F&L Railroad Progress - 4/18/18 Update!

SO now that I have a source of 054 Atlas O Switches, I've been able to get some track progress done on the layout. 80% of the track is now complete, except for the areas highlighted in red in the photo below. I have temporary straight and curved sections in were there should be switches. I'm just happy to have my reverse loops functional and have basically 2 sidings where i can park trains.

I've gotten the first of two bridges scratch built on the layout.   This is my very first scratch built item and I think it came out great!    I'll just have to weather it next. 

Bridge #2 is complete! I like how it came out, just wish the river bed was deeper.

Scenery Progress!

So the other day, My son and I actually walked a very small section of the old F&L Railroad here in town, and he asked me if he could bring one of the rocks home. Well I thought about it and heck, I can use some of the old Ballast  on the layout as "rocks".

Also the farthest corner of the layout now as some color on it, it's by no means completed it's a great start.

You do excellent work!

Peter

I've gotten some work done in the town,  Main St is now paved with sidewalks.    Still need to paint the road and sidewalks.

I took the plastic sidewalks off the Lionel buildings to make them all match.

It's been quite awhile since I posted a progress update.  But here is a bulk post with all the recent work done on the layout.   I'm quite happy with how the Town area is coming along.

I love the "Town Square" idea. Nice work!

Peter

I agree, your town is going to be very interesting to see.

I've been hard at work getting the town finished or at least in a presentable state.

I recently added some building fronts to hopefully mask the hard edge of the wall.

I started placing tress with and Autumn theme ( best season here in New England)

Crews have been hard at work laying fresh asphalt for the parking lot for the train station.

Matthew congratulations on the progress that you are making. The layout is coming alive. I was noticing the trees and have a question.

Have you reduced the size in the rear to force the perspective? We saw this done very successfully on a layout a couple of months ago and it saved $$$ going from relatively large trees to smaller ones as the distance increased. Looking at your layout, it appears that you may have done this.

Thanks.

Thank you Bill, 

To answer your question,  no I didn't do a forced perspective with smaller trees,  they all came from  the same kit.  

Wanted to post some progress photo's.   

A little late in posting this but April 18th marks the "birth" of the F&L Model Railroad back in 2014 when I started it all. bottom photo was 2015 and the top photo was from 2017.

Your excellent work continues!

"Happy Anniversary!"

Peter

Was finally able to acquire more Atlas Switches  recently.   I finally have half a yard for Car Storage and or Engine Storage.    I just need 2 more switches and the track work is complete!   

Matthew,

I'm glad to see you have been able to get a start on that yard!  So the rest of the yard will go on the area where the big bottle of glue and other items are now, I take it.  It should be nice, and you at least have some yard space until you get the other switches.  Your scenery work posted in May shows very well!  I remember seeing them, and must have been called away before I could comment.  The town shaped up real well.  I may have said before the town square and park/play area look very good, as we often try to cram in as many buildings as we can.  Some towns just aren't that way!  The added details make it come alive.  The shelves above the yard side of the layout look new to me.  Are you planning additional shelves in between the ones already there?  Thank you for the update.

Matthew,

It looks like things are coming along well. You are getting some good work in and now I put my head down in shame because I haven't done anything to my layout in 2 weeks. Thanks for the motivation. You know the motivation that you probably didn't know you gave to me, lol.

Dave

Hey Matthew G how are you doing. I hope the new year finds you well. I just restumbled  on to this thread and was wondering has any more progress been made? It's  looking great. 

Just a little post-christmas photo shoot of different areas of the layout. I've started a "draft" version of yard side (Lowell) of the layout just to see what it will look like, I only need 1 more switch to complete the track work.

The yard area looks good as you work on your draft!  

So about 2 weeks over due. Happy birthday to the F&L Model Railroad. 4 Years ago on 4/18/14 , the very first section of bench work went up. I've gotten a lot done in 4 years.

Looks great!!

Matt, looks good! All in good time and things come together!