ATSF Line Started

Hemi, the ATSF Line will be an operating Main Line. In fact, it is the whole reason the layout is being built! LOL This section of Mainline will be the 'bridge' between Richmond Yard/Intermodal Yard and Franklin Canyon.

 

Here's a little better shot of the rails now.

 

Down on shot.

 

Two feet ballasted. 14 more to go! LOL

 

Fantastic!
The U50 looks great--does it run as good as it looks?
The U50's I did for Grey One, when tested, weren't stellar runners....

 

This one I won on EBay and it's the older Kato done model and runs good. A little noisy compared to newer Kato's, but U50's were noisy in real life.

 

I agree with Mike, the ballast is too clean and needs vegetation (weeds) growing through the ballast especially where the ballast meets the ground. Also between both tracks in the cess you would normally see vegetation between the shoulders.

That's the problem with you Engineers sitting up front in the cab your too busy looking up instead of looking at the detail on the ground

 

I was a little worried if I did that the environmentalist's in CA would get me. LOL Once I get the entire SP Line ballasted, I will 'grease' it up with weathering. I do have some weeds/folage between the rails in some places now, with more to come. I know.....I'm a little slow.

 

Here's some of the growth.

 

There's a weed growning.

 

Looks like the SP is going to have to spray for weeds.....they are starting to pop up everywhere!

 

Ohhhhh.......I've got a real exotic SP coming. I can here the pounding of the rails now. I might post a picture.

 

looking great Jerry, one thing I do is mix some white glue with ground cover to make clumps of weed, it looks pretty effective.

 

Hummmmm....did the 'pounding' of the rails give it away? Maybe I'll give another clue later.

 

I was looking at your layout pictures getting some more ideas.