Cinco de Mayo Photo Fiesta

[SpaceMouse]

This weekend I started planting trees. I have envisioned trees to be one of those defining features of the layout so it was exciting getting the first ones down.

http://www.vitaconnect.com/photos/traincity29.jpg

http://www.vitaconnect.com/photos/traincity30.jpg

[NZRMac]

Nice trees Chip!! You've been very busy.

Not much has happened here just working on the yard.

http://www.railimages.com/albums/kenmackay/ahc.sized.jpg

Main lines west and east on the left then arrival tracks and yard.



http://www.railimages.com/albums/kenmackay/ahd.sized.jpg

Left train heading east for the port, right train returning to the mine. ( he forgot to unload DOH!!)

Ken.

[SpaceMouse]

That is going to be one heck of a yard.

[Amtrk14]

Hello All,

Got my new Tower 55 ES44AC on Friday. I haven't been able to run it yet, but the detail is fantastic!

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f172/Amtrk14/Train%20Pictures/Tower%2055%20ES44AC/DSC02724.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f172/Amtrk14/Train%20Pictures/Tower%2055%20ES44AC/DSC02725.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f172/Amtrk14/Train%20Pictures/Tower%2055%20ES44AC/DSC02730.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f172/Amtrk14/Train%20Pictures/Tower%2055%20ES44AC/DSC02732.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f172/Amtrk14/Train%20Pictures/Tower%2055%20ES44AC/DSC02736.jpg

Sean

[rhoward]

Just got back from the a day of ringing handbells. Great concert and a fun festival.

Chip, I hope that wagon is moving slow and doesn't try to race the train......! Love your "forest".

Ken, that is going to be great yard!

I have been working on some benchwork, lighting and have started to paint the walls for the backdrop of the new section of the S.L.O.&W.

The lighting along the "long" wall:
http://home.rochester.rr.com/howmus/WebTrains/NRLighting1a.jpg

Couple shots of the benchwork and Backdrop:

http://home.rochester.rr.com/howmus/WebTrains/NRBenchBack1a.jpg

http://home.rochester.rr.com/howmus/WebTrains/NRBenchBack2a.jpg

One last shot, a closeup of the "hills". Could not get the color to adjust so it lokes like the wall....... Shot was taken with no flash and a halogen lamp for light. When I tried to correct the brown (which looks like dark red) it sent something else completely out of wack. So I left it without adjustment.

http://home.rochester.rr.com/howmus/WebTrains/NRBackdrop1a.jpg

[jbaakko]

Holy, grrr Sean, so you;re saying some of that money I gave you for the Metrolink models went towards a C45ACCTE (ES44AC)!? GRRRR! I want some! Anyways, looking nice, tell us how she runs, and sounds (even though I watched that MR video).

Still nuttin from me, I can't afford a new camera yet:-(. Although I DID find a motorcycle for myself. I'll get back to that in the Coffee shop when/if I do get it.

[NZRMac]

That is going to be one heck of a yard.

It's loosely based on this, my local freight yard, where trains from north, south, west and our eastern port all meet.

http://www.railimages.com/albums/kenmackay/agj.sized.jpghttp://www.railimages.com/albums/kenmackay/agk.sized.jpghttp://www.railimages.com/albums/kenmackay/agl.sized.jpg


Coal trains stop and get new loco power, loco service at the bottom and container car to truck warehouse at the left.

I did say loosely modeled!!:D

Ray Your backdrop and light look fantastic, I should have painted first:mad:

Ken.

[jbaakko]

Nice looking track plan there Ken! I've been working on a prototype track plan myself:
http://rr.blockchoice.com/tlcajon01.htm

[grande man]

I DID find a motorcycle for myself.

Do tell. :D :cool:

Great pics guys.

Ray, Everything is looking great but I love the clouds. :cool:

[CSX_road_slug]

Well well well, we've sure been busy this weekend haven't we!

Chip, those trees look excellent! Is this supposed to be a particular season, or is California redwood country always like that?

KeNZ - nice start to that yard, nice and long! Wish I had as much linear space for something like that...

Sean, that new ES44AC is one fine piece of engineering - wish I could afford one for the Iron Belt...

Ray - SLOW & steady makes for some great looking backdrops!;)

Josh - Hang in there, we all go thru 'dry' spells. Good news on the bike though...

Anyway, here is what I did this weekend, modelwise:

1) Added a fallen tree and some ripples to Bethel Creek -
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e182/CSX_road_slug/scenery_and_water/bethel_creek_ripples.jpg

2) Upgraded a standard LifeLike Kentucky Fried Chicken eatery to match today's prototypes. First, a "BEFORE" view:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e182/CSX_road_slug/East_Minister/KFC_retro_02.jpg


...now, an "AFTER" view:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e182/CSX_road_slug/East_Minister/KFC_modern_01.jpg

...and that about it for me!

