Trackside Thursday

Another good one Lee.

I’m game, Lee! Here’s a shot down at the station.

Nice pics guys and thanks I really enjoy looking at your layouts

The local "weed 'n feed" and a shot of the station parking lot ......

Trackside junk and debri.  

Old McDonald had a farm (and a Produce Stand) at trackside:

Getting some ice cream down on Main St.

Tom

The scrap yard by the tracks.

The maintenance of way guys are hard at work.

Track-side by suburban station Terryville

The engine servicing crew taking a "breather".

The engine maintenance crew back at work.

Track-side at the harbor.

The town by the tracks.

Beautiful pics Guys. I knew you had lots of trackside stuff. Now I’m going to have to get on the ball and lay more trackside stuff down.

Otis here is three sheet in the wind!  He knows by following alongside the tracks he will eventually find his way back home. Passengers wait on the platform for their specific train.  Early morning trackside chat alongside work caboose with Floyd and Ernie.  Farmer Bert Suggs has arrived at the produce terminal early and is waiting alongside the track for his truck to be called to the unloading platform.  

It's still Thursday where you live, Lee!

@Mark Boyce posted:

It's still Thursday where you live, Lee!

You can drop in and post anytime.  

@lee drennen posted:

You can drop in and post anytime.  

I assumed so.  👍🏻

Small trackside details ........

Police unit situated on flatcar and parked below a main overhead line

Some real classics alongside a spur or 'Conversation over a Coke'

Today we have a Transload going on after a derailment

Trackside in the Subway when its not flooded (like yesterday) -

Down at the freight station.

Unloading at the siding, just have to get my supplies and go home, before it rains.

Man riding a motorbike and a RR crossing sign.

The west side of good old Cleveland Ohio. Former NYC right of way I believe.

Despite the sign, people think this is a good place to dispose of their unwanted junk:

Tom

Here's the switch tower at the entrance to my underground yard.  No worries about the rising water here.  We are on top of the hill over 300 feet in elevation above crick level.

MOW checking on a strange load on Team track # 2.

Hey Bob, I'm a little confused by the rules here. Is everyday Trackside Thursday?  LOL!

@Strap Hanger posted:

Hey Bob, I'm a little confused by the rules here. Is everyday Trackside Thursday?  LOL!

Trackside Thursday, Front End Friday, Switcher Saturday......

What day is today anyway??????

@Strap Hanger posted:

Hey Bob, I'm a little confused by the rules here. Is everyday Trackside Thursday?  LOL!

Good question, Strap!  Mine went in a little past midnight once again, so it was really Friday!  Hey, I’m retired now!  I don’t watch the clock.  😆

@Mark Boyce posted:

Good question, Strap!  Mine went in a little past midnight once again, so it was really Friday!  Hey, I’m retired now!  I don’t watch the clock.  😆

I think you're good, Mark, unlike that other guy from Lawn-guy-land.  I can't wait to burn my calendar and join you in retirement next year.

@RSJB18 posted:

Trackside Thursday, Front End Friday, Switcher Saturday......

What day is today anyway??????

It doesn’t matter I’m just glad to see you guys post your stuff. No on with SWSAT I think

@Strap Hanger posted:

I think you're good, Mark, unlike that other guy from Lawn-guy-land.  I can't wait to burn my calendar and join you in retirement next year.

I understand completely!  Mine happened a bit differently.  I was looking ahead on the calendar for my retirement, and someone higher than me burned the whole thing up in one fell swoop!  😄  I guess they were satisfied I didn’t have anything left to teach the younger guys, so why keep “The Old Hillbilly” around, so those “Flatlanders” thought.  😆

@Mark Boyce posted:

I understand completely!  Mine happened a bit differently.  I was looking ahead on the calendar for my retirement, and someone higher than me burned the whole thing up in one fell swoop!  😄  I guess they were satisfied I didn’t have anything left to teach the younger guys, so why keep “The Old Hillbilly” around, so those “Flatlanders” thought.  😆

It's their loss, Mark. But hey, now you have more time to build that layout and focus on what's really important in life!  I sincerely doubt that you had nothing left to teach the younger guys. In my field, there really is a huge gap in basic knowledge and skills between us older timers and younger employees.  I don't know what they're teaching kids these days, but it certainly isn't the things necessary for success in my field, in spite of their degrees and well credentialed backgrounds (you know, things like critical thinking, attention to detail, and reading comprehension). Bad for society at large but at least it won't be my problem much longer.

