Weekend Photo Fun 2-14-25-??

Scott Smith

One very new item here, a French Picasso ralbus, and an older item, a German V45 diesel. The V45 actually has French origins too as it is a French diesel type that was used in the Saarland on the German/French border in the 1950s. The Picasso was imported by Chrezo of France and the V45 was made by DJH of the UK about 15 years ago. Miketg

Photos of people and scenes on my 12’-by-8’ layout.

The hobos are at the front of the layout – close to the tracks and an outhouse. They’ve been there for 25 years…

A barber shop, freight house and residence occupy the northwest corner.

The diner is in Bridgeport, at the southwest corner of the layout. Built from a kit. The cook stares out the window waiting for some paying customers while the waitress shoos vagrants away.

There is a small park in downtown Bridgeport across from the railroad station.

MELGAR

Thanks Scott for getting us rolling!  Here's a few pics from around the layout.

A GP9 lends a helping coupler to a B&O P7 Pacific at the point of a Merchandise Freight.

Down at the yard.

Brakeman Harry Dennis gives a hand signal to engineer Zoot Sims.  

Great job on those cars, Scott…..and thanks for starting us up……

Mixed trains are in fashion this week with the New Haven and New York Ontario & Western meeting at Maybrook yard west of the Hudson……

Have a great and safe weekend, everyone!

Peter

Two short videos…..

Peter

If you have been following my posts over the past six months or so, you know that I’ve been posting images of construction of the town of Mapleton. The town is set in the 1990’s. This is the last part of the layout to be completed. I am proud to announce that as of about 10:45 in the morning of Thursday February 13, I completed work on the scene, including installation of the fascia. This is 27 years and 5 months to the day after the start of construction of the layout. So finally here are photos of the completed scene as well as an overall view:

First, the entire town (most of which sits below the tracks as on the prototype making it hard to see) with the fascia in place:

Next, here is a Conrail mixed freight led by two Dash-8’s:

Now, here’s an image of the discontinued Amtrak “Three Rivers” which ran between New York City and Pittsburgh in that era:

Finally, here again are images of the PA Route 655 underpass, both prototype and model, but at last, there is finally an image (above) of it with a train passing over it. I really like this model as it is an extremely accurate replica of the prototype.

My son will be back in town this weekend to install a few more details which he created on his 3D printer, then we are going to have a completion ceremony including the installation of the “Golden Screw” which will be the last screw to be installed on the layout. I hope to post images of our ceremony in next week’s edition of Weekend Photo Fun…so as I always say, “That’s it for this week. Enjoy!”

….though trains make a great gift for Valentine’s Day. ❤️  (or for any holiday or occasion),

I caution you and submit that today, flowers, cards and candy are better…..

Peter  

Oooops almost forgot - Thanks for the heads up Peter - Putting ceiling fans in the bedrooms and loft this weekend / does that count as a Valentine's Day gift ???

The hobo’s just having a good time with their buddy on the way to join them.

Gene

Around the curve and through town.

Busy day at the station

Wintery day in Pennsy land

Running with the Trackers at the Great Scale Model Train Show at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium two weeks ago…

@Putnam Division posted:

….though trains make a great gift for Valentine’s Day. ❤️  (or for any holiday or occasion),

I caution you and submit that today, flowers, cards and candy are better…..

Peter  

A 2024 Christmas layout memory

- walt

Continuing with closeups of the back of the 11'x6' right side.

Again, for perspective, I show this part of the right side:

The very back area of it;

@scott.smith - every time that you post images of repaints and repairs that you do, I shake my head in admiration at how good you are at doing it.  You've done so many where I wanted to make this comment but never did, so it's time that I do.  Great, great work

- walt

In my post above,  I forgot to thank  everyone from last week who posted all kinds of nice comments about the images I posted. I really appreciate it!

Lionel 258 runs south on the Mainline, flags fluttering:

PD

@dorfj2 posted:

Oooops almost forgot - Thanks for the heads up Peter - Putting ceiling fans in the bedrooms and loft this weekend / does that count as a Valentine's Day gift ???

I would vote YES.......but, I'm on your side.....

Peter

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

. I am proud to announce that as of about 10:45 in the morning of Thursday February 13, I completed work on the scene, including installation of the fascia. This is 27 years and 5 months to the day after the start of construction of the layout.

CONGRATS! It’s been a great pleasure watching your progress and learning all sorts of amazing techniques from your posts.