Weekend Photo Fun 11-3-22-???

This week, I have photos of a layout improvement project that involves part of the layout that I have rarely, if ever posted photos of on Weekend Photo Fun. This is a section of the railroad that portrays a section of the Middle Division running along the base of Blue Mountain in a forested area without a structure in sight. It helps to create the impression of a remote wooded area as it contains nothing but trees, line poles, and the track which makes it look as if the trains are really headed somewhere.

This was the first area of the layout to be sceniced back around 2006, and I used fake fur for grassy areas, a technique I had used on my old HO layout. Static grass was not yet being widely used at that time. I painted the fake fur in a green color which I thought was similar to what I had used on the old layout, but it was too blue in color. I put green colored ground foam on top of some of it too, but that really didn't help much.  It really looked lousy, but I was rushing to do an article about the layout as well as being rather lazy. Instead of ripping it out, I left it there, and with each passing year, I hated it more and more. It was definitely the weak part of the layout.

I finally finished the stone arch bridge and surrounding scene that I’ve been posting pictures of for the last six months, so I decided to put off starting work on the next scene I had planned to do and instead decided to rip out the offensive blue colored grass.  It would be replaced with correctly colored static grass that I have been using in recent years. I don’t know why I waited so long…it only took me a week to fix, and it’s a huge improvement. So here are some pictures and you can judge for yourself!

Here’s what it looked like before I got started:

Next is an image of the same area after I ripped out the first section of the incorrectly painted fake fur:

Here are some images showing the revamped scene using correctly colored static grass:

This is a close up of the end of the western end of the newly grassed area as it nears the wooded cut at Jacks Narrows (I just really like this picture and had to include it!):

I intentionally took these pictures showing the new static grassed area butting up against the old blue fake fur. See the difference?

And here are a few shots with the trains back in service (Conrail, since this part of the layout is supposed to be the early Conrail era of the early 1980's):

And finally, here is just a cool picture I took of the same Conrail coal drag pictured above mid train as it blocked the grade crossing in Mattawana just to the east of the scene modeled above.

That's it for this week!

Scott I take you won't have to move all of the layout out of the basement now that the new O Gauge layout is under construction! Also have you noticed anything different about the sigh in Jims door?

Just got this 3rd Rail 2-10-2.

Hello Weekenders,

This is probably cheating, but some of these photos I posted earlier in the week about this car.  I just think it is so neat, I am posting it here too.

Tom (forum member Krieglok) modified a GGD HW combine into the AFT tool car for me.  Tom covered the windows, got the correct decals, and fixed some broken parts on the used car I got from Trainz for a perfect "Tool Car".  Thanks Tom!

Here is the car I bought and had Trainz send it directly to Tom.

Here is Tom's finished product.

Some nice F3s from the stable. The B&O, Canadian Pacific & Union Pacific will be posted on the For Sale board here within a day or so.

My model of Boston & Maine ALCo RS-3 #1537 was made by Weaver Models at least fifteen years ago. It has two vertical motors and runs well. I repaired a break in wire insulation that caused a short circuit a few years ago so the engine sounds are non-functional. It is not quite as detailed as a current RS-3 by MTH. In my opinion, the general level of detail is satisfactory and the walkway treads and railings are just as good as MTH but the Weaver model can't run quite as slowly as a model with PS2 or PS3.

RS-3s had a 1,600 horsepower ALCo V12 244 diesel engine, weighed 247,100 pounds and developed 61,775 pounds of starting tractive effort. Boston & Maine #1537 was built in 1952 and retired in 1966. It was permitted a maximum speed of 65 miles-per-hour on the B&M.

The videos show it running on my 10’-by-5’ and 12’-by-8’ layouts.

MELGAR

Train Room Photos - “The Grandchildren Hanging Out In Grandpa’s Train Room”

(1) Abigail (Age 2 1/2) trying on a Lionel train hat.

(2) Noah (Age 7) Unboxing a Lionel locomotive.

(3) Adam (Age 8) Setting up a consist on the main line to Detroit .

(4) Going Home.

Thanks for taking a look & have a great weekend: Gary & my train crew. 🚂

A few more shots of my layout prior to my current one:

This is THE best shot on the whole thread! Just look at that light...

@c.sam posted:

This is THE best shot on the whole thread! Just look at that light...

Hi c.sam: Thanks for the photographic complement.

Gary: Hope to see you out rail-fanning. 🚂

Lots going on........ first, final pics from last weekend's Open House:

Thomas pulling a mixed train.

A surprise guest.....Rick Eudy, President of the National Capital Trackers came down from NOVA to see the layouts.

Next is very special, and a milestone for me.......my 1st unchaperoned custom cut piece of Ross track, and....the result.....

Measure twice, cut once is the saying......I probably measured eight times with three different rulers! Then cut......

Lastly, the new layout is coming along. The papers tell me where I dropped feeders for my two power districts......does anyone get the subliminal message?  The funny part, which I can't explain, is that it just happend, and was unplannned......

Have a great weekend, folks!

Peter

A 2021 Christmas Layout memory

-walt

part of the town area

PRRMiddleDivision     I wanted to comment on your exceptional work posted above. Getting the area after the trees to blend in correctly is not easily achieved but you have really done that well. Without the track being 3 rail and giving it away, you would think you are in the middle of nowhere. Your work on this gives me some confidence that those scenes can be achieved.  That is not an easy thing .  Great job.  Bill

Driving around town.

