I have been busy with holidays stuff to do much of anything to the layout. Yesterday i did get some things done that needed to be finished. I have been digging the closet out and back in behind my old computer monitor i found a passenger train set i have had for years and the engine had long died of much use. SO i am updating to the cars as they were B&O and now are C&O. My line used C&O for the timber to get out of the mountains to the ocean in Virginia. On that same note, I had started about 2-3 years ago a coal mine kit. Its been in a box and i found it complete and i had planed to add to the layout. I have been playing around with SCARM and come up with a plan that will let me add a total of three run around tracks and a coal mine to the layout. I have been painting cars and doing things i should have been right along but my hands have caught up with me so its a good time to pound the keys for a bit and let ya know whats happening. I have measured and measured a dozen times over to get the measurements right. I have enough room for a 38X36 section for the coalmine. Part of which will be mountain. Under that mountain will be 3 run around tracks for different sets of cars. And connected to one end will be a track leading to the new coal mine. I have also bought a new engine. A E3a diesel which will be painted in C&O markings as well. That will be added to my passenger car set. 1 engine and 3 cars will be my passenger set. I am also adding a small run around track and adding a new train station to the area in front of the switches and transformer area. I am also adding a new control panel thats longer so i can add the switches i need for the run around tracks and the extra for the passenger run around. I have a rough copy of the SCARM track I ran out of the free use part and i couldn't add anymore track but the main part is there, along with the new addition. I know i am missing something but can't remember what right now. But the Greenbrier Logging and Lumber Co. is still alive and well. In the history the tracks that led to the BIG CUT were to be used for the coal mine tracks and the Norfolk and Western used tracks that belonged to the pulp and paper co to get to the coal mine and out when Spruce closed in 1926. I am going away from the original to make Cass part of Spruce and Big Cut the coal mine but instead of a pass over the mountain it will be a tunnel as i don't have enough room for a pass above the mountain. Another thing is i need to be able to lift up a piece of the top of the mountain in case of a derailment or something bad happening in the tunnels. Anyway, i think thats all for now. I am working on getting a dcc chip installed in my other NW2 for the coal mine. Also a new dcc chip in the RS2 i have too. And i will be dcc'ing the E3a when it gets here so i have lots of fun to do. This coming year should be lots of fun. Check in with you later,Smoke
It sounds like you are going to have a good winter expanding your layout, Smoke. The mine, hidden storage tracks and new passenger diesel all promise to keep you a busy and happy model railroader.
The station came in today. Its a old kit but It came from a estate sale on ebay. Someone started and then quit working on the station. I had a head start. I have since got the other front windows and doors installed. But i thought i would show the kit to you. As old as this kit is some of you may have one on your layout. I got it as i liked the way it was designed. Shots below, Smoke
Its done. I am going to give it a cote of dull cote to knock the shine off the plastic. After that i can glase the windows. Its pretty much done.
That turned out really well. I have a couple of them that showed already built from some "lot" purchases. Wish I had someplace on the layout to show them both off.
Yep, i got lucky. it could have been a warped model missing pieces and not worth the price it was back in 1980, hehe Whoever did own that model only put the windows and doors on one panel. the rest i had to do. Don't know what he used but the cement was still holding. I used my ca for it and accelerator on a few pieces. Its clear-coated,(dull coat), and ready for the layout I am gonna add some lighting to some of the buildings in the future and that station will be one of those lit.
Working on redoing the office so i can get the layout up against the walls so i can put the new section in place. It really caused me to move stuff around. I have a picture but it came out looking weird for some reason. It looked like i took the picture with a fish-eye lens.
Nothing wrong with that. I often do the same exact thing. How's that moving stuff around going for you?
I am getting a different cabinet for the amp and dvd to sit on and then i can get the table all the way under the layout. The tv and speakers and wiring is done. I have to re-aim the lights to light up the layout better. taking a bit of a break. I need to get a couple of things to touch up the walls where the speakers were hanging and touch up with the blue paint. I have 3X3 footer to place on the back side of the layout once i get it in place. The table the layout is on isn't all the way under and i can't put the new table in that spot yet. I am waiting for lights to come for the little NW-2 #8 I have a new loco coming that will need to be painted and marked for C&O. I have a RS-2 that needs new dcc chip in it and i need to figure out what chip it takes. So, i have all kinds of stuff to do. I got to get the foam for the new section and start getting the track for it too. Its always something. Its coming along as long as i don't hurt myself to much. I am sore but i pulled out a 1 inch long splinter from the heel of my foot. These wood floors don't like me and i can't put down carpet. John said no so he owns the house and land. Anyway laters fellow!
Man that was a 1 inch piece of wood that came out of my heel! Doctor gave me hell as i am diabetic and not good to have cuts on feet. I told him and he said to tell my nephew that for my health i need carpet in this room or the floors need to be sanded and re-sealed. So i got to get a hold of him to give him my doctors comments. I am at a stop for anything right now I got stuff coming in for the room and layout and nothing came in today. So, i am shopping on line for things for the layout. Laters
If he won't let you do carpet, maybe you could get a couple of rugs. Take care of that foot. Nothing to mess around with.
