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The
first double track bridge and attempts at tying it together with the
rest of the scene. Clearly we were struggling here and the scene
wasn't working. A member from out of the area happened by and
commented, "It looks like you're trying to make scenery to cover up
benchwork." That hit home, out came the scenery and bridge. The yellow pipes are part of an elevated observation platform so younger kids can view the railroad. |
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Jay Mudge
installs a Tortoise switch motor at East Derby at the new switch
location (A) for the switch (B). A new single track bridge will
be located at (C) taking the high line across the gorge (D) to the main
line grade (E). The Lower Level Loop (F) is barely visible near
the tape covered main line (G). Road Master E. Don Petit
supervises. |
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Dave Spakousky reworks the
foam blocks under the land forms at East Derby. Using the same
key from above, the new switch (B) has been installed. The high
bridge (C) will span the gorge (D) and connect the high lines between
(A) and (E). The lower level loop (F) and main line (G) will also
have bridges across the creek at the bottom of the scene. |
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Dave vacuums up some foam
debris on the opposite side of the mountain shown in the view above and
just to the left of the view at the top of this table. He's made
some plywood steps to stand on. Foam blocks will be fitted into
these steps and then formed to blend in with the surrounding, non
movable, terrain. This will enable access for maintenance and
repairs without risking damage to the scenery (and club members) once
the scene is complete. |
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Amidst a storm of foam
debris, Dave fashions land forms for the Neil Creek canyon between East
Derby and Butte Falls.
Plywood temporarily fills in for the high bridge (C) above the gorge
(D). Hard board fascia has been installed with a profile of the
land form. Construction Note: A mixture of white bead board and blue and pink extruded foam was used in this and other scenes. The extruded foam is superior to the bead board in being stronger, easier to work and much less messy. We found that solvent based adhesive is superior to latex based ones. But, be sure to get an adhesive with a solvent that's compatible with foam. (Hexane base is safe and less toxic than ketone and xylene bases. ) |
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The gorge scene takes
shape. Areas marked "X" were smashed with a hammer and reworked
several times to get the scene right. |
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Temporary foam piles support the
through truss bridge and deck girder approaches. Trees were "staged" in the gorge to check out the effect of the two lower tracks disappearing into a forest. It worked! The trains just go away without a tunnel portal. |
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Dave's grand daughter Katie
admires Grandpa's handiwork. |
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One of the goals we'd set
late in 2006 was to have the new layout back together enough to operate
during the semi-monthly "Run Days" at the Railroad Park. By
April, we'd accomplished that goal. Also note the painted backdrops. In a few short months, John Gerritsma mastered the art of painting backdrops that resemble actual scene along the P&E AND blend in very well with the modeled scenes in the foreground. Still missing from this scene is about 500 trees...not to mention bridge abutments, rock castings, brush, a creek, etc. Shown here is a westbound freight out of Butte Falls approaching the high bridge. |
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A close-up of the above
scene crops out most of the unrealistic elements. The look of
things yet to come. |
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Coming across the high bridge. . |
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Twin crossings of the creek on the lower
level posed another challenge. The line to the left is the lower
level loop and purports to be the old main. The line on the right
is the main starting up grade to Derby and the track on the high
bridge. Both lower tracks are on curves and at angles to the
creek below. After much study and collaboration, we decided to
make the old main a skewed through girder bridge with steel
girder approaches. The new main will be a deck girder bridge with
longer spans which will go directly onto abutments. In other
words, two
types of bridges, from two eras, of different lengths and different
angles to the creek below. Each bridge will feature two main
spans skewed so that the piles are set parallel with the flow of the
water. The center piles of both bridges should line up. |
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Photographer Mike Lindsay, of Model
Railroad News, brought his skills and equipment to the Club and shot
this photo of Walther's Empire Builder on the high bridge. Do
check out the larger version of this picture (click on photo).
It's awesome. Photo by Mike Lindsay and © 2007 by Model Railroad News Used with permission. |
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The above picture is nice, but it
conveniently excludes the bridges under construction below.
Building the skewed through girder bridge was a challenge. In
addition to modifying the kit, the track had to be carefully bent and
set on the bridge to allow allow operation of all rolling stock.
A 90' box car was used to test clearances. Also, a short approach
span (white in the photo) was scratch built. It will have a
center trestle bent when completed. |
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The deck girder bridge was easier to build
although it did require skewing where the two spans met in the
middle. The abutments were made from MDF (medium density
fiberboard) and painted. With the bridges finished, attention turned to finishing the creek bottom with rock castings, real gravel and finally water. Next: weathering, brush and trees will complete the scene. |
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Adam Gerritsma visited the P&E after a
bunch of trees had "grown in" and offered the last four
photos. Notice how the two lower level tracks disappear
into the forest just as planned.. Photo: Adam Gerritsma |
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Overall view of the three new bridges as
they frame and fill the scene. Compare this with the picture at
top of this page and it's evident why we chose to redo the scene and
how worthwhile the effort became. Photo: Adam Gerritsma |
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A low angle "Glamour Shot" of the gorge
scene. Too bad the trains weren't cooperating, Photo: Adam Gerritsma |
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Up on the east end of the high bridge, Adam
dozed off under a tree waiting for a train. Suddenly, he
awoke to the sound of a fast approaching train. It was by
in a blur. Amtrak on the P&E? Nah, it must have
been a dream. Photo: Adam Gerritsma |
