It's been a while, but so I thought I'd start a new thread on the layout. It has changed a bit since I started building, but for now, it is a single level loop layout with an 11 track staging yard at one end and a 17 track main yard at the other, and is loosely based in the Canadian west. There are 2 subdivisions, the Mountain Sub and Prairie Sub. I wanted to model a couple of grain elevators, and have the operations that go along with them, but I also wanted to have mountain scenery, and at least 1 spiral tunnel, so I decided to model both! There is now about 230 feet of mainline. There is lots of industrial switching on the layout, (110 cars currently in all of the industrial tracks) and it designed for operations, with large aisles and long runs. There is a plywood factory, a shingle plant, plastics plant, lumber yard, cement plant, auto facility and 2 grain elevators, one that takes 36 cars and the other 20 cars. (Currently, there are no buildings, but the tracks are all there!) I hope to have an operating session soon, I'll post pictures and a walk around as soon as I can.
I got a picture of 8705 at Dayton today with the new camera. It's a Canon SX220 HS, and it seems to take good pictures with the manual settings. Here is a picture of the main yard at Edgebrook, (and all the engines I still have to speed match!)
Nice Dayton shot (also a nice big yard). What did you use for grass in Dayton, is that straight up ground turf or scenic express grass mat? It looks great! My best, Jan P.S. Having followed your work for years on the old mountain sub I can safely say those are the cleanest locos I have ever seen on your layout!
The grass is just WS fine and med turf on latex paint. 8705 is a new Gevo, I thought I'd keep it clean for a little while! I may be getting a coal train or 2, so if that happens, they may get put into coal service and that will be the end if the clean units!
I post my first video on you tube. Not the best quality, but I didn't know how long the video would be, It's a 122 car train going through Broadview. 2 Kato AC4400's and 1 SD90, great pullers! Here is the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zw8WsCuAAo
Second video, a bit better quality, I'm still playing around with the camera. This is an eastbound empty grain train at Edgebrook. Link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC4UHF1QslU&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
Hmmm I don't think so, VIA has been long gone from CP track through the mountains. Mind you I would be tickled pink if they still be on the Laggan, the Mountain and the Shuswap Subs. Would make for some really nice video.
Nice videos! Have you added many grain hoppers to your fleet over the last 2-years? Back on the topic of weathering, I do not recall that many clean hoppers on the Laggan sub photos of old? Great to see a wonderful modern CP layout! My best, Jan