Steve Seidensticker

The Gopher Canyon Line is a model railroad that happens to be outdoors. The scale is 1:32, called #1-scale, and represents U.S. standard gauge prototypes albeit with some impurities.

The GCL connects the Wisconsin cities of Gopherville and Green Bay via the small town of Ashippun where it serves several industries via a loop off the main line. A small industrial area outside Green Bay called Commerce Corner has recently had its track laid. John Deere has just opened a shipping/receiving facility and Wal-Mart is putting in a distribution center. A Chicago and North Western branch from Horicon connects to the GCL at Clyman junction.

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One of the favorite pastimes of railfans has always been chasing trains. Now all railfans have video cameras to make it even more fun. Recently we did some train chasing on the GCL and made a video. Enjoy!

96500 was constructed in 1965 by the GATX corporation to haul 60,000 gallons of liquified natural gas (LNG). GATX specializes in the design, construction, and leasing of tank cars to railroads, shippers, or companies that deal with bulk liquids. Its size (95 ft) was an effort to make the movement of LNG more efficient. However, the car did not find favor with railroads or shippers and 95600 was the only one built. It now is on exhibit at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation.

I built the 1:32 scale model from scratch based on plans and photographs supplied by the St. Louis MOT. I built it primarily of casting resin. Most of the parts that make up the model are used multiple times so I constructed a master of each part, made a rubber mold of that part, and then cast as many pieces as needed from liquid plastic, which hardens when mixed with a catalyst. Railings, pipes, hoses, stirrups, etc. are brass. Trucks, wheels, and couplers were purchased.

I wrote an article on the construction of this model. See http://www.largescaleonline.com/members/emag/article_409.html

Note: Differences between the builder’s photos and the model reflect changes made to the prototype after it was built.

Last July I had the good fortune to be invited to ride the engine on Amtrak’s passenger train between the northwest and Chicago. Enjoy the video. If you want to read my impressions of the experience click “More” below.

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I have been using Kadee couplers for 25+ years. Generally they work well, but not always. For the past year or so I have made a concerted effort to figure out what the problems are and how to fix them. I made the following two-part video to share what I learned.