Weekend Photo Fun 8-16-13-??

Pete, the NWTL is in a private residence and is not open to the public on any kind of regular hours.  However, our patron, Peter Hambling, has been extremely generous about sharing the layout.  The crew and I there most week days and anyone is welcome to visit by appointment when we are present.  In the last year we have also hosted an hand full of field trips from local elementary schools.

Thanks Sam!  The rock around most of the layout, including Royal Gorge is the work of our lead scenery artist, Todd Gamble.  Todd has an exceptional eye for color and we've done the best we can to give him the tools he needs to get it right.  As with the rest of the layout, the dirt in Royal Gorge is real dirt collected in site in Colorado.  Between the dirt, photos, and rock samples, Todd can really nail it.

Thank you Rich! You and the family are welcome to visit anytime!

The curved switches have really paid off.  Without them some features of the track plan would not have been possible and the aisle ways would have been much narrower.  There are a total of 10 ScaleTrax curved switches on the layout all built by my brother, Ted.  All are based on Ross #6 and #8 curved switches using Ross frogs and most used RossBed as a template.  We affectionately refer to the first ScaleTrax curved switch as "Jill!"  

 Thanks $oo!  I'm a VERY lucky guy.  For me and my crew (currently 5 other full time people) building the NWTL and other layouts is our work.  I started the design work on the NWTL in mid-2006 and construction began in November of 2007.  At the time I was a crew of one, but the NWTL was far too big to build on my own.  Combined, the crew and I now have over 50,000 man hours into the project.

Rex, the NWTL is located in Medina, WA (suburban Seattle).  As I mentioned above, people are welcome to visit by appointment whenever my crew and I are present and working on the layout.  Just send me an e-mail if you are or will be in the Seattle area.

This summer we have had many wonderful visitors, including forumite Pat Marinari, his lovely wife Jean, and friends they were visiting in Tacoma.  We're looking forward to seeing Marty Fitzhenry and Dotty next month.  If you're ever in the area please contact me and we can set up a visit.

Anyone who would like to see more of the NorthWest Trunk Lines can follow the progress on this thread:  NorthWest Trunk Lines - The Voyage Continues!

Wes,

Thank you for the kind words.

Jim

Here are some train shots of stuff running on the Pittsburgh Independent Hi-Railers' layout at the Lionel open house today.  I also posted some pictures of the event itself over on the Lionel Customer Service Open House for 2013 thread.

Andy

Dave this is absolutely fabulous, the realism is just superb craftsmanship, I loved every photo and the video was awesome. It just doesn't get better than this, thanks for sharing.

Thanks,

Alex

Dave this is absolutely fabulous, the realism is just superb craftsmanship, I loved every photo and the video was awesome. It just doesn't get better than this, thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks,

Alex

 

Alex

Actually, it does get better! 

Dave has some fantastic Easter eggs hidden around the Northwest Trunk Lines.  Everyone here and reading OGR at home will get a chance to see them in the months and years ahead.  The video gives a glimpse of one of those special features at the 2:45-3:05 marks.  Look at the switcher working the cut of hoppers at the coal mine.  To paraphrase Steve Brenneisen, the NWTL is a real working "model transportation system."   

Dave, I agree that was absolutely amazing!  Thank you for posting that impressive video.  My daughter (age 3) was excited to see it too, and pointed out the tunnels and other features as they went by. 

ExpoRail Museum's "A great passion for model trains" day, great fun for all:

A Hero to The Hobby:

Mike:

Nice to see pictures of your son Ian and his buddies enjoying their summer vacation with trains.

Finally finish the first piece to my Sawmill by SierraWest. Lots of fun but also lost of time. I also have my power plant for the mill, need to do some more detailing.

Setting up for the Chesterfield County Fair which begins Friday night the 23rd.

If you're in the area, come out and introduce yourself.

Peter

There is a nice article about the layout Dave Hikel has been building I've found on the internet (hope you don't mind me sharing)

http://seattletimes.com/html/l...5_modeltrain18m.html

Dave,

Fabulous work !!

Check the switch at 1:43

Non derailing?

Looking good Pete!

My friend Vernon Hart's beautiful layout....

Alan