Last post of 2014 and a special guest stops by

Well, 2014 is just about done.  I don't do much for New Years Eve these days, but did get to go out on a date with my wife to a movie this evening!  We definitely don't do that enough.  Looking back on 2014, It's been a good year for the Virginia Midland.  All the track has been laid this year and the lower level is ready for some scenery.  Probably the best improvement has been the restructured east end of the layout with the new peninsula.  It really adds to the layout and captures you when you enter the room.  I completed the sand unloading structure and added the support materials.  I still need some more dump trucks, a maintenance shed and more details.  It's good for now.  You be the judge:

Here's a shot of hoppers being unloaded

Here's the scene as you walk into the room. 

From the other side facing the door.

Another view of the unloader.

Yard office and parking area.

Road/crossing leading to the plant.  Perfect backdrop for the road but lots of work to do with it.

Another view

Also, yesterday had friend of mine, Mike Millitelo stop by to see the layout.  He's the owner of the Great Scale Model Train Show  that runs the four big train shows up in Timonium Maryland.  He actually lives about 10 minutes from me.  Mike had never operated a layout before so I got him to switch out Fredericksburg Flats.  He really enjoyed himself.   

Mike Millitelo stop by for his first op. session yesterday.  Think he's hooked!

Op. Session video #1: empty sand hoppers heading back to the mine

In this first installment in a new video series, we follow several sand hoppers on their return to the mine.  The hoppers run from the Virginia Central tracks to Battlefield Yard then west to the Mine Run Branch on the lower level.  I hesitate to show the much of the lower level because scenery is non-existent.  Enjoy!

Merry Christmas: new operations Video

Want to wish everyone who checks out this blog a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season.  Got a chance to shoot a video yesterday and captured a few trains leaving/arriving in Battlefield Yard.

Enjoy!

Christmas Break is here!

First I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  I will have a few postings   Spent yesterday working in the train room doing a few things.  The main thing I worked on was hopefully the last track I will ever have to lay on the this layout.  I have been contemplating a spur on the Mine Run Branch for a possible woodchip loader.  Yes, the same one I've tried to put a handful of places on the layout.  The loader is going to be small and only handle a car a week.  The spur is also going to serve as a parking area for the local engine based out of this area.  The whole process took a little long than I liked but everything worked out.
I finished up the evening working on the sand loading facility infrastructure.  Still got a bit to do on that.  One other thing.  I recently past 50,000 views on this blog. (actually, almost to 51,000 now) Thanks for all your support and time reading about my Virginia Midland Railroad!

The new woodchip spur.  The track to the helix goes to the left and the Mine Run Branch continues to the right

The hopper will be a VMID chip hopper.  I'll run the piping off and add trees and backgrounds.

Throwback Tuesday: Trailer style

Found a piggyback trailer a couple of weeks ago and I could not believe it's in service just down the road from me.  A local sawmill has a 40 foot Santa Fe piggyback trailer that they have converted to a woodchip trailer.  Here it is in all it's glory in 2014:

Best pic I could take,

 It also reminds of the Rock Island Trailer I saw here in the area at a Local BJ's wholesale club.  It was marked for RFPZ.  The RF&P railroad bought a bunch when the RI was going down

Used tire storage at a local BJ's wholesale club.  Not back shape either!

Progress from this past weekend

Got a bit done on the layout this weekend, but not as much as I hoped.  My layout room is still a disaster from all the work I've done.  I hoped to "straighten" it, but it never happen.  The new area I put in over the summer is a shell of it's former self now.  I've got the scenery just about done.  Should hope to complete this weekend.  The main thing that is incomplete is the assembly of the sand unloader.  The silos are done but the small elevator is not.

Here is the overpass section near the light switch.  Alot easier to scenic when the section is removable.

Little retaining wall I put in the scene.

Super tree painting and drying rack.  These are outside getting their gray paint.  

Here's my rack inside and the tree making has begun!

Here my overpass foam before scenery.  Notice the light switch,

Scenery has gotten a little more vegetation and some rocks (made from plaster) from my old bridge scene.  Just needs some trees.

Another view

The scene in the upper right is complete with a trees and weeds on the small ridge.

The area is starting to come together.

Another view.  Need a few smaller trees on the ridge.

Another view of the ridge.