Really looking great Jim. It won't be long before the branch comes "on line". We'll have a "golden spike" ceremony with all the usual suspects present. As for the "store employee" who said nobody handlays track...it was the STORE OWNER. I won't mention that it was Discount Model Trains..oops, I lost control of the delete button. Oh well, they don't have anything I want anyway. Mopman just loves it when I hijack his thread. Woodie
Woodie, we might have to break out a "special refreshment" for the golden spike. Believe me I'm looking forward to it. P.S. You might want to get someone to fix that delete key for you.
Well, you got your wish...hope the house is still there! smile: Seriously, hope everyone is OK out there....nasty weather all over the area today!
Thanks Doug. We were very lucky in that the closest confirmed touchdown (EF-0) to our house was about 5 miles away. Unfortunately do to all the activity, I didn't get a darn thing done. I just feel so sorry for those that lost everything and have to start over. The great news...no loss of life! Work is slowly progressing around the bridge and portal with most of the webbing in place. Hopefully I can finish the webbing and get some plaster down this weekend. Jim
Thanks. I did find pics of the west portal and tried to approximate that area. The branch line passing overhead in that area is not proto however. Such are the concessions we sometimes have to make as model railroaders. I did find time over the weekend to lay down a little plaster. I'll try to post the progress later. Jim
Thanks Mike and Mike. (Are you sure you two aren't an ESPN broadcast team?). Hey, what can I say, the world isn't what it seems. If you dig deep enough in your back yard you might find some cardboard webbing or God forbid....pink foam! LOL Anyway here is the update pic I promised. The first layer of plaster is going in. Since this pics was taken, I was able to carve the rocks in the area and get a little color just to kill the stark white. Here is the current state. Right now it looks more like Utah than Arkansas but you know that will change.Till next time, have a great day Jim
Gosh, I had no idea that it has been two months since I updated this thread. Retired life can be busier than you think. Anyway, I think I am still on schedule to get the branch line operational by the August club meeting. Here is a pic taken a few days ago with a lot of the background trees in place. a second pic shows a few more trees added I then decided to extend the dry wash another 6 to 8 inches to bring it closer to the edge where the fascia will be attached and added another dozen or so trees. At this point I think I am ready to install the bridge and connect it to the branch line trackage. Any further scenery including ballast can be done with the bridge in place and not run the risk of damaging anything. So now the track crew can get started spiking rail this weekend after watching trains roll through the new scenery.
Thanks Mike. As I'm sure you know, it is a great feeling when you get a scene that is nearing completion...especially when that scene is key to advancing the progress of the railroad. Upon reflection, I would hate what I would have gone through if I had completed the track work in this area and then worked on the scenery.
You gotta see it in the flesh! Very fine work, the trees really look great. Excellent progress, Jim's layout is up there with the best of the best. I know because I have seen "the best". Keep the faith Mopman... Woodie-Mogollon Railway, Gila Tramway, Boquillas Prismodial RR, and the Los Pinos y Madera RR
Here is what all the scenery work was for... The bridge is now connected to Clarksville. The west approach from CJ yard is connected so let's see if it works. In this case it's the FIRST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE. Actually this is my radio controlled engine set that will work the branch until I have a chance to wire CJ yard and Clarksville. Hopefully I can get the switch points and guard rails done on the switch work in Clarksville this week. Today, I'm just going to enjoy the fruits of my labor.
The silver spike was driven this past week. I can now reach the end of the branch line. Here are a couple of pics of the test train at the east end of the branch. I will need to get more supplies before I can lay the spurs, but this will at least make Clarksville operational.
I see you have the ballast train in town. So, I'm guessing that there's a staging yard below Clarksville representing the line east to Little Rock?