A new beginning at the end

I built a 4' Free-Mo module some time ago as part of Redmond, but I have decided that due to the complicated nature of the modules required to focus my attention elsewhere. So I have decided that since I have already gathered a large amount of information on Bend that I would build some Free-mo modules depicting the Bend area. The area I have decided to start with is the absolute end of the SP&S railroad which is the spur leading to the Lelco Lundgren Lumber company. This area will have Lelco with an enclosed building for boxcar loading and a two tracks outside one with a wood chip loader. This area also has Haines Distributing  which will receive beer cars. Next to that will be Central Oregon Pumice Company which will ship hoppers of pumice. There will also be the De Soto furniture which I am still working out the details on what type of cars they would load or unload. The way this is being built it will be as its own switching layout, or as part of a larger Free-mo setup. I am also trying to build these modules in pairs so that they will be easier to transport.

THE END

Well with the long weekend I was able to take down my layout and move it to the dump. With my old layout down I have made some adjustments to website to better use the space provided. I will be going back to basics and working on some Free-Mo modules again.

So close...YET SO FAR AWAY

Well for anyone who has been following along you probably have noticed the lack of photos or progress. I have been on hold due to work and received news today that I will be transferring in the next week to Oklahoma City. So the Bend layout will be coming down and parts saved for the move. The backdrop will need to be removed and the wall repaired. It is going to be a busy couple of weeks!!!

Brooks Scanlon Woodchip Track

I have finished the Brooks Scanlon lead all the way to the mainline. This includes installing the track that will be for the woodchip loader. I still have not wired anything but cars roll well over the completed section. I also extended the Brooks Willamette spur track.

More photos of the area on the Brooks Willamette page

Brooks Willamette

Well the track gang has finished laying track into the Brooks Willamette particle board plant. This track will hold between 3 and 5 cars depending on the car type. Boxcars will be the main car type used but I may have a few bulkhead cars to stick in every once in awhile.

More details and pictures on the Brooks Willamette page

A Little Site Organization

I have decided to clean up my website a little bit and have added some new pages to keep myself organized. I have divided my layout into 5 sections, the sections are as follows:

Bend Depot: This page will cover the area around the iconic stone depot. This will be where operators gather up their paperwork and grab the RS-3 assigned to switching Bend customers.

Greenwood Ave: this is a small scenic section on the layout that will be between the Depot and Division street. It will feature the three track underpass and pilot butte in the background.

Division Street: The are between Greenwood and Brooks Willamette will have the most complex track work of the layout. This area will feature a number of crossovers and a variety of industries. Depending on how busy the customers are in this area will change the difficulty of the job quite a bit

Brooks Willamette: This section will feature the Brooks Willamette particle board plant. I have moved the woodchip loader from the back of the Brooks Scanlon mill to this area as I wanted to add the woodchip loading. This area of the layout will also feature a section of a residential area and light commercial. This will also separate the two sides of the layout and make the layout seem larger.

Brooks Scanlon: This will be the end of the layout and will feature the large Brooks Scanlon mill. There will also be a scale track that most of the cars loaded in town will need to weighed before departing on the next train out of town. I have also set it up so that continuous operations are possible by placing in lift out bridge at the end of this section

Bend Transmission & Motor

I have a wedge shaped piece on my layout and was trying to figure out what to do with it. I combed through some photos and was unable to find exactly what was in that area in the 60's so I decided to do a little freelancing. I wanted to have some sort of auto repair or shop and decided to model a transmission and motor rebuilding shop. This way I can have both small and large vehicles being worked on in the same place. This will also give me a reason to buy more vehicles....

Three are better then one...

Thanks to a marathon work session I was able to complete the other two bridges for the Greenwood Underpass. I still need to finish the decking in a few spots and also the handrails on the far side. Once that is finished I am going to build the permanent base and start working on the road, abutments and other assorted roadway parts.

Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Company Spur

I had some time and was able to put in the Brooks-Scanlon spur. I am not sure how many boxcars will fit on the track, but it will be quite a few. Although it is just one track it will be serving three different parts of the mill and may pose a challenge for switching.

I need to finish weathering the track and ties and then will be moving on to wiring.

Track work begins!!!

