Gold Spike driven at 5:21pm today on the Far Corners layout! First complete trip completed at 5:32pm! Official ceremony and photo's to come...
Congratulations to the Far Corners ! We look forward to a comprehensive press release and photos. The Wabash RR is pleased to have another interchange partner. Good luck, Bill
Far Corner CEO Barry Taylor expressed great pleasure today after several hundred RR executives and business leaders took a excursion trip to view the newly completed mainline. Despite wrecks over the past 24 hours involving an UP SD40-2 and losing two revenue loads also, Taylor expressed optimism that the line would soon be generating income. "We are six months ahead of schedule, and although yesterdays mishaps were unfortunate I know that we will very soon see explosive revenue growth"
Very nice, Barry! The NCL/'Builder looks great combined! Very nice shots, and neat BSB trainset. How many cars are in BSB currently? Your plans?
After the UP accident last week the crews have worked hard to get the mainline up to standards. We are now running 6 axel SD40-2 on a consistent basis without derailments. Because of anticipated revenue with all limits on traffic having been removed, we have decided to proceed with mountain branchline at a 3% grade. (the irony here is that all my SP&S engines are all 4 axels, but at least I know we can handle the 6 axel traffic...)
Another Big Day! First UP train made approach up the Deschutes River grade on the Oregon Trunk! In background is interchange track with Westbound SP&S, GN, NP trains from Pasco. I know, kind of messing with history here, but having to compromise on everything. As I read more books about SP&S I'm learning more about who went where, etc. Also having to have common track in some areas where there were competing lines. This 3% grade will go to second level which will be Central Oregon and south to interchange with SP...
It's nice to see an update! Glad you're making steady progress. Keep us posted on further progress. Boxcab E50
Great layout Barry, Can't wait to see more pictures of your progress. Keep up the good work. Nice to see other SP&S modelers out there, along with all the pre BN roads.
First big rainstorm of the fall (NCAA football does start tommorrow afterall), so that meant cleaning out the trainroom and getting ready for some inside hobby time. Ahh, feels so good...I will post some summer progress photos soon. I have a diversion in that I need to build a N scale 8' by 3' layout at my new office. Post is in Layout/design forum.
Drove the 'golden spike' this morning for the branch line. This is a simple oval of track that will serve the urban industry area of my layout. I still have not figured out the track plan for this downtown area. The track goes through the wall and on the other side is a siding with a grain silo. Between the branch line and a line off of the mainline is an interchange area.
