Thanks Mike. Jackie just said "yeah, that would work" when I read this to her. And, with all her dollhouse supplies, I don't even need to buy it!
As promised, some new photos with the new backdrops installed (I went ahead and used the Elmer's Glue Stick for the yard backdrop, was less messy, and it has been hot, so didn't want to fuss) Here we have some mixed generations in the Sunol yard area. Some freight, old heavyweights pulled by a SP # 3762 2-10-2, and the Daylight going by on the main. And CalTrain in the foreground Wider view, looking west. Even a Big Boy in the yard Close ups of the lead cars of the heavyweights. (I just might get around to finishing the yard this year)
Here is a wider view of the yard, looking west. With the window behind the camera, the new backdrop shows a bit of reflection The freight, pulled by the SP Black Widow ABA units, has a bunch of WP cars. I picked these up from Chuck at Feather River Trains, who did the custom weathering himself Looking east, there is also a late SP peninsula commuter, pulled by an SD45
Close up of the 2-10-2 and GS-4 The GS-4 pulling the Daylight has left Sunol, and traveled up the mountains to the High Sierra tunnel overlook Donner Lake. The colors in this new backdrop are fantastic
The Daylight going into the High Sierra tunnel, while the freight pulls out of the lower tunnel Closeup of the units And even a cowboy!
It has been quite a while since I've posted in the thread. Summer is gone, the convention was a great success, and not too much actual work on the home layout. But, two new acquisitions arrived today, from @Jim Reising and his Oakville Sub. New, modern motive power, in two UP SD90s, #s 8146 and 8104 Here we see them heading north from Southern California, climbing into the mountains for their journey to the JACALAR's Sunol yard The kids are giving them a nice send off A family of bear (on log front right) are there to see the two locos cross an old trestle as they climb the Sierras
At the summit, after exiting the tunnel, a view of Donner Lake Coming down through Gold Country, into the mining area of Laurel Gulch.
More oil fields in the foothills And then the recreation area of Lake Jacalar Before rolling through the small valley town of Cherylton
Delighted they have a good home. I'll miss them, great engines. I have a policy of running only what my prototype runs, and UP has taken these beasts out of service and sold a bunch to NS, so they had to go. Great pix, Rick!
I was wondering why Jim had listed that batch of engines to sell. They look good in their new setting.
They look great out there Rick and Robin and I had a great time with you all at the convention. Mike & Robin
The rest of the story - the other reason is I'm replacing as many Katos as possible with FVM locos. Better looking, better running, more prototypical speed, and bulletproof design. Kato's "sprung" design on the SD40-2 Mid Production and SD70ACes did it for me. The FVMs are rock solid with nothing fancy to break in the drive mechanism. This is intended to be an ongoing thing...
Love the mix of new units with all that old west stuff! Now, just to see a steamer and string of heavyweights..........
Maybe I have not followed closely enough, or forgot past topic posts- Are some of the backdrop photos from those you took in traveling a year or so back?