OK, here are some pics of the new yard area. It's not huge by any means, but you have to remember that this will primarily be used for switching the 5x9 layout and about 3 more customers on the expansion. Consider this a smaller city yard that gets cars from the main hub yard through transfer runs (or something like that). Obviously, it is meant to appear larger via the mirror under the overpass at the end. But with 5 tracks, and a total capacity of 30-33 cars, it will do the job. It will also be the hangout for my GP-38.
I still need to add a backdrop, move the billboard from the main layout to next to the overpass and extend the support, add more details and weathering, finish the auto-loading area along the wall, and then start working back from there to the rest of the layout. Lots of "work" to do, but hey - that's the hobby and the fun!
Enjoy the pics.
That wall down there needs some help. The area near the bottom is unfinished. This is not a great picture. The foliage isn't finished and the track does not look great here. More work to do.
I saw this loading ramp at the MN Commercial Yard in St Paul and really liked it. I decided it would look good on the layout. I need to weather the ties that it is made of. That grassy hill on the right does not look good photographed close up, but looks much better in person.
Just a small tool shed and some cross tie piles. It's the little things like that that I think really make a scene seem more real. Need to add some electric poles and lights as well. That will really help too.