Hey, Are you as excited as I am to see some of Bob's posts tomorrow in the Front End Friday thread? Really looking forward to those, LOL!

Lee (@Lee drennen), sorry to knock your thread a tad off course again. Just a little fun among friends.

@Strap Hanger posted:

It's their loss, Mark. But hey, now you have more time to build that layout and focus on what's really important in life!  I sincerely doubt that you had nothing left to teach the younger guys. In my field, there really is huge gap in basic knowledge and skills between us older timers and younger employees.  I don't know what they're teaching kids these days, but it certainly isn't the things necessary for success in my field in spite of their degrees and well credentialed backgrounds (you know, things like critical thinking, attention to detail, and reading comprehension). Bad for society at large but at least it won't be my problem much longer.

Hey, Are you as excited as I am to see some of Bob's posts tomorrow in the Front End Friday thread? Really looking forward to those, LOL!

Lee (@Lee drennen), sorry to knock your thread a tad off course again. Just a little fun among friends.

Thank you.  Well they let the young guys learn the newer technology, and I was stuck with the old technology.  I tried to do it at home 15 to 20 years ago, but it was too much.

Yes indeed; Front End Friday tomorrow for sure!!

@Strap Hanger posted:

It's their loss, Mark. But hey, now you have more time to build that layout and focus on what's really important in life!  I sincerely doubt that you had nothing left to teach the younger guys. In my field, there really is a huge gap in basic knowledge and skills between us older timers and younger employees.  I don't know what they're teaching kids these days, but it certainly isn't the things necessary for success in my field, in spite of their degrees and well credentialed backgrounds (you know, things like critical thinking, attention to detail, and reading comprehension). Bad for society at large but at least it won't be my problem much longer.

Hey, Are you as excited as I am to see some of Bob's posts tomorrow in the Front End Friday thread? Really looking forward to those, LOL!

Lee (@Lee drennen), sorry to knock your thread a tad off course again. Just a little fun among friends.

It’s all good no harm.

@lee drennen posted:

It’s all good no harm.

Yes, I contributed more to the train derailing that Strap Hanger did.  Thank you, Lee!!

Some interesting trackside scenes from our old layout

c.sam...great pics of activity along the tracks...I especially like the British Leland units...saw a '70 or so MGB this morning!  Do you recall who makes those diecast units??

Lee, great theme...sorry I missed it Thursday, but I'll keep my eyes out from now on!  Hopefully, this thread will go as long as the 1/43  etc. auto thread...

@Capetrainman posted:

Lee, great theme...sorry I missed it Thursday, but I'll keep my eyes out from now on!  Hopefully, this thread will go as long as the 1/43  etc. auto thread...

Thanks Paul I hope it’s up to you guys to help keep it going. Thanks for posting

@Mark Boyce posted:

Yes, I contributed more to the train derailing that Strap Hanger did.  Thank you, Lee!!

Don’t worry about it Mark. I’m not a hard butt about those kinda things.

Happy TST everyone one more day to go till the weekend and I can’t wait. Today’s TST is some Piggyback’s being unloaded

Trackside in the subway -

Here are some trackside photo's from the Leonardtown and Savannah :

The GP-7 moves a mid day passenger train out of the downtown depot and up north towards Macon and Atlanta.

One of the last steam loco's on the line is finally "free" from the hole and moves a low priority mixed freight up towards the junction with the Southern RR

The wharf area is a little light, having most of its RR traffic moved out overnight to make room for todays cargos.  Workers however are inbound on the RDC and the trolley for all the business and shops downtown.

Happy Thursday everyone

Don

A farmer takes a break from his chores to watch a freight train pass by.

Tom

Thanks for sharing your pics you posted some really nice ones this week.  I’m so far behind after Thursday life got me very busy at home and work. I’ll see you next TST.

Happy TST. Everyone. Today we have a couple Piggyback Trailers Trackside being  for pickup after a derailment  

Trackside looking down from the Elevated line (why would anyone put a soda machine next to a smelly NYC trash bin?) -

Wow...its Thursday already.  OK here is one for today.  The Wabash F-3 heads out of town.

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Wow...its Thursday already.  OK here is one for today.  The Wabash F-3 heads out of town.

