Tree making and West end scenery

I have worked on the scenery for my west end of the layout because simply that part of the layout has no scenery whatsoever.  I put in the ballast last week and that helped but it needed alot more.  This area is only about 12" inches wide and 4 feet long but I want it to be more rural than my industrial switching area.  This area also has the "hole in the wall" that leads to hidden staging.  So its not easily done.  I wanted to hide the hole in the wall so it will not be visible.  I also have an overpass in this same general area.  I had two overpasses but settled on one so that I could put some trees in to hide the rest of the area.  My sub-road bed is plywood so planting trees would be challenging.  I used some 1/2" blue foam board to give the area some height and to also plant trees in.  Here's my progress:

Background trees have been painted and foam shaped, painted and installed.

Another view of the area.

Initial coat of scenery.  Background trees have been touched up with more paint.

This area with have the bridge span and foundation.  Need to paint the stud in the wall a dark color!

Tree planting is off to a good start.  Since  The little ridge is only a few inches from the track, I had to choose tall skinny trees.  I push in the foam with a Philips screwdriver and insert the tree. 

From a distance.  I have plenty of holes to fill and bushes to add.  Use the smaller trees and plant them in the empty spaces at the top.  Gives you lots of variety and the look of trees behind the foreground trees.

Almost done shot.  The glue bottle is holding bushes against an area near the "hole in the wall".

A track view. The white paper towels protect my ballast from paint, glue and scenery.

VC #3 poses for a shot near the woods.  In my hasty work, I forgot that I was going to send a wood chip tube across the tracks.  Might have to send it the other way now. 

Operational Session with Norm Wolf

Yesterday I had a planned operational session with Norm Wolf on the layout.  He's been wanting to come over for a while now and yesterday our schedules worked out.  He ran the V100 which runs out of Battlefield Yard (BY) to the Fredericksburg Flats industries.  He took 8 cars with him and returned with 8 cars.  Not an easy task but Norm did well.  The flats have 3 trailing industries and 3 that require you to run around your train.  The layout acted up a little but 80% was operator error (running through switches).   You can guarantee that your layout will have some shorts, a derail & a pull apart when you want to show your layout to someone.  It's Murphy's law! This stuff never happens when it's just me.   I ran the other trains that came out of staging to BY and did the switching in BY.  We ran a total of 3 trains on the layout.  The V100, a G200 grain train from Orange and the F&NN local. Here are the pics:

RF&P #124 brings in the rest of V100 train.  Norm had to wait on their arrival before he could head to Fredericksburg Flats.

F&NN power brings their small train (3 cars) into the Battlefield yard.

VMID # 292 is the yard switcher today.  He's making the RF&P's train up and just complete the F&NN train.  The F&NN train is at the top waiting to head east.  The Virginia Central cars sit on track #4.  The Virginia Central was not operated today.

Norm catches up on paper work while the F&NN train passes.  He had to clear up for the train heading east.

The G200 grain train comes into Battlefield yard.  This train came from Orange and power had to run around it's train to get into Battlefield Yard.  Older power leads this train with VMID #256 "the Red Baron".

RF&P #124 has it's train assembled behind him.  The G200 power waits in BY for it's next assignment.  A H/W load sits on the engine track.

Norm finishes up his switching since he has no other trains coming through his switching.

RF&P #124 gets an approach signal to leave Battlefield yard. 

Some of Norm's pics:

It's me switching in BY.

A B&O sand hopper bound for the VC.

The G200 grains train prepares to run around it's train.  The VC depot is in the foreground.  Norm's engine #281 sits in the upper left corner and in the clear of G200.

The BY engine track has a high & wide waiting on it's assignment.

Saturday Operational session on the VM & VC railroad

A friend of mine, Kevin Olson, was in town for the weekend.  Since I have been wanting to do a op. session on the layout, why not this weekend!  It's fun to operate alone, but in my opinion, having friend over to run trains and shoot the breeze is even better.  I spent a few hours yesterday afternoon, cleaning up the little mess from the On30 extension (have not finished yet),getting the switch list ready and staging the trains/cars.  We ran a total of 7 individual trains.  That's the most I have ever run on my small layout.   You have to have hidden staging on a layout that small to run that many.

Here are the highlights:

Kevin Olson gets his train ready VM100 to leave Battlefield Yard.  His cars for Fredericksburg Flats take up two tracks.

These sand hoppers are ready for the Virginia Central to pick them up.

The yard power switching some freight in the yard.  That's the On30 layout below.

Kevin's train, the VM100, heads by the VC engine house.  Power for today's train is rare, VM MP15DC #285 and a VM SW1500B #278 with 7 cars for the Fredericksburg Flats.  The trackage heading in to the wall is the hidden staging to Orange.

An RF&P GP40 #124 brings in a cut of cars for Battlefield Yard.  VM #281 rests the engine yard track.

VM GP11 #280 clears up for the incoming RF&P train.

The RF&P engine waits in track 5 for a empty stone train.  The VC has made an appearance and places it's caboose on the end of it's hopper cut.  They ran over to the yard caboose light.

VC #3 brings in 7 full sand hoppers into their trackage.

The rock train has came in from the Orange line and must run around it's train to get into Battlefield Yard.  CF7 #256 leads #292 as they prepare to leave the VM siding.

Kevin on the other hand, continues to switch the Fredericksburg Flats maze with it's many industries.  He will have to clear up occasionally for eastbound trains.  Today he doesn't have to worry about a westbound.

Here are some of the rock cars on VMW200.  The caboose is now at the front.  It's entering Battlefield Yard.

The RF&P leaves with it's empties to hidden staging.  The overpass hides the hidden staging "hole in the wall".  Those buildings are not intended to go there but they do look good on the bluff.

The Orange turn VM150 has run around it's train and heads to Battlefield Yard.  U23B #289 leads this 4 car train.

VM100 (Kevin's train) has finished it's work & prepares to leave the Flats and head to Battlefield Yard.  It's now lead by the B unit.  The VC yard is look crowded!

The VM100 power now leads the Orange turn.  VM150 is preparing to run around it's train to head west.

 We also switched out the VC line and I did not take any pics.  It's took us about 3 hours to do it all.  Not a bad day on the VM & VC railroad!