Thank you all for the nice comments!
The boat started as n RC 1/48 scale model. The company was kind enough to sell me just the shell. It was a tripple decker and pretty long with just minor detailing.
![VacUTow74a VacUTow74a](https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/62387745939951095/filePointer/62387745947101028/fodoid/62387745947101020/imageType/MEDIUM/inlineImage/true/VacUTow74a.jpg)
I cut it down and shortened it quite a bit.
The prototype does have a smaller pilot house and shorter stack but I think I will leave the model the way it is and deal with the critics. Like I said in the first post, I took some liberties. lol
Here is the best photo I have of the real boat.
![IMG_1448 IMG_1448](https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/62387745939951095/filePointer/62387745947101029/fodoid/62387745947101021/imageType/MEDIUM/inlineImage/true/IMG_1448.JPG)
I also have a photo without the blue trim which I like better.
The scene is not a lock but rather a coal unloading facility and the tracks are not as close as in my scene to the water in real life but they are fairly close. I didn't try to model THIS crane. I think somebody makes a 1:48 diecast version of it but i didn't have enough space.
![crane-4a crane-4a](https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/62387745939951095/filePointer/62387745947101030/fodoid/62387745947101022/imageType/MEDIUM/inlineImage/true/crane-4a.jpg)
Even though this photo is very old, the rivers are still green and brown. You can still see the mix at the point.
![Pittsburgh_-_Three_Rivers_from_Duquesne_Heights_(1968) Pittsburgh_-_Three_Rivers_from_Duquesne_Heights_[1968)](https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/62387745939951095/filePointer/62387745947101031/fodoid/62387745947101023/imageType/MEDIUM/inlineImage/true/Pittsburgh_-_Three_Rivers_from_Duquesne_Heights_%281968%2529.jpg)
Malcolm,
The layout fascia is masonite and the rivets are just foam spheres cut in half. I think I might replace the bottom baseboard rivets with wooden half spheres. The foam ones are easily destroyed by shoes..... I have wiped out quite a few myself.
Here is the gate to get inside the layout. I will eventually put fascia around the whole layout, maybe add some lighting too.
![IMG_3773 IMG_3773](https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/62387745939951095/filePointer/62387745947101032/fodoid/62387745947101024/imageType/MEDIUM/inlineImage/true/IMG_3773.JPG)
Again thank you all for the nice comments!
Dave