The service area has been finished with a dirt surface. This is actually sanded grout. The small shack is just placed, for now, still have to figure out the final placement. And lots of details need to be added: stacks of ties; rail stock; crates; etc. Maybe even a converted box car now used for storage. Got a whole bunch of cars off eBay, 200 for about $25. Here we see the parking lot of the station. Station close up. All lights, on all platforms and parking lots, are operational
Close up from other side, and an overview of station, with beginnings of the park across the tracks The mottled areas will be housing lots. I have been building the fence for these, it is slow going, using actual scale sized lumber to look like the typical California backyard fence. Will have two complete houses and backyards, and one McMansion under construction. You can also see the other service road for MOW
That is one of the hardest things I am having with this scene, avoiding the compression. There will be some, particularly at the ends, but really want the full impression of the area around a station.
Looking great!! One question: Will there be track level sidewalks crossing the tracks, or will there be a pedestrian bridge over the tracks, to get to the park etc..? Or will there be pedestrian subways under the tracks instead..? Just wonderin'...
Keith, There is a sidewalk, at the central point of the station, between the platforms. However, to get to the park, one must approach from the other side of the tracks. You can see the parking lot for it in the last photo (dark grey rectangle). Basically, there is no access in or out of the station except through the central plaza.
Got the bridge at one end almost done. The three sections are not glued together, and still need to make end plates, and the abutment plates for next to the track for each of the sides. Also, got the crossing gates and road markings in for the grade crossing at the other end. These are NJ International crossing gates, which I blew the LEDs on when installing on the JACALAR. So, not operational, but look good.
Today was planting day! An apricot orchard sprang up between the end of the station and the old road. Apricots were / are still quite prevalent in the Santa Clara Valley. The dirt is real dirt: sifted and baked at 500 degrees to kill any critters. I used "aluminum" thread for the fence wire
Is this the real color as you shoveled it, or did you need to add something to get the color desired?
It darkened a bit with the glue. I was planning in it being a bit lighter, you can see the original color in a couple patches where the glue didn't come all the way to the surface. Those patches are gone once I turned the section on its side.
These homes have been located in this area of Silicon Valley for a lot longer than the station. They did get a new sound wall and dividing wall when the station was built. Trees and other details still to be added, of course.
Rick, That retaining wall remind me a lot of the one by your house. Along the mulford line. I used to walk that wall a lot growing up. Looks great.
Wowsers that is impresssive !!!! How much ya charge me to come over here and scenic the rest of my layout? :teeth:
