I live near there. Been there before too, it is so beautiful up there. One day I will sail around the islands, but first I need a sail boat!
The island in the early years had a fish cannery and a fishing fleet, also a quarry and a small steam powered loco to get the quarry goods to the water to be loaded. Also sheep were raised on the island along with agricultural goods. They still have a marine research station there. I am modeling the good years set forward in time a bit. And the Turtle Creek runs from Friday Harbor to Roche Harbor at the other side and end of the island.
Interesting layout John. Keep us advised. I've never had any luck with catenary lines. Little hands reach in and snap. Sigh!
Well the cat stays in the Macie Moly Mine yard and that part of the layout is at the end of the layout and notches around the back of the fire place chimney. That section is built up and will not see a lot of activity. The front main line thought is a different story with several cross overs and the turnouts for the brewery, the stone works, and a sawmill, plus the track coming off that leading to the port. Close cat poles at spots and a lot of activity there. That is the area that is slated for third rail, about 15 to 18 feet of track. The ends of the mainline and the back section are staying under wire for now. I will see how it goes for installing third rail and if it works out well then I just might convert all the mainline to third rail and extend it down into the port area.
My feline friend think the cork road bed is a great place to knead and remove it. Still wondering how all my layout activity is going to turn out. Truth, is I won't trade them in. They have a home for as long as I can manage them. Like what you are doing with your layout.
I was accompanied by 6 big felines last night in the man cave. The biggest of them is a 32 pound known as the Big Guy and all Tiger Tabbies which are huge. Excursions are few on the layout because I keep a plain cardboard box on the floor sprinkled with catnip.
Get a cardboard box just big enough to fit the feline, bedding optional, and sprinkle some catnip in it and set it where it will be out of your way. They love to pack themselves into a small box and sleep.
Funny John, My four pawed critters do the same thing. I get a N Scale box car or reefer in and they can't wait to climb inside the box. Funny, when one of them gets a box stuck on their head. Meeooeeww. Most of mine are small baby rescue's that I found hurt or they came to me as little momma's for the first time and seemingly wanting my help or protection. I can always find homes for kittens but try and place the older ones. Speaking of which I have one laying in front of the keyboard and one sitting to the side of the computer screen. I think this is a hint that they are hungry. Great Chat! Noted!
You have not lived until you have a 32 pound monster setting up on his hind legs and swatting with very large paws at the Dremel you are sanding with at the work bench.
Hawhawhaw how true, how true. These felines can get so curious and into situations and spots they shouldn't. I need a third eye to keep track of them. For the most part nothing but fun. I can see your big old bruiser doing just that.
I may not have had a 32lb furrball but I did have a 12lb logging cat. This furball of mine would clearcut my forests on my layout. He would not touch anything else and his favorite place to clearcut was the far corner that I could not reach without climbing on the layout. I tried teaching the cat a new hobby like flying... but it didn't seem to like that hobby much!
Well we could probably start a whole thread just on dealing with pets and the layouts. I have a whole pride of Tiger Tabbies that known for their size and keen intellect and are drawn to the mini meeces that run on the layout.
A new thread, I said chuckling out loud. Good one John Moore, well played. Our cat's will play a big role in anything like signs, buildings and the roof fixtures, never mind those slow moving extended crawlers that look like a snake. Anything I put up on my layout is subject to their inspection and approval. Sigh. A cat that doesn't like flying? Well put! I could see that. Yep, one of the biggest concerns I have is how to keep the feline pride off the train layout. Chicken wire, plexiglass and/or a lift off box. The kind Caskets used to come in, to your local funeral director, back in the 60's. It has to be time dated. Or better said the shipping containers appliances and water heaters came in at your local plumber's yard. Way to heavy so that's out. Enjoy your feline colony of four pawed critters. While I enjoy mine. LOL
My Big Guy the 32 pounder just climbed into one of the base cabinets the layout is built onto showing me how to fill a cabinet. He even turned around in there. 100_0684-6 by John Moore posted Oct 1, 2020 at 9:10 PM The fun is going to come when I get ready to close up for the night to get him out of there.
We still have 50' lengths of our welded rail that is brown extruded plastic that is available for making a third rail. http://www.nscalekits.co.uk/welded_rail.html I can supply it without the bents for the welded rail if you contact me directly. Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits www.nscalekits.com
Thankyou. However I have already started converting the front rails to third rail using plastic stock I had acquired about 2 weeks ago and am already about 1/3rd done. Just the front rails are being done the rest of the track stays under catenary.