Update

It has been a lomg time since posting. Basically it is because of time. When I have time lately I have worked on the layout. So this next few posts will  update the items worked from April.

1st we have the main yard area. I had started working the back drop which did not have any back ground other than the painted room wall. After playing with different ways of doing it I have finally decided to go with a photo back drop and some narrow (1/4" thick) flats. To be able to do this I had to put up a back drop for gluing the flats and photo's to. This is complete and I have glued the 3d flats back to the back drop. While doing this I also added additional scenic detail to the yard area. Now to work on the photo back drops is ll that is left.

I always remember the engine service facilities having the ground almost black from diesel spills, coal dust I assume from the steam era also was a big contributor to this appearance. In this overall view you can see the new back drop. The darkened area at the engine service area and additional detail in the yard tracks.

Been home and finally got into the train room last week. What to do first? Operate some trains. I have printed switch lists that I filled out manually. Was fun but I just don't understand why the sound equipped locos have issues and short out but all the sound equipped locos run perfectly. This will require some investigation. Also need to really get some speed matched so I can run a couple of multiple unit sets.

A peek only

Flew home from Hawaii for 3 days for Christmas. Opened the door and looked in but that was it, hope to be working on it again by February.

PT Fantasy Engine

After seeing so many 2 axle engines relegated to switcher status I thought I would create my modern PT used purchase switcher. An ex LV, D&H Alco C420. Patched to be a PT switcher.

I have P2K Alco S-1 and S-3 in the Black MEC scheme That I need to put decoders on, and I want to do several more in PT schemes.

Until I get those done I will operate with this Engine, the "Patched" LV C420 in the prvious post 3 MEC GP-38's a B&M GP-7 and a "Patched" MP-15AC

DCC practice?

I have been reluctant to learn how to use my DCC system since the beginning. The manuals (Digitrax) and the different decoders specifics have kept me from doing much other than changing the ID on the engines. I guess I was fearful that I would permanently screw up the programming on these engines.

So for the last week I have been reading and learning how to use the system. Today was a breakthrough as I finally understood what was being displayed and how that tied into changing the CV settings. The factory setting for sound on my sound equipped engines was so loud and distracting. I resolved to fix that the other day with my Atlas engines by using the wand that comes with them, and it reset the engine to factory default including the address ( I had set all engines up for 4 digit addressing) instead of adjusting the volume. This made me read and understand that if I goofed up programming it would be easily reset. Tonight I set to lowering the volume on 2 Atlas engines and adjusting the bell rate CV on my Athearn MP-15AC. After several attempts it just clicked!

Next I will try speed matching 3 of my MEC GP-38's so they will run in a consist.

Any way, it just felt good that I made progress, I was on the verge of calling around to find a college course for DCC programing.

Paper Mill

This is the paper mill, it will be a finishing type like several that were in Maine. Pulp from a full mill is shipped in by boxcar and chemicals and starch are off loaded for specialty papers. The tall silo is for starch storage, made from PVC Pipe connectors and other bits from the left overs box. This is Kit bashed using parts of a Walther's Magic Pan Bakery, a Pike Stuff Manufacturing Plant and some Evergreen Plastic. There is a whole lot more detail to add but the basic structure work is complete.

Paved

The materials yard pavement is in and the road has been added. The tall gray structure is the start of the cement storage facility, the paint can is where the storage silo will be.