Gallery: CNW Yard Construction

The C&NW Yard is a scale model of the actual Chicago & North Western facility in La Crosse, recreated with near‑total fidelity to its 1968 appearance and track arrangement. This page documents the yard’s construction from the earliest benchwork and ladder‑track geometry through ballast work, ground surfaces, and the shaping of the surrounding industrial environment. The photos highlight how each track, turnout, and service area was built to match the prototype, with the layout’s only intentional deviation being the reversed approach to the engine house—added to improve operational flow while preserving the yard’s authentic character.