There has been a few improvements I have been wanting to do to the layout. Spring is the best time do these improvements before the plants start to grow, the ground is soft and the temps are somewhat comfortable (despite the snow showers we had today) One of the areas on the layout that has been bugging me was the area between the mine and the s curves. This area has always been flat and never really fit into the rest of the landscape and flooded after heavy rains. This was also the area the logging operations were with the spar tree. It has been an eye sore. My plan was to raise the area up. I took a trip to lowes picked up some top soil and to my suprise they had the dwarf spruces and rhodies out. I picked a few up. I built a wall along the mine siding and then filled the entire area with rock and top soil. until it was a little higher then the wall along the s curves. Along mine siding
along s curves
This past Jan I started working on a new sawmill. I got the idea from several pictures I had seen in magazines and on the web (I think the plans are from garden texture) I wanted something bigger and thought this was perfect. I took the old mill out from the logging camp and put the new one up in the Hainsville yard. I still have a lot of detailing to add to the scene like people ect… hopefully in a few weeks I can get them out for the season.
I also redid my oil tank by adding a platform to the top and added some details. Nothing special but does add to the area.
I also changed the yard around and added lights to all the buildings now. (I cant wait for that sawmill to weather)
I also changed the logging operations to camp Kittatinny. added the spar tree and moved the bunks to the other side of the tracks. This area still needs a lot of work. I want to improve the spar tree operations and also thinking about building a log slide coming off the mountain above. Here is what I got so far.
I also added a fence coming out of the tunnel. This is one of the many fences I plan on instaling throughout the layout.
Finally I found a spot for the train station. Looks barren without the scene.
I still need to freshen up the balast, fix a small hump in the cumberland trestle (add some cribbing to keep it more level), work on finishing a stone walkway along the layout and add more fencing and cribbing in areas. Now I just have to wait for the weather to get nicer for planting and detailing scenes. Im also thinking about extending my camp siding out along the outside of the layout and re-connect at the mine siding. Hope I didnt bore anyone.