I was able to get my track work started this weekend and I think it is going well. I am using all code 83 rail for this layout with Micro Engineering flex on the main and CVMW tie strips in the auxiliary tracks. I now just have to wait for ME to produce more #6 switches so I can continue working around the layout.

More photos of my progress in Bend Shelf Layout section.

1 of 3....

With the long weekend and a marathon work session I was able to get the first of the three bridges completed for the Greenwood Underpass. I have already started to gather the necessary parts fot the other two bridges and will be starting construction soon.

New lights

I have been working on the layout but it has been mostly boring stuff like supports and other stuff not worth taking pictures of. I was able to put up 4 new 4ft single bulb fluorescent lights, I have a plan to put up four more in the near future. Having more lights has really changed the look of the room for the better.

Roadbed begins

With the subroadbed completed I started laying cork at a moderate pace. I still have a bunch of work before I can lay track but I am getting closer. I am using HO cork for mainlines and part of the siding the rest will be N scale cork.

Follow the progress of the Bend shelf layout HERE

Subroadbed work begins!!!

With some help that I recieved this weekend I was able to get most of the subraodbed up the last past days. It really is starting to look like a railroad!! I will try and finish up the subroadbed this week and begin work on laying down the cork roadbed.

Pilot Butte

After a productive weekend I was able to finish up Pilot Butte, along with the rest of the base of my backdrop. I still have a bunch of work ahead of me but it sure feels like I am making progress. Next will be the subroadbed and then on to track.

Cloudy with a chance of rain

I have finally been able to get back to working on the layout and have been focusing my attentions on the backdrop. After mudding, sanding, mudding, sanding then painting the base colors I was finally able to get to the fun stuff. I started with the clouds and once they dried I have then worked on the mountains. I am happy with the results so far and look forward to working track work.

More photos in the Bend Shelf Layout page

Bridging the gap

With the last few pieces of backdrop waiting to be cut, which is waiting for the weather to behave, I have moved my efforts into the subroadbed. I have figured that since I have a unique bridge that will be in the middle of a curve that I should have the bridge pretty well built before I build the subroadbed around it. I started with selecting the bridge and using google earth as reference to get the basic dimensions. From there I made some scale drawings and have started to plug away at the overall structure. For the first time today it actually looks like something although it is far from complete I thought I would post an in progress shot.

More photos on the Bend Structures Page

Rounding the bend

With a little time this weekend I was able to knock out a piece of backdrop and fix my benchwork. I have about three peices of backdrop left to hang up then I can get on to mudding.

Backdrop Backbone...

With a run to the big box hardware store and a few free hours I was able to get the basic backdrop started on the layout expansion. I plan to use joint compound to cover the seems and then wet sand the area. I was very happy with the overall effect last time I put up my back drop using these techniques. I hope to get the rest of the backdrop up next weekend and maybe start on mudding the joints. Once I get the backdrop prepped I can then start in on the sub-roadbed, but until...

More stuff on the Bend Layout page

With a long Sunday spent making sawdust and gluing my fingers together I was able to get the basic benchwork up. I still have some supports and corners to finish up but I am really happy with the way it is coming out.  Next I will add the hoardboard for the backdrop and get ready to paint, which involves lots of mudding and sanding and making a general mess.

Out with the old....

...In with the NEW!!!

Today I put up the first two pieces of benchwork for the new Bend shelf layout. It is not much but it is a new beginning to a great layout. I will be posting some more photos soon as time money and family permit.

A new beginning....

With a change in plans I have decided to expand the layout and instead of modeling a fictitious Redmond I have moved to the south end of the 5th Subdivision and will be modeling a portion of Bend Oregon. I have decided to model the area from the depot south to the switch the leads to the Brooks-Scanlon sawmill. I will be adding a Bend page soon and will keep the Redmond page up for now.

All Aboard...the mixed train has arrived

After a few years waiting my passenger train has arrived...
Here is the advantage of modeling a line that was moving at a much slower pace. The use of a combine could cover all of the passenger needs on the line except for the first day of fishing season and other special occasions. I will add some figures, interior details and weathering before I will call the passenger train done...

Some junk in the attic.....

A little more work on the upstairs....

More stuff on the Structures page