Don

Yeah Yeah you retired folks never keep track of what day of the week it is. My dad did the same thing.
Don your  pic looks good. Thanks for sharing and could be a good FEF pic. In case you don’t know tomorrow is FRIDAY. Lol.😂

Oh yea...I remember now...Friday follows Thursday. I will have to keep that in mind, might write it down !  OBTW I saw the picture of your rig parked at a loading dock that was near impossible to access...what a job!  That is a real skill, BZ mate ! Candidly I never did get the hang of parking trailers.  When we had a camper, I had to back down about a 1/2 block to put it in its storage spot.  It was so entertaining that the neighbors would move their lawn chairs to the front lawn to watch!

Don

Santa Fe trackside crew working on the railroad!

Happy Thursday!

Looking down from a rotary aircraft beacon, we see the “knights of the road” making their evening meal trackside.

Moving Day!  The crew at the pipe organ factory prepares to load the trucks with pipes and other components of a new pipe organ destined for a local church:

Tom

On the produce track an express reffer delivers perishables and Santana's Produce will distribute said perishables to local grocers.

Hot Rod Horace stands next to his Vette and the fire dept stands at the ready.

@Don McErlean posted:

Oh yea...I remember now...Friday follows Thursday. I will have to keep that in mind, might write it down !  OBTW I saw the picture of your rig parked at a loading dock that was near impossible to access...what a job!  That is a real skill, BZ mate ! Candidly I never did get the hang of parking trailers.  When we had a camper, I had to back down about a 1/2 block to put it in its storage spot.  It was so entertaining that the neighbors would move their lawn chairs to the front lawn to watch!

Don

Thanks Don for the complement. Tomorrow is Saturday Remember SWSAT is tomorrow lol.

@trumpettrain posted:

On the produce track an express reffer delivers perishables and Santana's Produce will distribute said perishables to local grocers.

Hot Rod Horace stands next to his Vette and the fire dept stands at the ready.

Patrick like that last pic.

@Tom Densel posted:

Moving Day!  The crew at the pipe organ factory prepares to load the trucks with pipes and other components of a new pipe organ destined for a local church:

Tom

Tom. Never seen this one thanks for sharing

@Artie-DL&W posted:

Looking down from a rotary aircraft beacon, we see the “knights of the road” making their evening meal trackside.

Artie thanks for the Hobo Jungle pic I like it

@Strap Hanger posted:

Trackside looking down from the Elevated line (why would anyone put a soda machine next to a smelly NYC trash bin?) -

Nice pic you’ve really captured the NYC look

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

Santa Fe trackside crew working on the railroad!

Happy Thursday!

I like that pickup with the jag of rock in it never seen that before

@lee drennen posted:

Nice pic you’ve really captured the NYC look

Thanks Lee. You’re posting some great photos as well.   The wife picked up that sanitation truck for me at a thrift store a while back and I repurposed it for NYC sanitation service on the layout.  

@Strap Hanger posted:

Thanks Lee. You’re posting some great photos as well.   The wife picked up that sanitation truck for me at a thrift store a while back and I repurposed it for NYC sanitation service on the layout.  

You did a great  job on it. I love the East Coast I used always try to get a load to the East Coast when I drove over the road years ago.

Good Morning Gang. Here’s today’s offering. Some CSX action I took in East St. Louis Illinois

Trackside view from the mainline looking down mainstreet -

Hi everyone, here are some shots I took yesterday along the L&S right of way.

The boys of the Small Town Car Club are about to have their morning coffee spilled as the hot shot freight moves across the front of the diner.

Likewise, the folks having breakfast at the McDonald's ,might get some cinders in their egg mcmuffin if they aren't careful.

Happy Thursday everyone...remember only one more day till Friday!

Regards

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Hi everyone, here are some shots I took yesterday along the L&S right of way.

The boys of the Small Town Car Club are about to have their morning coffee spilled as the hot shot freight moves across the front of the diner.

Likewise, the folks having breakfast at the McDonald's ,might get some cinders in their egg mcmuffin if they aren't careful.

Happy Thursday everyone...remember only one more day till Friday!

Regards

Don

Nice pics Don. Yes and I can’t wait

Trackside pickup, men working, and a dog laying down. Trackside garbage cans, old tires, assorted junk, RR crossing sign, and timber.

