Willing to share?

If anyone has images, stories, or other information about the Oregon Trunk and they are willing to share them on this page please feel free to contact me. I would love to share the images here on this page for everyone's enjoyment! I am particularly interested in photos pre-merger, but any images or information on the line is appreciated!

Please email me at the below address:

mountaingoatgreg@hotmail.com

Changing the focus of the Blog

********MAJOR PAGE CHANGES**********

As I am using my Facebook page as my modeling and current progress page I have decided to refocus my blog page as a way to show off the Oregon Trunk. I could start a different page, but as I have always blended the two I figured it would just be easier to keep the page and make it a more  focused on the railroad. If you notice the pages at the top are divided into the Stations along the Oregon Trunk (still a work in progress) I will post updates as I get more information to those pages, or if I find a particularly interesting, photo, story or piece of information. 

Again to keep up to date on my modeling, railfanning, and other projects check out my Facebook page by clicking the link below! 

 

https://www.facebook.com/mountaingoatgreg/

Facebook

I have decided to try something a little different. Since this page is supposed to mainly be focused on what I plan to model or have modeled, along with some information regarding the Oregon Trunk I am going to make some changes. I am creating a Facebook page to post information covering my recent projects, so the Projects In Progress page will see less activity. I am also going to be bringing back pages for each of the stations along the Oregon Trunk to both provide information and help me consolidate resources. If you are interested in following what I am up to on a more frequent basis please feel free to check out the the new Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/mountaingoatgreg/

Where has the time gone!?!?!?

Do not worry I have not given up on the Oregon Trunk, I just have been extremely busy from the first of the year. I have been working on a few projects, but nothing really related to what I am doing here, so that is why I have not posted anything.

A few updates:
I have been asked to present at the 2017 Spokane Portland and Seattle Historical Society Convention in July. I will be talking about my journey in researching and modeling the Oregon Trunk. More information will be posted once the official announcement is made.

I have completed an inventory including photos of all my equipment. I have also decided to trim the fat, as it were, and get refocused on my goals. This has freed up some space and also given me some monies to spend on things I really "need."

Madras switching layout is under the process of being remodeled. I am no longer using it for training as I am not currently teaching those classes locally. I have decided to use the existing benchwork and attempt to salvage the trackwork to model something else, details coming soon.

I am also stepping back my Free-mo involvement. I have decided to sell off two of my modules as I have yet to participate in a large group setup since moving to Lewiston. I have two modules that are more than 75% done that I will complete in hopes I can participate in the future.

I may also be changing what I post on this page too, but for now I am going to keep it to projects I am working on that relate to the Oregon Trunk and other related model railroad stuff. 

A little bit closer...

I have added Mr. Drinkwater to the roof and his son out front bringing him some more supplies. I also added some weeds, more junk and even a "project" in the garage. I have also worked to get the lighting done in the house and some basic interior details. Before I can move on to the next building or part of the module I have a few more items to complete. The items I plan to finish before moving on are as follows:

• Complete roof structure and detailing
• Finish house interior; window glass, window dressing, other details
• Add some more exterior details, firewood pile, detail around fallen tree, also more junk
• Figure out how to blend the backdrop and scene together, possibly a fence and maybe a tree

 With this basic plan in place here is where I am at now.

Natural Lighting

The Drinkwater place seems to have had a little problem with the garage recently. It looks Mr Drinkwater has been attempting to make some repairs using some reclaimed corrugated metal siding. From the looks of it the material has been sitting around for awhile, probably in the backyard, but it most likely was the right price, free! I was thinking about adding some LED lighting to the building, but with the current condition of the roof I figured the electricity probably was not working. Also with the large skylight it appears there would be enough natural lighting to be able to see the details inside without adding the LEDs.

More photos of the available on the Projects in Progress Page (CLICK HERE)

Look at all this junk!!

I have been making progress on the garage, and also the exterior details that will really set the mood for this part of the layout. I also decided to call this the Drinkwater place, no particular reason, just sounds like a good idea. Next will be to continue to add the details then I can move on to getting the roof taken care of. I also have decided that I will model Mr. Drinkwater and his eldest son working to make repairs to the garage door.

More pictures in the Projects in Progress page.

Working up Hill (Street)

There is a gentlemen named Andy Kramer that posts on the Big Blue Trains forum regarding his progress of his 1950's Milwaukee Road Layout. (Click Here for Link) He is  a good modeler and does a good job detailing each scene, but what really impresses me is his approach to his modeling. He essentially completes one whole area before moving on. He will build benchwork, get his backdrop done, lay track and then start working on the scene. He will work from the back of the layout towards the front and from one side to another, not moving along until that section is completed. I have tried a number of times to get projects only to get them somewhere between started and almost finished, but never done. I have decided to try Andy's approach with my Hill Street module. The plan is to start from the back to front and I will be working from left to right. Since I have already started a number of these structures it will not be in the full Andy Method, but it will be better then just building more stuff to put in a box.

