Wordless Wednesday #23

Mid July Update

July is well underway and so to is this months layout project.

Bay Yard Scenery

This month we are focusing on bringing to life Bay Yard and the scenery that surrounds it. I know what you are thinking, "But modeling a yard is bland" and while I understand that perception we are going to make it much more than just a ton of ballast... Literally.

    A neat view looking east from main 1.

        Same location now looking west - going to need some serious ballast.

But before we can even ballast, there are several steps that must be completed. Let's look through the steps needed to bring the yard to life.

1. Solder track joints

  1a. Check track securement

2. Insert ties in gaps from track laying

3. Complete backdrop in yard

  3a. Install foam terrain around yard

4. Mask points / concrete ties

5. Paint track / wood ties

6. Paint concrete track

7. Paint contoured foam terrain

8. Add base layer scenery dirt in and around yard

9. Ballast 

10. Scenic ground foam, turfs, grasses

11. Wet/Wet securement method

So when outlined in step by step form there is actually a lot to accomplish. Once we get the basic 11 steps complete, then will come the details and items that help establish the story. As of this posting steps 1, 1a, and 2 have been completed. Goal for this week will be completing steps 3 through 7. Ultimately by the end of the month being on the detail part would be ideal, but it's a big yard so take everything in a 2 to 3 square foot pieces at a time will help avoid getting burned out or until i need a re-order from Smith & Sons.

Here are a few more photos of the task at hand. Some of the details that will be added include concrete pads at the DSF, yard office, sanding tower, yard sheds, power poles, yard lights (Details West).

West end of yard just before yard ladder

DSF - still working placement of yard office

              East yard ladder

Main body of yard with supplies in hand for terrain, masking, and backdrop.

Looking west toward the MAC Terminal, this Walthers kitbash is really taking a unique shape and character of its own.

My late July update should have some good progress to showcase and then hopefully cap the project with the Early August Update post.

GM

Donuts & Diesels

In the past month my son and I have begun the Saturday tradition of having donuts at Krispy Kreme and then chasing diesels between Roanoke and Denton, TX. Today the skies were clear, light breeze, 85 degrees..perfect Texas summer morning.

           UP SD70M #4702 on point

Running northeast out of Fort Worth is the UP Choctaw Sub which sees at least 15-20 trains a day (conservative estimate) including automtotive, unit trains of all types, manifest, Roanoke Local, and BNSF trackage rights freights (usually a H-TULTPL or H-TPLTUL).

Today we had really good timing to catch two northbound and one southbound UP manifests after finishing up our sweet breakfast. 

              Donut deliciousness

Following trains along the US377 corridor is pretty easy since the tracks basically parallel the road from Haltom City to Denton, but to really follow along we always start out north of Roanoke since traffic is pretty light, stop lights are widely spaced, and speed limit will let you get ahead of the train running 45mph normally.

     Inspiration for weathering job using oil paints and turpentine..

   The ubiquitous general service tankcar in three different shades of black... Er grayish I mean.

 A lot of North American railroading at its finest in these 17 miles of railroad. 

  EMD leading as God intended. (Joe. A.)

As we wrapped up our follow along of the manifest we met it a grade crossing just south of Denton. A friendly wave to the crew with us distanced back safely at the crossing in our truck got us three short horn toots after the train had finished its grade crossing warning.

As it rolled by I took photos of some neat cars in the train - what great modelling opportunities as each car is unique and probably no two alike except for a brand new build.

        Coal gons now scrap gons

  Possibly new Trunity Jumbo builds coming out of Mexico.

Canadian Wheat Board cars - catch them while you can.

   Plate F - 60' Boxcar a favorite of mine

  Unique tagged car bringing up the rear.

Coming home from this chase we encountered another northbound with a "Border Sandwich" power consist leading Up-CN-UP-KCSM-UP. 