@trainroomgary posted:

Train Room Photos - “The Grandchildren Hanging Out In Grandpa’s Train Room

(4) Going Home.

Thanks for taking a look & have a great weekend: Gary & my train crew. 🚂

Gorgeous picture!

@Bill Park posted:

PRRMiddleDivision     I wanted to comment on your exceptional work posted above. Getting the area after the trees to blend in correctly is not easily achieved but you have really done that well. Without the track being 3 rail and giving it away, you would think you are in the middle of nowhere. Your work on this gives me some confidence that those scenes can be achieved.  That is not an easy thing .  Great job.  Bill

Bill,

Thank you for your comments. Getting everything to blend in correctly is a matter of experience, and I've gotten better at it over the years having now completed 90% of the layout after 25 years. That blue colored grass was just not up to par, and I finally had to take a break from working on the next section of the layout and fix it. I appreciate your comment about it looking like you are in the middle of nowhere. That is my goal with most of the layout. I cluster the structures tightly into small towns and urban areas and spread them out between forests, pastures, and cornfields.

Getting set to start building 2022's Christmas Layout.  It will be my smallest one in some 25 years - lacked motivaation this year for some reason.  Here are the SOME of the things that I do in the. planning phase.

For all of these images I apologize up front about their qualify.

I draw umpteen upon umpteen version of the track plan before picking one.  After I do, tI plan the scenery.  Sometimes I have specific scenery things that I want to do and that can influence the track design.  Here's this year's:

This leads to determining lockon locations and wiring ideas for the scenery items:

Determining AIU, TIU, wall plug assignments and tranny things:I know it's almost unreadable but you get the idea, right?

.

I go as far as planning how I will lay out the Homasote sheets.  I have a bunch of different sized pieces.  I have matching sized pieces of Blue Board (insulation board) that I lay down on the floor first. They are slightly smaller than the Homasote pieces which allows for me to run wires in those gaps

Here's where I am as of today.  I won't start until next Wednesday though

It's like waiting for Christmas day to arrive!!!!

- walt

One of the most famous railroad cuts in American history......the railroad cut west of Gettysburg......where the North Carolinians and Mississipians of Joe Davis' brigade of Heth's division came to grief in their fight with Wadsworth's division of the Union 1st Corps.......early on the opening day of the battle on July 1, 1863. I believe this was eventually part of the Western Maryland RR.

This is looking east towards town.

This is looking west towards Cashtown.

Peter

On Thursday a Westbound Canadian National freight train was pulled by two EMD SD70M-2 diesel-electric locomotives through Vicksburg, Michigan over the Grand Trunk Western railroad tracks.

CN 8851, CN 8880

Lionel 2228290 cannon car

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

Bill,

Thank you for your comments. Getting everything to blend in correctly is a matter of experience, and I've gotten better at it over the years having now completed 90% of the layout after 25 years. That blue colored grass was just not up to par, and I finally had to take a break from working on the next section of the layout and fix it. I appreciate your comment about it looking like you are in the middle of nowhere. That is my goal with most of the layout. I cluster the structures tightly into small towns and urban areas and spread them out between forests, pastures, and cornfields.

My sentiments exactly Neal, I really like your approach to 'rural' landscaping. Too many layouts cram as much 'stuff' into every available space that they are just too crowded. I hope to achieve a very scenic layout sometime down the road too. Your trackwork is first rate as well!

Frisco Meteor cars:

coach 1255 KIRKWOOD:

Once again thank you Scott for getting us started for this fine weekend!   Here are some shots from around the Free State Junction Railway.  Have a terrific weekend everyone!!

The Big Hook has been brought in to do some heavy lifting.  

Somewhere in back of town.

Goings on at the tower today.  

l

The daily way freight makes its' way through town.

Still haven’t done much lately at all since York. Hoping that changes soon. Did catch some of the Amtrak heritage units going by the shop this week.

RS-3 Peabody at the crossing.

Keep those trains running

Jeff

Haven't posted anything for a while, guess I'm a little rusty.

Once again a RS-3 at the crossing.

Jeff

@Rob Leese posted:

Frisco Meteor cars:

coach 1255 KIRKWOOD:

Rob;  Love the detailed interior.  Did the car come that way or did you do the detail additions?

@FrankRazz

The cars come with full interiors (in one solid color) and no people. I added seated figures and window blinds. I also masked the overhead lighting with clear green tape to simulate tinted windows.

This afternoon I finished weathering a baggage car and KIRKWOOD. I am not proud to admit it, but all of my many reference photos for Frisco passenger cars indicate outwardly fairly dirty equipment. I didn’t apply as much grime nor simulate chipped paint to the extent of reality, circa 1964.

Walt, small, medium or large I always enjoy seeing your layout. Your layouts are eye catching and enjoyable.

This is one of the Atlas O scale TTX articulated auto carriers from Thrall Car that I was finally able to get.

The trucks have to be screwed together again at the center point because it makes a strange clicking in curves.

O scale automobiles and trucks fit inside this automobile carrier

Andrew

@jim sutter posted:

Walt, small, medium or large I always enjoy seeing your layout. Your layouts are eye catching and enjoyable.

thanks for that Jim.