[L&N Castle]

Ok Fellas,

Here's my contribution to WPF, errr sorry Cinco de Mayo! Never understood the fascination with mayonaise.:D :rolleyes:

These are the first of two of the three transfer cabooses, cabeese, awww, the hacks.

My appreciation to Cjcrescent for really screwing up these photos.;)

Each one has 4 views showing each side, end views are at an angle.:p

[L&N Castle]

Here's numero dos!:D

[jbaakko]

BEAUTIFUL cabeese! Where's the 3rd one?

[L&N Castle]

Okay,here is part three. This is one that I won an award for.Enjoy.:)

[L&N Castle]

This last caboose is an over the road caboose,and I was only able to put two side views. The end view photos didn't come out right.:( .William.

[Cjcrescent]

Well I haven't posted in a while, :(, been busy with some medical treatments, pulling legs offa spiders, (not really:p).

Here are some pix of my absolute favorite engine ever.:D My Dad was the fireman on the prototype prior to his stent in the army in WWII. At times this would pull what was called the "Turkeytown Express".

This is a model by PFM of the SRR F-1 4-6-0 #949. The gentleman that was responsible for getting this model built and imported by PFM, gave me the erection drawings for this loco several years ago.

I had wanted this model when it was announced and when it was released, I got it. :D It wasn't until I showed it to my Dad, that he told me that the prototype was his old engine. Even if I should ever leave the hobby,:( this will be the ONE piece of equipment I will not get rid of. I painted it myself the way my Dad and the drawings said it was painted.

[SpaceMouse]

L&N, nice Cabeese

Well, when I built Tater Mountain, I backed myself into a corner. I had figured to cover the not striated rocks with mostly trees, but left the backside way too steep even for bushes. The solution a hardy flowering vine.

http://www.vitaconnect.com/photos/traincity32.jpg

This will be my last photo for a couple weeks. I'm off to El Paso to get myself edumacated.

[jbaakko]

Woho, day worth of work for me! With some minor unit detailing in between, I managed to create a "peliminary design" for my Cajon pass layout. I was pleased to squeeze it into a 32' x 25' space, which isn't "huge" by no means, yet still fairly large. The text explains points of interest that I've mapped out. There's PLENTY of tweaking of the design to come, considering I have like 3 years before I can even hope to have a space large enough for this baby. Until then, I'll make "modules" for later install, using the Woodland Scenics Mod-U-Rail system.

Quick notes, Barstow will be approximently 3 feet higher then San Bernardino, and the mainline will helix down in a staging room / crew lounge / shop. Barstow yard will have dual side access with a temporary backdrop for photo-ops. The "pride" of this yard will be the working hump yard. The complete Barstow yard will be majorly compressed, yet a fair representation of the real yard. The mainline will be to the "back" of the yard, with most normal operating sessions having an operator on either side of the yard for various duties.
The temp backdrop will also be used in other areas, like the two wide curves to the left.
Due to the depth I'll be adding a drop-out section in each of the two deep corners for access & photography. The backdrops will also be removeable in these areas in some way, to allow complete "reverse angle" photography, I figure this would be nice due to the fact that MOST railfans shoot those corners from the outside.
The hidden UP tracks, bottom left & upper middle (Palmdale cutoff) will go below the benchwork, and be monitored by video cameras, and accessed from the back or by reaching under the benchwork, depending on the area.
The San Bernardino area will be represented with a scaled down copy of the intermodal yard & the Metrolink station there. LUCKILY the real hub uses almost the exact same container crane as Walthers offered, so 3 or 4 of them babies and I'm done! The Metrolink lines travel South (on the drop-down section) and west (the single track crossing the rest). I found its going to be a struggle to squeeze the length of the metrolink cars in that area, it'll require some editing, hopefully I can get it up to at least a 3 car train length. There's also an engine facility in San Bernardino that will be squeezed in between the wall/metrolink line & the triple track main line.
UP southbound trains will "surface" on the far side of the helix, joining a double track staging lead fed from the South exit @ San Bernardino & the North exit @ Barstow (helix). UP NB trains surface into the helix, merging into the double track helix one or two loops down.

There's alot more, but I'm tired of typing, as I'm sure you're tired of reading, tell me if you want more! And comments/suggestions apreciated!

EDIT forgot the image!