The guys are discussing last night's ball game outside the yard office:

Tom

Great shot, Tom! Looks like that pickup had some body work.

@lee drennen posted:

Good Morning Gang. Here’s today’s offering. Some CSX action I took in East St. Louis Illinois

Does anyone make a forklift crane like this one?

@wb47 posted:

Does anyone make a forklift crane like this one?

Yes. You can get these with log grapples and I think standard forks. Google Taylor lifts. I don’t know what this one is off hand next time I’m at the CSX I’ll get h to be name of it

@Tom Densel posted:

The guys are discussing last night's ball game outside the yard office:

Tom

Great pic Tom captures the moment perfect

Good Morning TST fans today we have a Tanker getting ready to fill up the NW2 DT&I Switcher. Have a great day

Passengers watching some dock action while waiting for their train

Interesting, I spotted this red Cadillac model just now in Don's post above and remember seeing the prototype this summer at a show in Maggie Valley NC!  Gorgeous vehicle. Was part of a 'low rider mini truck' expo.

Making a pickup for an express delivery at the station.

From about 8 years ago, but still a nice trackside shot -

Thanks guys for posting very nice pics

Crossing shanty and crossing gate.  Crossing gate was on my first round the tree layout when I was 4 years old.

@trumpettrain posted:

Crossing shanty and crossing gate.  Crossing gate was on my first round the tree layout when I was 4 years old.

Nice pic Patrick thanks for posting

After the feed mill employee finishes loading the customer's truck he has to finish putting the crates, that were just delivered, inside:

Tom

c.sam Thanks for your mention of my "car club" scene and the pictures of the "low rider" version is really neat.  Wife and I just returned from a vacation trip and visited a "transportation museum" and they had another example of the same car. The 1953 Cadillac 2-door coupe.  It's amazing, these babies were Immense , no chance parking one in today's parking slots.

Best wishes

Don

Happy Thursday everyone. Here’s today’s TST staging some Boxcars.

Our PRR T1 makes the rounds. A wedding party seems oblivious to the classic art deco steamer as she thunders past and the prison 'chain gang' at work below the trestle seems the same.

i don't know this engine -- you listed its model number, but can you tell us more (mfr, wheel configuration, trad/command)?  I love the aesthetics! (also, love the layout)

@c.sam posted:

Our PRR T1 makes the rounds. A wedding party seems oblivious to the classic art deco steamer as she thunders past and the prison 'chain gang' at work below the trestle seems the same.

Great pics Sam thanks for sharing

sorry -- my prior reply was too vague.  This was directed at @c.sam, regarding the PRR T1.

Just west of the Great Northeastern Railway's multi-track mainline toward Union Station, Christopolis, is the Christopolis City Zoo. Even in the winter, the zoo attracts a good crowd of visitors. The grand Lion's Gate bridge is the zoo's entrance from the sidewalk on the Wilford Road side of the zoo where the intrepid hot dog vendor is still on his post in the cold weather. The fashionable shopping district can be seen on King's Avenue behind the west wall of the zoo.

                                                               Sidetracked...

@Randy Harrison posted:

Just west of the Great Northeastern Railway's multi-track mainline toward Union Station, Christopolis, is the Christopolis City Zoo. Even in the winter, the zoo attracts a good crowd of visitors. The grand Lion's Gate bridge is the zoo's entrance from the sidewalk on the Wilford Road side of the zoo where the intrepid hot dog vendor is still on his post in the cold weather. The fashionable shopping district can be seen on King's Avenue behind the west wall of the zoo.

Randy thanks for sharing it looks cold there.

@SIRT posted:

                                                               Sidetracked...

Steve thanks for sharing that pic looks so convincing

Hard at work keeping the home fires burning.

ALCO Power leads the way!

@bobfett posted:

Hard at work keeping the home fires burning.

Very nice pic Bob

@trumpettrain posted:

ALCO Power leads the way!

Thanks for sharing Patrick looks good with the scenery

Watching track cleaning from trackside......

Peter

A day late, but here are a few.

Switching a trailer flat car off the mainline.

Good to have the Idaho State Police guarding the milk car platform, so no one steals any milk cans.

And Union Pacific and Santa Fe train crews chewing the fat.

@lee drennen posted:

Very nice pic Bob

Thank your, Lee.

Bob

A cab forward rolls by.

