It was an interesting catch. As we raced west. I spotted an exhaust plume, and they emerged onto the Bridge. I stomped on the brakes, pulled off, and jumped into the back of our 4x4. And snapped the shot. Then forgot to write down the train number. "Extra 20__ East." Three GP40, and SD10, and another GP40. This was very late afternoon. About 5pm or so. The sun just about gone. Fall of 1979. Note- At this late date, they were not operating Trains 200, 201, 202, etc. Anyone you hear quoting that, doesn't know what they're talking about. Numbered main line trains had been dropped from the timetable, when W&M #3 of March 15, 1978 was issued. Everything was running as an Extra. This was due to having troubles maintaining a schedule as required to have a Number. The actual photo is better quality. For reasons unknown, I can't get it to scan decently. Boxcab E50
Ok so here's the update. Finished adding ground/earth tone color. Finished I-90 and Boylston Rd. Painted rock cuts. next to do some touch up paint on the rock molds and other areas and then off to ground cover! the preview Lines West homepage
NIIIICE! With the real MILW gone, it makes it hard to railfan the area, but you sure have a nice replica in your basement! Having not seen it in person, and based on pics you have shown, it looks close for my eyes...
Hemi- If you ever head toward Seattle, you can't miss Renslow Bridge. I-90 ducks right underneath. Spend a few minutes in the area, and you'll get a fair idea of what once was. The old Kittitas depot is just a few minutes drive down hill. And just off a freeway exit. easy access. Boxcab E50
Ken - yeah the bottom pic came out better than the other one I did. Makes me want to get some backdrops now, but I need to wait until I get the real hardcore stuff done. Andy - you can say that again. Color is better! It was kind of funny when I began painting...I was afraid of messing up the paint (as this whole layout building and everything required to make it happens to be the first time I've ever tried anything like this). But then I told myself, its just ground cover...it’s suppose to be kind of everywhere! No worries though, I enjoy the process and the results most of the time. Jeremiah - Thanks! You're right. Not only do I love Eastern Wa, but having the Milw in my home allows me to put myself over there. I guess I really like Eastern Wa...haha The other benefit of this layout (and is one of my goals) is to preserve the Milw in some way. Jeremiah, here's a pic of the trestle from when I went out that way for some photos of the area as guides to building it. and here is the cloest similar shot I have right now as a compairson. sorry, I need to take a pic from straight on. *Now I am getting a little ahead of myself but I have begun thinking about what section I would like to build next. I have picked up a few pieces of bridge material to get an idea of how I want to build the Beverly Bridge but I’m not sure if I want to build that next. Maybe Kittitas and its depot or Boylston and its depot... what do you think Ken? [ February 20, 2006, 11:53 PM: Message edited by: popularthinks ]
Greg- That's a difficult choice!!! I'd love to see ALL of those projects!!!! After seeing what you're doing with Renslow Bridge, my imagination runs wild, thinking of a Beverly Bridge scene in N!!! Especially full scale!!!! That would be spectacular!!!!! Boxcab E50
Ken - your right it is hard to choose. We'll see what I come up with in about 3 months. And don't worry you will see all of my projects. Like I stated in the n scale forum, you are my over-looking guy to let me know if I'm on the right track because you do know the area well! haha. I did start messing around with the Beverly Bridge and because I want to make it a full-scale replica you can imagine how long and big it will be. In addition, it needs to remain portable meaning less the 6 to 8 feet long. We know the bridge at full scale will be more than 6 if my Renslow one measures about 5. However don't despair, I believe I have come up with a solution, which I hope to test this summer! My goal: to make a fully operational layout with key scenes built to scale from Kittitas to Moses Lake. It Will Be Big!!!
Ok so...I really didn't get much done other than some small minor things that are not picture worthy. I need to get out to eastern wa, and collect dirt before I move any further with the scenery. But I was able to ballast the Renslow bridge deck. This was my first time ballasting but I think it came out ok. If you go to my railimages album and click this picture you'll get a full description of the photo for those interested in reading more about what this picture depicts. sorry about the monster xacto knife. was still pulling some ballast off the rail in certain areas.
You've sure hit some interesting photo angles! This one gives quite an impression of height, when looking down on the freeway below. Boxcab E50
Thanks Ken, you re always commenting on my photo angle, I appreciate it. I only wish I had a better camera. Speaking of height, while over there for a photo trip my brother and I notice a box inside the girders and we both were curious. We never actually got to it because we decided we were far enough! However, my brother is taller than me and was able to see some it's contents...sand/dirt is all he could see. so we got down, which was for the better as we really did not want to go any further. But the point is the bridge is high!!! After that rush we felt much better sticking to the ROW as we traveled to Boylston by bike, wait I should say BMX bikes. We didn't have a single gear to help us like mountain bikes do. Plus the ballast still there was very soft in some places.
Hard to say why that box might have been there. No wires or anything around it? I suppose anything like that is long gone. No sense in getting killed trying to find out! Boxcab E50
yeah there was not much there as far as RR memobilia. The concrete deck is stacked not only on the ends of the bridge but also to the west of it. The only think I found out there was a piece/section of the bridge handrail. Although I remember reading somewhere that someone, (whom is suppose to be displaying this item at the Cle Elum Depot once it officially opens) took the voice recorder thingy that told a RR worker inside one of the nearby depots a train was crossing the bridge. I wanna see and hear this thing! Ken maybe you know more about this item I speak of. Maybe you can clear some things up for me so I don't pass on bad info.
Greg- There was some sort of annunciator in that area that let them know a train was coming or going. I know there was one in the Beverly depot. Probably on the west side, in Kittitas. Believe I know who you are referencing. Boxcab E50
How's about building the line east from Renslow, with the tunnel, then the Doris substation, the "heartbrake curves", and then down to the Beverely bridge?!
All within time. I was just discussing with ken in which direction I should go next, East or West. I have a big incentive to build west only because I was asked to loan my layout to the Kittitas Heritage Center for this years Railroad Exhibit at the Kittitas county fair grounds. They need RR stuff from around Kittitas County and someone passed my name onto the curator. So...moving west to build some more of the Kittitas ramp and the depot/substation would be a real neat treat for the center, if I can get it all done in time for the event. Kurt- don't worry you will soon enough see those places mentioned including rye, cheviot, Boylston, and many others...
