Layout photos Page Four
This photo shows a little more detail, although it's still too distant to really see
the track and ballast. I used cork roadbed, airbrushed the track with Pollyscale "Railroad
Tie Brown," then applied Highball Products (real rock) ballast. The roadbed and track were
laid with Liquid Nails for Foamboard (the same product I used to glue the foam board to the
plywood). The ballast was applied in the traditional manner with a diluted white glue solution.
And here is the mysterious "back side" of the West Texas mountain! Note the twin
access panels. These should prove invaluable for future tunnel derailments and maintence. You
may also notice the small tunnel opening at the extreme right side of the photo. This is
where trains in the staging yard will travel in order to come onto the layout. My layout will
rely on DCC (MRC Prodigy system) and two MRC Auto-Reverse Loop Modules to control traffic flow.
So although trains will be brought onto the layout in a somewhat "reverse direction," it should
be fairly painless to loop them around and send them back in the correct direction :-)
This is the revamped canyon area. Note that the double track mainline bridge has been
repainted, weathered, and adorned with deisel exhaust residue. The shortline double length
box girder has been similarly painted and weathered (complete with rust). At this stage, only
the timber trestle has been permenantly installed. Still no structures (buildings) on the
layout, but I do have a few that I'm working on. I also have not yet begun the final scenery
stuff--trees, ground cover, water. etc.. Most of the roadbed has been laid, but the only
section of track currently in place is the tunnel section. Still a looooong way to go, but
we're having a great time :-)
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