[SpaceMouse]

Woho, day worth of work for me! With some minor unit detailing in between, I managed to create a "peliminary design" for my Cajon pass layout. I was pleased to squeeze it into a 32' x 25' space, which isn't "huge" by no means, yet still fairly large.

Barstow will be approximently 3 feet higher then San Bernardino.

I have a 5 x 8 layout and it has taken me a year to get to the stage of putting in vegetation--and I put probably 20 hours a week into my layout.

By my calculations a 3 foot rise will be 5+% grade the entire way from SB to Barstow. If you level off for turnouts or cities increase that.

[L&N Castle]

Morning Chip. Thanks for the compliment. I built all three transfers from kits,and the road caboose is a kit that I had someone finish for me. William.

[L&N Castle]

Chip,love the photos of your layout. Nice job on the scenery. Dude,your layout looks great.:cool: . Keep up the good work.William.

[CSX_road_slug]

A lotta late entries I see...

William, fine job on those caboose models - almost makes me wish that the Southern served the region that I'm modeling!

Chip, those blossoms on the Tater Mountain vines look superb!

CJ, that's a fine-looking F-1 but gosh I hope you never have to leave the hobby?!

Josh, that Cajon Pass layout is gonna spectaular when you build it - good luck finding a place that size!

[jbaakko]

I have a 5 x 8 layout and it has taken me a year to get to the stage of putting in vegetation--and I put probably 20 hours a week into my layout.

By my calculations a 3 foot rise will be 5+% grade the entire way from SB to Barstow. If you level off for turnouts or cities increase that.
Good point, well I havn't worked on grades yet, so after I "complete" the trackage I'll work on the grades, replicating what Cajon has in store, and see how much higher Barstow ends up.

As for construction, its going to be on going anyways, considering I want to keep it "modern" but its mostly a desertish style scenery so it won't be too complex, just alot of sand, and small shrubs.

[jbaakko]

Josh, that Cajon Pass layout is gonna spectaular when you build it - good luck finding a place that size!
I'm hoping I can just find a house with a decent sized basement, around 45' x 25' should be fine, and thats not huge by house sizes, so, we'll see!

[jbaakko]

Good point, well I havn't worked on grades yet, so after I "complete" the trackage I'll work on the grades, replicating what Cajon has in store, and see how much higher Barstow ends up.

As for construction, its going to be on going anyways, considering I want to keep it "modern" but its mostly a desertish style scenery so it won't be too complex, just alot of sand, and small shrubs.
Try #1:
Sheesh talk about boring, at 2.5%, if my measurments are correct coupled with an approximated 70' of mainline at grade, Barstow will be just about 2 feet higher then San Bernardino. Hummm, lemme go check this again...

Try #2:
This time I got about 18" of height in 70' of mainline, hummm. I need to find out the exact grades of Cajon pass, I know for sure its not going to be perfect, but..

Maybe I need more then 32' of space, to make the mainline run longer!

[Cjcrescent]

A lotta late entries I see...

CJ, that's a fine-looking F-1 but gosh I hope you never have to leave the hobby?!



Ken;

I don't think thats EVER really gonna happen. I've been in this hobby since I can remember, from my first MARX windup, to my latest brass engine. Even Bassin' doesn't come close to the pleasure and relaxation I get from trains.:D

Everyone from time to time goes thru a hiatus from the hobby. I've been having a small one now, dictated by health, fatique, etc. I am getting my energy back and will be soon back to full speed.

Josh;

Have you used the grade tool on Xtrkcad? Its really "kewl". Actually it does make grades easier to figure and change. All you do is follow the directions in Help & set up the plot on the screen. Once its done, just by clicking on one of the points and raising it or lowering it, not only does it change the grade/height on the plot, but also on the drawing as well.

[jbaakko]

Josh;

Have you used the grade tool on Xtrkcad? Its really "kewl". Actually it does make grades easier to figure and change. All you do is follow the directions in Help & set up the plot on the screen. Once its done, just by clicking on one of the points and raising it or lowering it, not only does it change the grade/height on the plot, but also on the drawing as well.
I'm still learning Xtrxcad. I'll try that tonight or something.

[JAILBREAKER74]

This weekend I started planting trees. I have envisioned trees to be one of those defining features of the layout so it was exciting getting the first ones down.

http://www.vitaconnect.com/photos/traincity29.jpg

http://www.vitaconnect.com/photos/traincity30.jpg

you're on here too!?

[SpaceMouse]

you're on here too!?

Caught me!

[NZRMac]

Is there a forum Chip isn't on?

Ken.

[SpaceMouse]

Is there a forum Chip isn't on?

Ken.

I've never been on Atlas. Can't think of any others off hand.