I am working on an HO model for a friend's layout. It will be the joint SP/Mop depot in Hearne, Texas. So far I have most of the roof shingles on. It is a thin styrene sheet sold by Plastruct. Still need the back roof, the tower roofs and finish the ridge rows. Then on to the ship lap siding and Grandt Line windows along with all the trim boards. Will be fun to paint all the details. This is how the depot looks today after it was moved off of UP property and restored to be a museum.
Sometimes the last details take a long time. In this case I completed this scene with a coal dealer and restaurant probably in late 2006. The signs rested on the scenery, without lettering on them, until last week! I finally dug out an old instant lettering sheet and finished the job. George V.
I love that second photo showing the diamond, Russell. I would really like to traipse around that site for an hour or so some day. George, that is a truly believable setting you have there, and nicely laid out and imaged. With Mayan Mayhem in mind, I took the night train to anywhere. It don't matter where because I won't be arriving anyway.
Went down to the Sousa City Engine Facility on Thursday and caught some action. A pair of Santa Fe GP7's have paused on the house track at Sousa City in preparation for switching while the crew eats lunch. The SD45-2 and SD40 have just returned from helper service, and the PA's in the center are about ready to move across the crossovers leading to the Sousa City Passenger Terminal. On the Opposite end of the Facility, an ABBA set of Yellowbonnet F's idle away awaiting an assignment. The UP power was unusual but not rare. I also found an old oxide red caboose on the rear of the local, and surprise surprise, it had a safety logo on it.
Espee has trackage rights on the Yuba River Sub and uses the route when Donner Pass gets a little too crowded with WWII traffic. Here's 4-10-2 #5011 lifting an eastbound freight out of the South Yuba Canyon near Wagon Wheel Gap. Tom
A blast from the past on the Little Kanawha Sub of the G&OM: December 23, 1947: A 2-8-2 "Mike" arrives in Ravenswood, WV with the mail, last minute Christmas deliveries and some passengers coming home for the holidays. March 1968, a Pennsy GP30 leads a trio of G&OM GP30's including my handle's name sake #3207 (unpatched ex-CP&E) pulling empty hoppers through Ravenswood East Yard and eastbound up the "L.K." for loading. I have given some consideration to backdating the layout 20 years to 1947-48 and running all steam. I wouldn't have to change a whole lot except dump my entire diesel fleet and about 15 freight cars. I've had that Athearn Genesis Mike in a box for 4 or 5 years after starting to make her an NYC H8. Too beautiful to keep her in a box anymore and the Bachmann offerings look nice and are affordable.... tempting!
