The "EL"evated...layout update....

Hi Alan, 

Really awesome photo's, the way the sun hit's the buildings is incredible

Thanks, Alex

I never get tired of looking at your photos of this awesome layout.

Thanks Alex....I really have enjoyed the natural lighting.  There are shades over the windows to help block the sun's UV effects but still enough light comes through to make some dramatic shadows....

Thank you Brian...I feel the same way about your layout.  Your renovations and new scenes are knockouts!

Alan

Hi Alan,

I am so enjoying your work!  The era is perfect and your construction is incredible.  I really enjoy interurbans, elevated systems, and anything that has to do with them including great stations for passengers who ride trains in the sky!  Even stairways to the stations are well made and believable!   You have elevated and surface transportation represented.  What about a subway system underground?

i could swear I visited this city before!  Thanks for the pictures.

Bill Berresford

Thank you Bill....I appreciate your comments.  I in fact do have a subway system that is under the main part of the city.  To be honest, I started it a couple of years or so ago and then got involved in other projects on the layout.  Thus....there is only track laid and a few "structures"...none of which operate at this point.  I will be re-visiting this part of the layout as I begin to wire the lighting for all of the skyscrapers which I hope to get done over the next few months...

Alan

Very Nice! I only hope my layout is 1/10th as nice!

Hi Alan. As you know I have a bit of passion for your elevated system as you have certainly been able to capture with your great photos. Im looking to add to my Subway collection and love that greenish orange set shown in several of your photos, can you give some info such as manufacturer, model #, etc.

thanks.

jim r

Great job very inspiring.

Hi Alan, . Need I say more?

Alan,

i hope you will some day provide a few videos. I took out the word, lengthy. I thought I might be asking too much.  But if they are long, great!

Bill

Is that water under the bridge?  Is the ship floating?

Bill

Great photos of your layout.My dad and I rode the Chicago Brown line last week.I had not ridden the El for over 30 years.It was so much fun,we are riding it again this Sunday.

Dan

A Corgi 1/43"Bluesmobile would look cool under your El structure like in the Blues Brothers movie.

Dan

Dennis...thank you but I'll bet your layout will be 10 times better!

Thanks Jim!....as you know, the elevated would not have happened if it weren't for your help.  The set to which you refer is the MTH Electroliner.  The box is in storage so I don't remember the manufacturer number but if you go to the MTH site and type in "Electroliner" in the search box it should come up.  They don't come up for sale very often!

Mario...thank you!

Bill...some day I will do a video.  The "water" is made from a sheet of shower door glass sitting on top of the smooth side of painted Masonite.

Thanks Dan....where did you get the figures?

Alan

Here is one showing the beginning of the street bridge with the EL as the upper level.  This was an early photo where I used Erector parts for the street bridge.

Alan

The figures came with the 1/43"Bluesmobile set Corgi made 10 to 15 years ago.The figures are too large for O scale,I am guessing they are 10 to 12 feet tall in O scale.The car is closer to O scale at 1/43".The rare Corgi set can be found on Ebay sometimes under"bluesmobile".If you do buy one,please post some photos of the car racing under the El like in the movie.

Dan 

Alan,

The pictures are great. Alex is right about the sun in some of the pictures. It makes everything look so real.

Alan Graziano

I am sure you have seen it already,but here is the car chase under the El tracks in the Blues Brothers movie.It starts 1:40 in.

Dan

Alan...thanks so much.  Yes, I am very lucky to have the clerestory windows on the east wall.  To be honest, I wanted an even light throughout the day so that I would not have to rely on lighting.  As it turns out, I ended up having the side benefit of some nice natural shadows...

Dan....I had forgotten about the chase scene and crash...sure enjoyed the video.  Thanks for posting.

Alan

Great work! Good to see that el train running after that horrible train wreck.lol

Thanks Rick!  It would not have been running if it weren't for Ben Fioriello.  Ben is "Da Man"!!

Alan

So realistic I felt the need to put my wallet in my front pocket

Alan,

Super work and super pix.  It's so realistic looking that it reminds of NYC when I was a little kid. 

P.S.  I know it's not NY.

Thanks "IC" ...just send your wallet to me and I will keep it safe for you!

Thank you Chuck...!

Alan