Construction starts on West to Orange trackage project.

Yesterday, I finally got started on my replacement of the Mine run branch or the area on the lower level below Battlefield Yard.  I ripped up the track and sub-roadbed to make way for my new trackage.  The new track plan will include a wye, a new entrance from the helix, continuous running on the lower level, a removable bridge and and new industries.  There also will be staging near the helix in the garage.  That's alot of stuff but only minor track changes.  Most of the track changes will be what I tore out yesterday.  Stay tuned!

The new trackage will come from the helix and out the wall behind the propane tanks in the pic.

Clean slate to start planning.

Here's the layout for the new trackage.  I have to contend with the canal which will be minimized by filling it in.  I will still need a bridge.  A siding will extend down to the cars in the distance.  The woodchip loader and possibly another industry will be located there.

This where the removable bridge will be located to span the isle.  The track shows appropriate placement.  This bridge will be the hardest part of the project.  

Mid-December Update

Christmas is real close and it's that time when model railroading starts to begins to take off.  A lot of young kids will get their start in the next few weeks in this great hobby.  My oldest son worried me to death about putting a train around the tree this year.  He will be 11 next week. We have not put the train up in a couple of years but he saw it in the attic when we were getting out the rest of the Christmas decorations.  So I definitely got it down to put under the tree.  It's a Lionel North Pole Express and we have extra track and cars for it.  An actual oval under the tree.  After getting the wiring fixed on the track, it worked well.  Him and sister have played with it just about everyday since its been working.  They do occasionally run trains on the layout.  I definitely need to get them involved more!

I also finished up some aggregate cars for a customer of mine:

MCTR 1472 getting it's finishing touches

2 bay Greenville hoppers by Walthers are a favorite of mine.

VMID #281 prepares them for interchange.

A railfan grab on the street.

VMID #281 continues to switch the aggregate cars.

Throw Back Thursday Dec. 1st 2016

SD38-2 #280 was a favorite locomotive of mine and was built in the summer of 2007.  The locomotive was sold at a Timonium show one year and continues to earn it's keep on a model railroad in Rhode Island.  The gentleman's layout was in an issue of Model Railroader too!  I still see the guy at the shows.  He's got a slug painted for VMID also.  Really loved the white face.  Might be the future paint job!

VMID SD38-2 #280