MadCoW Route Progress.......

Updated for those that follow the Madison Central of Wisconsin.

Between other projects, I have managed to get some more work done on the layout. As you may or may not know, the layout is derived from 3 dioramas that were built before a layout was planned. The photos will go from left to right as you would walk railroad east to west. We'll start near the small rural town of Dachshundville and work towards the Ablemann quarry. So mind your step(this area is under construction) and let's see what's doin'.........

This area is the end of the layout and serves as a scene divider. To the left is Dachshundville. The empty area next to the stacked/carved foam will have a sloping hillside pasture that rises to just below the top layer of foam. This will extend towards the tractors on the left. The foam on the near side will be farm field.



This is a little more to the right and shows the rockface carved by glaciers over 1 month ago.



Moving towards the High Bridge scene, the newly added/carved foam that was necessary to blend the 2 scenes together. I am not happy with the sculptamold roadway and it will be re-done using foamcore board. The road will be bridged to the edge and a small town will be in this area on right.



Better view looking towards bridge scene. I am happy with the rock carvings but the real test will come when painting.



Continued.............

 

Continued........

Part 2

This is looking back towards the east-end of the bridge in the same area.



And on the quarry side, west-end the new/blended scenery looks like this......



And then, off the quarry siding, is a little branchline that goes to the small town of LaRue. The town will not be modeled as it is on the 'otherside' of this hillside.



The MadCoW serves the sandpit on the otherside of the tunnel and uses ore-jennies to haul loads to online cement customers. In this view you see the main and the small storage yard for ore-jennies. Here the portal is fitted and will be sculptamolded in place, while the upper corner will receive more foam/sculpta to buil it up a bit.



Well, I gotta a lot more to do................Hope you enjoyed.

Johnny

 

That is fantastic rockwork

 

Thanks Mopac Man. I got a soft spot for the MP as well.

Johnny

 

I second that.

verse

 

Those are excellent carved rocks. I have seen that type of stuff done with plaster molds, but you must be a very patient person to do that with foam. Excellent work! :thumbs_up:

 

Thanks Verse, I'm having fun.

Well Flash, let's just say I have some colorfull new words that magically formulate during the carving process. Thank you!!.

Johnny

 

Very nice rock work. Keep it up.

 

Hey Thanks Chooch. Your signature amuses me!!

Johnny

 

Nice Work on the Rocks...

I like that train tressle shown in one of your pics... keep up the great work.

Cheers,

 

Johnny - Just out of curiosity, what do you use to carve your rocks?

 

To Friscobob;

Sure Bob. If you didn't know the layout was built in dioramas. The 3 main ones about a year ago. Here are some previous posed shots from them.

The Quarry at Ablemann:




Dachshundville:


And the High Bridge at Ablemann(taken outdoors):


I do paint my own power. Thanks for the compliments!

Johnny

 

Hi Tyler. I use one tool. A kitchen steak knife. It has many different ways to be used. I pull the length of it to get horizontal strata. I use just the tip to 'chip' away surface foam. I use the serated surface to 'scratch-up' rock surface. And I use the end to 'stab' in crevices. Next to duct tape,......It's the handymans' secret weapon!!

Keep your stick on the ice.

Johnny

 

For Friscobob;

Here's a couple more of Dachshundville I found:






Hope you enjoy.....

Johnny

 

Hey there, things are looking good neighbor. (I live in Mad-City):shade:

Another C&NW fan I see. Me too. Building the Canton & Everwhile Railroad in my basement. We specialize in moving the things the big boys won't on the tracks they left behind.

Keep the track gang's spike mauls ringing!

Michael

 

Hi Michael,

I grew up in Madison. Lived right behind the Monona Yard(now called Johnson St. by the WSOR). So yeh, the CNW has a special place in my heart. I cut my teeth between watchin them and the Milwaukee in the 60's. Feel free to share some photos of what you're working on. Like to see those private shortlines doing things the others left behind.

Johnny

 

Seeing these added images with all those C&NW power excites me. I've recently started collecting C&NW power which will deliver excursion service on my layout.

Great stuff Johnny.

verse

 

Yeh Bob, I just had to see for myself what they would/could have looked like. I actually sold that unit on ebay not too long ago. Oelwein must have been a cool place to be during those days. My memory has the FP-7's that were in Chicago commuter service coming into Madison on Saturday wayfreights. They were lashed 5 or 6 to gether and they wye'd em for the trip back to the windy city. Thanks for sharing the memories!!

Johnny