Well here is an update on my progress. I’m happy to say I’ve reached my goals for this year. The railroad is done when it comes to grading, dirtwork, mainline and the major landscaping. I have to add buildings and the last major project is building my wood trestle. So without further delay here is the railroad.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011010.jpg)
We will start with the town. Like I said I havent put any buildings down. I plan to work on those over the winter. I did get some boxwoods planted. Couldn’t pass up the great deal at Walmart, I got them at 60% off. As you can see I have finshed more of the my “mountain” and waterfall. I have covered up the weir, but I still need to add a few more rocks to make it look better.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011018-1.jpg)
This is just a closeup view of the waterfall.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011012.jpg)
The track leaves the town and loops around under the deck. Hopefully I will get my storage yard put in, which will located under the deck, so I dont have to keep hauling trains in and out. As the loop comes out from under the deck we come to the gold mine. I have just added the spur in this picture. Obviously I need to lay the track but you get the drift. The mine will be placed on the hillside to the left. This will most likely be a scratchbuild project.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011011.jpg)
Here we have gone a little further down the line and look back up towards the mine. I planted anthoer boxwood here and you can see my stream to the left. I still need to add a few more details to hide the liner, but I think it turned out good.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011017.jpg)
Still a little further down the line, looking back. You can see my town area on the left and the track leading into it.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011013.jpg)
This looking the other way heading down toward the lower loop. I dont know if you can see it real well, but I tried to add a forced perspective in the narrow canyon between the two tracks. I used a lot smaller rocks in that area than I did in the other parts of the stream. I was hoping the smaller rocks would make the canyon to appear much deeper than it is.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011016.jpg)
This image might show it a little better.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011014.jpg)
This is a shot of the line before it enters the lower loop. I planted a blue rug juniper next to the track in the background. You can also see my rockwork along the stream to the right.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011001.jpg)
Here is a shot of the lower loop. Obviously the trestle has not been installed, like I said a winter project. I’ll get the concrete footings in before the snow flys but I’m not sure about the trestle itself. You can also see my little pond here
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011002.jpg)
Here is a closeup of the pond. I have to figure out a better way to hide my pipes that go up to the waterfall. And I will also find some nice flat rock to disguise the edge of my pond.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011003.jpg)
As we progress around the lower loop this is the end of the eventual trestle and another rock wall and I also built a RR tie retaining wall here. I planted some blue rug juniper to help with erosion on this wall and put down some cedar chips to cover the exposed ground.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011004.jpg)
Just a little further around the loop from the previous picture. I planted some thyme along the track on the left. You can also see my steel deck bridge in the background.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011005.jpg)
This is my steel deck bridge. I still have to make the steel supports, but I put a 2 x 4 in as a standin. I do have the concrete footing in here so the only thing missing is the supports. I hope to eventually take the flextrack out and handlay some bridge track, but that will have to wait.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011006.jpg)
This on the other end of the bridge. I planted some Grisbatchii ( I think that is how its called) Sedum. Apparently this plant is pretty invasive. I hope by planting it next to my brickwall and the rock cliff, it will contain it.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011007.jpg)
This the curve heading into town. Maybe here you can get a better idea of what I was trying to do with the forced perspective in the canyon. After looking at this photo I noticed I got a sort of “kink” in the track heading into the curved switch. I havent had any problems with my stuff derailing here, but I’m a stickler for track so I’ll have to fix this. I planted some thyme on the left along the track, hopefully next year it will fill the whole area.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011008.jpg)
This is a little different angle of the curve heading into town. I planted another boxwood on the left.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m489/jake3404/92011009.jpg)
Finally the last picture as we head back into town. So there it is. Obviously I have some bare ground to cover, but growing season is pretty much over so I’ll plant some more stuff next spring. I’ll put some cedar chips on the ground to cover most of the bare areas for now. I already have plans for a future expansion, but I’m not sure when I will start it. Thanks for looking and I’ll keep updating as I start to add the little details.