gauge group of friends who have monthly open houses and include many of the best modelers in the world.
Among the famous I have met are Tom Beaton, Bill Busacca, CC "Clint" Crow, Brian Ellerby, Glen Farley, Jim Noonan, Ken Schmelzer, and Dave Woodrell to name a few. Not a bad start for a neophyte.
So now I'm a narrow gauge guy at heart stuck with about 150 feet of installed Shinohara standard code 70 track work with Vinylbed prototypical sub roadbed over a 1/2" plywood base, 24 turnouts and lots of ballast plus some scenery. Oh well. The truly important thing is Bob still comes by, continually providing a wealth of knowledge and support; and he's also a loyal and trusted friend. Thanks Bob.
PSIG President is Patt Sellen, my incredible wife and a fine builder as well. Scenery is our thing. I still don't know enough about operations and scratch building; however, we are strong on creative details. Patt has built some structures, and when you see climbing rose arbors, hanging flower baskets and window flower boxes, those are hers. She's also super at placing the "little Preiser people" into believable scenes and positions.
Vice President - Acquisitions is Steve Depolo. Steve owns the Inside Gateway hobby shop and always has, or gets, what I need. Steve actually came to my home and helped lay track too. Then when Steve and his wife Pam decided to purchase a new home, they asked me to assist them. Yes, I'm a Realtor and they found the perfect home. Pam got the house and Steve got a 3-car detached garage which is quickly becoming the magnificent On3 "Placerville Paradox & Grand Junction Railroad."
Vice President - Advertising is Paul Scoles. Yes that Paul Scoles, whose Sn3 layout of the "Pelican Bay Railway & Navigation Company" is legendary. I have been blessed to follow his layout not only in the pages of the Gazette, but to view firsthand this marvelous talent in his home. I was ecstatic one evening when he called, and said he had heard about my railroad and the faux painting in the "fantasy wing" and would like to photograph it. Wow. It just doesn't get any better than that. And he suggested we should try and get an article together for Bob Brown's wonderful magazine, the Narrow Gauge And Short Line Gazette. I'm certainly honored to have had Paul's interest in my little project, and it was thrilling to grace the pages of the Gazette. See below for the reprint!
 J.J.'s World - The HO Gauge, Puget Sound Iron Goat Railway by Paul ScolesPhotos by the author Used by permission, Copyright © 2003 - Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette
As seen in the January/February 2003 issue of the Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette | ||||||||||
Vice President - Real Estate is Russ Segner. In real life, Russ was a commercial Realtor before he recently retired. Our paths have crossed several times; however I never knew about his passion for model trains until I joined NMRA and the PNR 4th Division, and ran into him at our local monthly group meeting. Russ lives near me and really knows a lot about railroads. When it came time for him and his wife Susan Day to purchase another home with the perfect kitchen for Susan and a room for Russ to begin his Sn3 "Denver & Rio Grand Western," they asked me to assist them. I was delighted, and after a year or so we found a super home which they purchased. Then they asked me to sell their previous home for them. This went considerably faster. In about a week or so as I recall. They still live close, and I'm excited to see Russ begin construction of his pike.
Vice President - New Construction is Max Maginness. Dr. Max just obtained the select status of Master Model Railroader (MMR) from the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA). This is a singular achievement when you realize there are only 300 and some who have reached this level of accomplishment in the entire world. Max is my favorite "rivet counter," and I'm proud to have him as a friend and mentor. He helps me by building some stuff I can't do, and my layout is the better for it.
Vice President - Transportation is Al Carter. The first person I met when I joined the "Eastside Get Together" was Al. He came up to me and welcomed me graciously into the group. Al has become a special friend over the years, as he has to many others, and his voluntary efforts on behalf of the hobby are awesome. He's the recipient of the Golden Grab Iron Award which recognizes the outstanding person of the year in our 4th Division and he continues to serve. Al is building the "Tabooma County Railroad" for the second time in his new home. I even have a collector bottle of Tabooma beer which I shall assume one day will be worth a lot of money. Everybody wants to know what Tabooma stands for and I wish I could tell you here, but I have to be mindful there may be young readers on the net, so I'm censored. Al is perfect for the transportation position as he's always carting around something in his truck either for one of the many clinics he gives or taking me on tours of home layouts.
Co-Vice Presidents - Customer Relations are Ed & Gay Liesse. When Ed and Gay were moving to our area, Frank Dekker introduced them to me; and we immediately bonded. I was able to assist them in finding a home to purchase, and we have been great friends since. They are both experienced modelers, and have so much railroad equipment I'm still not sure how many different layouts they're building. I do know Gay is building her own. (You go girl). They are both very active in our 4th Division and we're blessed to have them involved.
Vice President - Northern Washington is Chuck Kuranko. I first met Chuck when he was in charge of the "Eastside Get Together." Chuck has always been most supportive of my modeling efforts, and continuously encourages me to keep building. When Chuck and his beautiful wife Lee decided to permanently move north, I was honored to be asked to represent them in the sale of their local home. We were successful, and now Chuck is looking forward to building another layout up north. Sad Note: Chuck was never able to build his layout as he passed away on February 9th, 2003. He will be missed. He will always remain a fond memory and part of my railroad.
Company Chaplain is Roger Ferris. "Father Ferris," as I affectionately call him, is in fact, a real minister. He is also one of the most knowledgeable railroad history buffs I know. He serves in many capacities for the NMRA, and plans great railfan trips around the Puget Sound area. He's amazing.
PSIG Board of Directors. There are so many people I have been blessed to meet along the way as I pursue my interest in "The World's Greatest Hobby." So it is important for me to acknowledge several whose friendship I truly value. John & Jan Becker have always been so helpful and one of these days John is going to help me install a decoder on my turntable when it's finished. Frank Dekker donates so much time to our hobby, and is a key reason the annual Pacific Science show continues to be the most effective source of operating income for our 4th Division. Dave Krietler and his mom, June, are always helping out somewhere; and Dave is an extremely talented modeler and gifted clinician whose work I really admire. Earl Mann is also a great modeler and gives me lots of good advice. He's retired and works sometimes at the Inside Gateway, and he always seems to be able to tell me where and how to find stuff I need. Another guy who volunteers tons of time to the hobby is Didrik Voss. He's currently the General Chairman for the huge NMRA national convention, Puget Sound Express, to be held in Seattle July 4 to 11, 2004. His layout, "The Everett and Monte Cristo Railway," is exciting and his prototypical structures and track design will certainly preserve the history of this little known short line. Like me, he's most fortunate to have the assistance of his wife, Mary Kay, who paints a mean backdrop. (That means good). If you model the Pacific Northwest, you need trees. And, the champion tree builder is Joe Warner. Joe's clinics on tree building are always packed, and he's very good. I know this because he makes trees for me. Of course he charges me a modest fee, but I like what he does. So I pay.
It's my hope you enjoy the photographs as we document the growth of the Puget Sound Iron Goat Railway. And who knows, we'll probably add more officers and directors to the list of those who currently serve. At no pay I might add.
Oh, did I tell you my title? I'm the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) - JJ Johnston.
Thanks for visiting.
