Its been quite some time since I have posted much here. I have totally transformed my little empire. About the only thing I kept was th original 4x5 board I started with in 2005. So far things are going well. My layout is in a "U" shape now, wit a hook. I removed the 4x8 sheet and put in a 2 1/2 foot by 11 foot run. ( Inside the U) to the right is a 4 1/2 extension that rises three inches from the hidden staging under Balderdash. On the left of the U is a 2 x 3 extension that crosses over to my original 4 x 5 sheet. One line drops 1" the other two". This is posing some problems with the grade, so I may raise the 4 x 5 another 3/4'. My original Blueprint is here. Unbelievably, I have been able to keep to the plan! http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?146787-New-C-M-amp-B-Layout-plan!!&highlight= Balderdash is home to the yard, 4-stall roundhouse, meatpacking, and a possible freight house. There is also going to be a passenger station off the main line. Under Balderdash is a two track staging yard. One for my Baltic Hiawatha, and one for my Kato Great Northern S-2. ( Which I stole for 50 bucks at a swap meet and it has no problem pulling 35 cars on my grades!) Carnage is a rough little town. Primarily it is a cattle town, but it does have one freight depot which is used for everything. The town is will be fully equiped with a sherrif and jail. Maudlin is another branch. It is farming and some cattle. It has a nice hotel and is in a nice quiet valley. There may eventually be another town. But that will have to wait until I can move it to a bigger room. The whole layout is currently oon some caster wheels so I can move it around as I work on it. And it will come apart in four sections.
The locomotives you see, are in the hidden staging yard. This is how Balderdash is coming along...... I have to make an adjustment, becase for some reason, the Kato Mike does not like the tight radius. Nor does the Baltic. However, that S-2 is not phased by much. Pehaps, Kato should have stuck with that design instead of the GS-4.. Or am I wrong???
This layout is completely a freelance endeavour. However. There will be a couple Milwaukee steamers ( a Hiawatha and a Mike and a pacific), and just the one Great Northern S-2. everything else is just a made up place somewhere out west in the 1930's. ( CA. 1931- 1939) There maybe at one time or another a diesel, but time can only tell what my kids will want to put on there! My original layout was fun for running trains. I could have three lines running at once and there was nary an issue. The only time there was problems was with certain locomotives and a really weird grade that developed from using a defective piece of sheeting that I am even to ashamed to bring up... Lesson learned! But with three lines running I had totally forgotten about operations. It was not a concern at first until it got boring. If thats possible. I needed more action. So, we have what I have come too today. I still need a couple curved turnouts, that are not gonna be here anytime soon. But hey. I got a good start! Let me know any ideas or what ya think... This is DC. For now, ya, ummmm. For now.... That NKP video, has almost sold me on dcc .......
I'm likin it !! My favs...2 seperate towns with two distinct themes. One rough and tumble...the other peaceful and quiet ^5
Now that I am laid up, (pinched nerve?) I will try to submit some images from the CM&B. The last photo was taken when Badland here this summer. His is the Atlantic, the others are mine. We were just having some fun showing all the color differences between all the makes and brands. A lot of variety there! Sent from my Commando
The so called BH&NP#11 right where we found it, broken down and without the crew!! Photo proof! Does anyone else see the crew?? Sent from my Commando
The creek is named after a man that insisted it was safe to live by the creek. Never minding the the warnings of the locals that warned him constantly of spring gully washers. And alas, that following spring, a big storm washed him and his shack away to never be seen again. And since no one could remember his name, or had proper schooling, it was named Idgits Creek... Gotta be careful of those eastern Montana storms. Sent from my Commando
Next objective is to repair these grades. One is just right but needs to be made with flex track. The other is to steep and has a dip in it I didn't notice until attempting to pull freight. Sent from my Commando
Ok, so a pic of the purfoined NPBH #11 pulling freight over Idgits creek is proof of crew failure? Naw, just proof of revenue owed for ton miles pulled. Seriously, we had a good time running trains around the layout while staying out of the heat and humidity of Iowa summer. Yuck. gcav17's scenery progress puts mine to shame on the current test incarnation of my rr. The pain he is dealing with for now is certainly a hindrance to modeling tho!
Gifts from children for Christmas! Notice use clown in purple? He is lynched from the tree! My daughter hates clowns! Gotta love the imagination of kids! I love that they can have fun with the trainboard! Merry Christmas every one! Sent from my Commando
The grim reaper standing atop that knoll... Does that forewarn us of some coming disaster on your empire?
I hope not! There are a couple precarious spots around the horse shoe where those figures are at! Precarious because an accident means a possible fall to the floor.maybe. I have not finished the edge yes! Guess I got a priority job now! Sent from my Commando
This winter I have been making some some changes in Balderdash. I did not like that my way to huge meat packing plant was almost dead center in town. So I moved it and the industry track to the back. And moved the passenger station to the front. This works better for me and is easier to navigate around B.E. Coleye' big meat packing plant. I have also started work on my roundhouse and turntable. Lots more to do here. Sent from my Commando
I took a swing at building scenes using foam board. I started in Maudlin with the station and tower. I like how it looks. And it does give more options for creating scenes. I will soon rebuild it now that I have some experience. Sent from my Commando