It is nice to get out and enjoy prototype railroading. While this is my hobby, sharing the experience with my wife and kids is important and something I would recommend to anyone. After all railroading American style is one of the unique things that makes our Country great and keeps our economy strong.

GM

Soundtraxx Announcement!

Some of us Soundtraxx fans have been wondering with 2015 being their 25th anniversary, if new neat things were coming around the corner for us in the hobby.

Well thumbing through Facebook I came across a post from Soundtraxx announcing their Econami line of value sound decoders. I do not know much about them, but seems pretty awesome. This would bring together the high quality sound and lighting we have come to expect with Tsunami Decoders but at a price that is even more affordable in the model railroad industry. More to come I imagine in media, but what a exciting offering.

Following link will take you to the Soundtraxx Econami page:

http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/econami/index.php

Happy Friday!

GM

Not endorsed by Soundtraxx, literally saw it on Facebook and thought I would share being a big user of their product.

Early July Update

Well June and its significant rainfall is now gone, but the scorching heat and humidity of a Texas July is in full swing. Back earlier this summer I outlined what projects I had planned for June, July, and August in hopes to complete them. I am happy to report that June's sound install project (LHT #02) is complete and both P2K GP38-2s (MCIS 3827 and MCIS 3833) are operating and sounding fantastic. Being able to complete this and have our second child was quite a feat. Thanks to my wife for giving me time in the evenings while the kids were asleep to complete the project. This post we are going to focus on the recent motive power and rolling stock additions, while the Mid-July post will dive into the July project which entails adding scenery to Bay Yard.

MCIS 4052 and CN 6256 lead the M-PHBA-07 through Upper Huron, MI.

Motive Power
Earlier this spring three MCIS motors and one CN motor were sent to VMS in Virginia for sound installation, and other wok. VMS otherwise known as Virginia Midland Shops is work that my friend and fellow modeler Shannon Crabtree completes for me. Just prior to the July 4th holiday VMS completed work on two MCIS EMD SD40-2s and one CN EMD SD40-3 arriving back on property just before the holiday. I happened to be at the right place at the right time to capture two of the motors heading up the M-PHBA-07 through Upper Huron yesterday.

MCIS 4052 (EMD SD40-2) closeup.

CN 6256 (EMD SD40-3) trailing. Last I checked the prototype motor was operating up on CN''s DMIR property.

MCIS 4056 at Bay Yard receiving inspection, ditch light, and air conditioner installation.

Rolling Stock
Trailing behind the power on the M-PHBA-07 were three railcars that are new to the St. Clair Subdivision and also represent new business for the railroad.

Pipe load for Alaska
TR874111 is carrying banded pipe out of Wolverine Steel Products at Marine City heading to the Fairbanks, Alaska via ARR barge at Seattle, WA.

Railcar is Atlas 73' model with custom pipe load created by a local friend and fellow modeler in the Fort Worth area.

A future post will showcase many of the unique and awesome open top loads that his modeler has created.

Closeup of load - meticulous detail with each bundle wrapped individually.

Coke for Sugar Beet Production
CWE 125379 and CWE 125360 from Tom Patterson's Chesapeake, Wheeling & Erie are carrying coke destined to Michigan Sugar at Upper Huron. Once these cars reach Bay Yard at the terminus of the M-PHBA-06 they will then return to Upper Huron on the Port Belle Turn (R-BAPB). This is a great win for the railroad as in the past the coke was being trucked out of Detroit, but with a pooled supply of cars from CWE and MCIS a product pipeline will be in place to deliver anywhere from 2 to 6 cars a week depending on the sugar production needs.

Both railcars are Bowser 100 ton models. 

These modernized 100 ton hoppers were painted, decaled, and weathered by Shannon Crabtree's Virginia Midland Shops before heading to the CWE for loadout. More to follow on these cars in my next foreign railroad equipment post.

Later on this weekend I will be posting my Mid-July update focusing on this months project at Bay Yard.

GM

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