 Here is my first structure that I will be completing and it is a bit of a run down house on the edge. It will feature a garage that is falling apart being held together by the junk inside of it. The house will also be run down needing at least a coat of paint, probably also a new roof and of course a good cleaning of the yard. I have more pictures in the Projects In Progress page of the buildings.

Hill Street Crossing takes shape

I think I have figured out how the structures will lay including a grade crossing at Hill Street. Next will be to secure the cork and start cutting some styrene for the roads. I also need to start working on blending the backdrop into the foreground.

Getting the lay of the land

With everything in position I was able to glue some foam to the benchwork which gives me a flat surface to start figuring out where things are going to go. I have decided to model it after an area leading to Brooks Scanlon mill with some modelers license, although not the mainline I will have one track appear to be closer to a mainline while the other track appear to be more of siding. The structures will face the track with a road paralleling the track and also a grade crossing near the middle of the layout. This will give me a place to put a number of structure I have built and also clear out a back log of projects.I can also use the road to display some vehicles and add in the super detailing that I like to do.

A backdrop gets a foreground

With the main backdrop completed I have move on to the foreground, which will be a small double track display shelf. I may try to squeeze at least one switch on for added interest. The whole thing will only be 48" x 18" but it will give me a nice place to take pictures. I also plan on wiring it up so that it can also be used as a small test bed while programming. I have also attempted to design it so that I can salvage it and turn it into a Free-mo module in the future, or maybe extend the module.

For more information and to follow the progress you can see the work in the Projects in Progress page. Stay tuned, I plan on getting this done as quickly as I can as it will clear a number of older projects from the workbench and out of storage.

Backdrop sure makes the room look bigger

I have been trying to take some pictures of projects but every time I do I find myself irritated with the clutter in the background. I have had back drops previously but currently do not have anything. So I decided I was tired of this and went ahead and decided to paint a new one. This one is again based on the mountains around Bend Oregon. Although not perfect or complete it is going to be better then looking at the family car or the other random stuff in the garage.

More challenge progress

Just moving along with my challenge project. With the outside and base decals finished the next step is to get the trailer attached to the base and do some additional detailing and weathering. I should be able to wrap this up here soon.

A challenge to get creative

One thing I enjoy is participating in challenges from different online forums. Recently the Railroad Line Forum has a challenge centered around the passing of one of their active members. The project can be of anything and once it is ready for decals they will send you come from the home road of member who passed. I really was looking for something that would be a quick project, but that would be a good exercise in being creative. I recently picked up some old Athearn trailers to possibly use for my piggyback special but it appears I have a few spares. I decided to build maintenance shed that would fall into the theme of a lumber and mining company. For pictures of progress on this project check out my Projects in Progress page.

Lucas gets a Module and Page

My 8 year old son Lucas has been wanting to do some model railroading and I have decided to give him my 90 degree Free-mo module set. He has decided he wants a grade crossing, small town and a farm on the modules. For the town he saw the Walthers Doughnut shop and really wanted it, so he bought it. I was able to help him use the airbrush and get the structure painted with the colors he picked. We then did the basic assembly and will now finish the painting, add some interior details and lighting.

For more updates on Lucas's modules check out Lucas's Page.

Summer is over, time to model!!

With travel and work I really did not do anything in August worth posting, hence the complete lack of posts. With that said I spent the first few days of September working on a few trailers for my 1968 Piggyback Special. I will be back to posting these updates to the Projects in Progress section of my blog. Here is a preview of the beginning of my Piggyback Special. 

Fun at Potlatch

I spent Saturday in Potlatch with Frank running some trains on a small Free-mo setup. We had a good time and may have gained a few new members, possibly. My modules worked well and I am excited to get them finished up for the show in Spokane in October. We also plan on adding this event to our annual calendar, which is a great small venue for us to display and run.

Here is a photo of me working hard (photo by Frank, W.)

Nothing like a deadline to get you moving!!

I have been slowly working on reworking my 45 degree module and what has turned into a Signal-mo. I was going to have them complete for the Spokane train show in October, but we are now going to be setting up on July 9th in Potlatch Idaho. So I am now rushing to get the modules operational and the basic scenery also completed. These will not be completely done, but they will be usable and presentable for what we are doing.

Revere Street Bar and Grill

When looking over the aerial photo from 1967 I noticed a building on the corner of Revere and Division that looked like it would fit on the module. Next was to check the area out on Google Earth and I was pleasantly surprised by the building I found. It was a single story building with a false front making it look like a two story old west structure I decided I really needed to model it. After doing a little more internet sleuthing I found that the shop was setup for both retail and restaurant space. With that information in mind I have decided to make it a Bar and Grill. I plan on building a detailed interior of at least the Bar and Restaurant area, since the rest will be hidden I will probably not do anything for the kitchen or bathrooms.

Here is a Google screenshot of the building.

I will post progress and additional pictures in my Projects in Progress section.

So simple it may just work

Here is my very basic plan of Revere Street in Bend Oregon. It will feature a number of buildings I have built along with a set of working crossing flashers to protect the two mains. Simple plan, simple post. Keep tuned for progress.