@PeterB posted:

i don't know this engine -- you listed its model number, but can you tell us more (mfr, wheel configuration, trad/command)?  I love the aesthetics! (also, love the layout)

Hey Pete, sorry I thought someone would have chimed in here to your inquiry.

This is Lionel's excellent model of the PRR's Amazing T1 'Duplex' steamer from 2000. Wheel arrangement is 4-4-4-4. About 50 of them plus a prototype were built for fast passenger service. Reports of speeds in excess of 130 mph were made back then which would qualify this as the fastest steamer in history. A group called "The T1 Trust" is working today to recreate one of these beauties in hopes of establishing a new world speed record.

@c.sam thanks!  what a beauty!  Hope the restorers complete that so I can see it in the flesh (as it were).

PW Lionel 2321 Lackawanna FM from 1955, 56 working the rails.

I’m not sure I’ve ever posted pictures on this thread, but it sounds like fun.so here’s a few pictures of our trains at trackside. Happy Railroading Everyone

@Sitka posted:

PW Lionel 2321 Lackawanna FM from 1955, 56 working the rails.

Nice pic of a Classic

@leapinlarry posted:

I’m not sure I’ve ever posted pictures on this thread, but it sounds like fun.so here’s a few pictures of our trains at trackside. Happy Railroading Everyone

Thanks for sharing Larry welcome aboard. Going to try to revive this every week

Happy TST everyone. Today we have some MoPac Hopper’s being dropped at the Kimbrel Coal Co.

Here’s today’s TST some Reading cars are being dropped off at the Kimbrel Coal Co.

Sitting  track side on an old discarded milk crate,  these are trains I saw today.

Here's a little trackside service on the Santa Fe!

                                                                        Twins

Superman is off to save the day as the Broadway Limited pulls into Union Station Christopolis.

The scrap yard is by the tracks leading to Union Station in Christopolis.

Suburban Station Terryville is hopping with trains both coming and going.

Here is a scene at the short siding of General Door and Sash as late on a Thursday afternoon they are trying to get the new drill press (the foreman JUST ORDERED!!) off the flat car and into the stake truck so it can be driven round the back and unloaded.  Note this is after they spent nearly an hr trying to off load it directly to the fork lift.  Tempers are short, time in shift is very short (and its "loader" Brown's wife bridge night and he has to be home to watch the kids) so you can imaging the dialogue.

"Loader" Brown (on ground) - come on you idiot just put the crane line hook over the head and I'll have Hooker Harry (crane operator) put it in the truck!

Billie Bronkowski (on flat car)-  don't you call me an idiot!  What did you do with the crane hook!

Truck Driver (Dangerous Dan) - Come on you two moron's put the xxxxxx thing in the truck I am going to be late for supper!

Well, I am not nearly as good at this story telling thing as Patrick but I thought I would try.  I will admit its fun

Best Wishes

Don

@leapinlarry posted:

I’m not sure I’ve ever posted pictures on this thread, but it sounds like fun.so here’s a few pictures of our trains at trackside. Happy Railroading Everyone

Larry, when you posted the photos of your new Santa Fe Yellow Bonnet set and then I saw Eric Siegel of Eric's Trains do a review, that was it, I had to have one! I see you have both the SuperBass and powered B unit and I have a question. I purchased the AA set and the SuperBass B unit, and I noticed that the rear electro coupler on the SuperBass B unit is longer than the dummy rear couplers on the A units, making for a larger gap between the rear A unit and the B unit. Is yours like this as well? Below is a photo of my set, can you see the difference in the gap? Happy Railroading!

Wow some guys Pic and videos this week on TST thanks for sharing see you next week.

@Don McErlean posted:

Here is a scene at the short siding of General Door and Sash as late on a Thursday afternoon they are trying to get the new drill press (the foreman JUST ORDERED!!) off the flat car and into the stake truck so it can be driven round the back and unloaded.  Note this is after they spent nearly an hr trying to off load it directly to the fork lift.  Tempers are short, time in shift is very short (and its "loader" Brown's wife bridge night and he has to be home to watch the kids) so you can imaging the dialogue.

"Loader" Brown (on ground) - come on you idiot just put the crane line hook over the head and I'll have Hooker Harry (crane operator) put it in the truck!

Billie Bronkowski (on flat car)-  don't you call me an idiot!  What did you do with the crane hook!

