Highland cliffs - Complete and running trains!

Wow.  looking good.  Please post more as you go.

Looks like a neat project.  Can't wait to follow your progress.  Please keep us informed.

Looks very good!  I'm looking forward to seeing your progress.

Nice progress, John.

Very nice work.............

Boy that looks like one great layout.

Fantastic layout.

Looking good John. Come February there will be something NYC running on there.

I have been watching your progress for some time with much interest.  I like the scenic design of the lower track switching to extend under the bridge and then up grade to the top level. That will be an interesting scene.  

Nice work! 

terrific looking track plan and details.

Hard to imagine how fantastic this railroad will look when complete.

Something to be very proud of.

 

Me Likey!!!!

 

Chief Bob (Retired)

Nice work J Daddy! You'll forget about the two missed weeks once you are done and running again.

Looks Good. 765 is a great locomotive for any layout by the way.

J Daddy,

  Oh ya I like it a bunch, giving up a little running time for engineering the layout, can pay off big time!

PCRR/Dave

John, looking very nice !!!!!

 

 

Alex

 

I have layout envy - in a big way.

Going to be quite a nice layout when done. Keep pics of progress coming......Paul

Wow!  That is really looking good so far.  Really adds to your layout.

 

Art

very nicely done.....

You have a good eye for the big picture. Nice work!

Added cliff wall today

Fantastic!!  For some reason I didn't realize that you had multiple levels, one above the other, along that wall.  This is really going to be a beautiful scene!

 

Alan

Looks great, love the multi-level construction. 

Where's the EMD stuff?

 

       
       


Actually I cannot wait to run the big Boy. ....

John, running trains isn't all it's cracked up to be. Construction and creativity are where it's at.

Taking time out to just run trains makes sure there aren't any bugs in the work adding a big plus to the FUN of running/playing with the trains.

Will be following this great lay-out build. Keep the pictures coming!

Well. I put a full day in today. Here is how far I got....

I was happy the foam cutting was over. However,  the plaster is just as messy.

Looking good John, baby steps will get you there.

Thanks Jim,

If you look at the pics you will see a spot that is still exposed blue foam... that is at the turn. Not sure if the Big Boy will make it around this turn w/o taking out the rock wall.... so I worked around this area until I can do a pass by. May have to break out the Dremel and carve it back a bit....

Now's the time to find out. Just like wiring, check as you go, best to find out now.

The girls say "Hi Jimmy!"     

Tell them hi for me and that I miss them. If you mess up the clearance I'm sure me and the girls can fix it for you....

Thanks Jim... well before I add color to the cliff wall I knew I should check the layout scenery killer first... Because we run such large engines on such tight radii tis the curse of this hobby.... this is an 0 - 100 curve and look at what happened here!

 

 

 

So I remembered a lessons learned as well to test the overhang going in the opposite direction... It will be different! This was an evil lesson I learned on the lower deck scenery that caused allot of grief.... sure enough it took out scenery in other locations. Note the picture below with another skive out "stripe" added further down in the curve...

 

 

But all is well that ends well with a final patch of surface before I hit the hay...

 

 

 

Been there done that with cab roofs, we don't have any articulated steam, how far from track center to foam?

I tried to keep it 4 inches from center line with an 0- 100 radii, but here obviously I new would be a tight squeeze...

Well John no need for weed control on that curve.

I was going to have Mike V. bring over the MTH weed sprayer too.

 

Tonight I am going to check it again with a Vision Line challenger and the PRR S-1 Duplex...

 

 

What is sobering is this picture shows what area I THOUGHT would be the only area I would need to modify... note the small area of exposed blue foam...

 

This week end I started to carve "Highland Hills"...

 

I added some color too....

 

 

 

 

 

This is fascinating to watch you build. Thanks for sharing. Nice work!

Thanks for the compliments Joe - I think the carving part gets a little mundane... however the painting sure is more appealing...

Looks great!  Keep the progress reports coming!

-Greg

Looking very good, John.

Thanks guys... I think I need one of these to clean up the mess!

 

 

This is going to be a fantastic scene on your RR when complete.  The backdrop will really add to it.

This is really looking good. Imagine that we can look at it soon and feel like we are on the interstate watching the scenery and trains go by.

 

Please keep posting.

I was inspired by this location... I ventured here back in 2002 in my  quest to follow the Northern Pacific and Milwaukee railroads in Montana...

 

 

 

 

inspired to try is one thing, capturing your inspiration is....Priceless!

Looks great!

Great learning experience  to see the scene grow more realistic and spectacular with each update! I'm fascinated watching the process unfold!

I'm about half way there now!

 

 

Well I have almost completed the rock cliff wall. Next a little bit of more color and some details... and I will be on to some greenery!

 

 

Looking good John.

Say Hi to the ladies for me.

Thanks Jim - will do, the girls and Nate are having a great summer up North!

 

Nice job John. 

Here's a little more color added

rock formations and the sky look perfect IMO.

Nice layout

thank you for sharing

Andre.

OMG They have grown!!!!

 

Hi J Daddy, Wow, you are doing an amazing job with your model railroad. This is going to be a really fun to run Railroad....You are smart in checking your curve clearances and your height clearances before final scenic applications.....Job well done!

Thanks for posting and keep us up dated...Happy Railroading....Your Tennessee Connection....

Thanks for the compliments everyone.
Here is some updates. ...

Looking real good. 

Beautiful.  Nice Job. 

Ballast looks very good, John.

Thanks guys... painting the track makes a huge difference....

 

Before:

 

 

 

and after:

 

 

John,

Great scene!  Has your layout been OGR?

ah no...not ready for that, thanks though.

The ballast looks real good.

Love those long parallel straights against the beautiful rock and rubble...

Painted rails PLUS ballast--well done.

Looks great! In my book, painted rails are an absolute must. Makes a HUGE difference in the overall appearance. Nice clean ties as well, no ballast piled up on the mainlines. 2 thumbs up

Adding some green....

Looks good John, you are moving forward at a good pace.

Wow, a lot done since I visited you!  Great work!  BTW, where did you go up North?

I looks real good now. What an improvement! 

Hi John. We went to Traverse City and spent the week end at Great Wolf Lodge. the family let me take them to Old Mission Point light house... just a beautiful place.

 

 

Hartland Gulch is coming into form. Bridge installed and the crew is testing out the new rail.

 

 

Thanks Jim, as you can see my 2-6-0 New York Central is leading the pack.

 

 

You have made some nice progress in a month. I like the foam blocks added to the wall as a back drop. I will remember that for a spot on my layout.  Nick

Thanks Nick -

here are a few more updates:

 

 

 

 

J Daddy,

I love it, nice work and it really is impressive.  The small steamer really sets off the massive scenery effort behind it.

That is shaping up to be one beautiful layout.

Should have given me a call!  I was home on leave from the ship for about 5 weeks.

Looks terrific; wonderful scene.  Thanks for the photos.

Thanks guys....

 

 

I haven't been back to Traverse City since attending IAA in the early 70s. Now there's a Great wolf Resort, a mall, no doubt lots of other stuff, and tons of changes at IAA as well. Not the little town I remember of 40-plus years ago. One of these days...

 

And we have an active model train club in Traverse City, with emphasis on 3 rail O gauge.....the Northern Michigan Railroad Club.  Link below.

beautiful job