Truck Driver (Dangerous Dan) - Come on you two moron's put the xxxxxx thing in the truck I am going to be late for supper!

Well, I am not nearly as good at this story telling thing as Patrick but I thought I would try.  I will admit its fun

Best Wishes

Don

Don - I love your photos ... and your story!  Keep at it! Yes it is fun!

Well "Trackside Thur" fans, another sunny Thursday in central Texas and nice and cool, just over 70 deg.  So although I seem to be first to post today, I look forward to others later in the day.  So here are some trackside pictures from the Leonardtown and Savannah.

Here is the local Corvette Club, holding its monthly breakfast meeting at the Depot Diner.  Amtrak to Atlanta and then on north to New York waits at the depot in the background.

At the other end of the scale, the local light rail drops off and picks up some local commuters at the container port station.  This system is vital for shift change transportation at the container port, most of the local streets are too tightly packed and too lacking in parking to support much personnel interchange so everyone takes the "Street Rail".

Well hope your day is going well and you have a great rest of the week.

Don

Sometimes you just can't wait

The Great Northeastern Railway is busy delivering supplies to the North Pole to ready them for Santa's Christmas Eve ride.

A photo of the harbor. The Great Northeastern Railway's Terryville Engine service and storage facility is visible from a distance to the left of the photo.

The maintenance of way crew is hard at work.

The engine service crew stands at trackside to admire their work as this B&O 3-unit F-3 Diesel prepares to head out on its next assignment.

Some commuters checking out the News Stand for something to read on the ride home. The New York Times truck just dropped off the evening edition; both Look and The Saturday Evening Post weekly editions come out on Thursday so there's lots to choose from. Shop owner Bob Cady always gets angry when the REA security car takes up the parking space next to his shop for the whole day.

Here are some trackside photos for this fine Thursday!  

The brakeman.

Passengers in waiting and on board.

The switch job.

Happy LATE TST very busy day I had. Thanks for sharing your pics today. Here’s a White 3000 waiting on this old Atlas O Erie car to move out of the way

Watching freight trains from a trackside vantage point.

Here's some late Trackside Thursday.

Working on the Railroad. That Power Wagon sure gets around!

Here's some after work hoops next to the tracks.

Happy Friday!

@bobfett- Say mate, I have the exact news stand, right down to the pictures on the magazines on display.  It came down to me in a box of stuff from my boyhood train set (late 40's through 50's) but no information on who made it.  Do you have any data on who made that item or where you might have acquired it?  Thanks. @Randy Harrison - I really liked the scenes in your pictures but I was especially interested in how you crafted the "water surface" in your lake scene.  What did you use?  Thanks.

Well so much for my questions, I have a few trackside scenes today from the Leonardtown and Savannah to show you.

Here my WbB 45 ton switcher, pulling a few cars through the industrial exhibit and passing the "sash and door" works where some unloading in underway.

Here in the early 50's the residents of "Small Town" are getting a railfan treat.  One of the last operating steam engines on the line is bringing the early morning freight through town on its way to the wharf at Savannah.  The kids love this because Old Bill (steamer) Bixoly always blows the whistle for them and rings the bell and waves.  However them folks in that brand new Jaguar (a fur-en car!!) might not like the cinders and smoke.  Many folks in Small Town would say..."Serves um right for not buying a Ford".

Later that same day, much to the disappointment of the kids standing in the McDonald's parking lot a new engine takes the same route.  This is a new 45 Ton engine, available for lease from UP surplus, that the management is trying out.  When they heard that they could close the coal and water facilities that they now pay outrageous (in their opinion) fees to the management of the commercial wharf for space they were ready to sign.

Best wishes to everyone.  Hope your week is going well

Don

@Randy Harrison posted:

The Great Northeastern Railway is busy delivering supplies to the North Pole to ready them for Santa's Christmas Eve ride.

Boy are you ever scaring me Randy.

Judy lets me know on the 25th of every month just how many months until Chrisrmas.   I love it but it sure takes some effort to get out of my recliner to help her set up.

@Don McErlean posted:

@Randy Harrison - I really liked the scenes in your pictures but I was especially interested in how you made the water.

@Don McErlean

Don:

Thank you for your compliments. The water is not very difficult if you can get the material that I used. This was a technique suggested by a friend of mine who formerly work for an architectual model shop.