One More Proviso Picture

Did a little more work on the Proviso Engine Facilities so I thought I would post a quick picture.  Painting and more progress hopefully this weekend.

Work Begins on the Proviso Engine Facilities

An important structure of the Proviso Yard is the engine facilities. The facilities are a combination of new and old buildings that produce a very unique structure.  The prototype seen below has eight stalls plus a fueling track next to the structure.  Once again it would not be feasible to model this structure in its entirety due to its large size.  The area I have for the engine facilities is large by modelling standards, but still not big enough to accommodate a full size structure.  I was only able to fit six tracks in the space I have.  With one of the tracks serving as the fueling track, that only leaves five tracks for engine house stalls instead of the prototype's eight.  To get down to five tracks I eliminated stall B, stall 3 1/2, and stall 5 (see pictures below).  I also moved stall one and two closer together.

I am starting work with the original brick structure.  After doing a lot of measuring of the photos I had and using the Pikestuff Enginehouse as a guide for the stall doors, I use paper, pencil and a ruler to sketch out the end walls of the brick structure.  Although the model was going to be scaled down, I wanted to make sure I maintained the proper proportions of the building.  Once I was happy with the results, I cut out the paper sketch and used it as a template to cut out the end walls from .030 styrene.  I set the wall on the layout to check out the fit.

After cutting out the opening for the upper windows, I laminated brick embossed styrene to the wall and then used a Xacto knife to cut out the stalls and window opening.

I did the wall for the other side of the structure and then set both of them on the layout to get an idea of how long I should make building.  The picture below shows it at 160 scale feet (12").  After looking at the pictures some more and using the prototype's windows as a guide, I settles on 130 scale feet (9.5").

I then cut out the side walls from .030 styrene and added the brick embossed styrene to upper section containing the windows.  I did not use the brick on the other walls since they will not be seen once the structure is complete.  Since I was using fairly thin .030 styrene for a rather large structure, I added Plastruct structural shapes I had left over from the Mississippi Rive bridge for bracing.

Here's the structure so far after adding the roof.

Weathering Kato Maxi IV w/EMP Containers & a GEVO

We are back from vacation to the east coast, so its back to work on the railroad.  The first project is some weathering.  Last month I received two sets of Pacer and TTX/EMP Maxi IV double stack cars from Kato. Yesterday I weathered all four cars, their containers and also a Kato GEVO that I got in an MB Klien clearance sale. The weathering really helps the cars fit in with the rest of the rolling stock on the layout.  It especially helped the EMP green containers whose green seemed a bit bright compared to the prototype.  I've included pictures of the Kato originals and the prototype for comparison.
   Next up will be some trees and work on a couple of Proviso signature structures; the control tower and the engine facilities.

Summer's Here; Get Ready for an Onslaught of Post!

   Last weekend St. Paul Lutheran School completed its 51st academic year; my 15th year at St. Paul and 33rd year in Lutheran Education.   With the summer months of June and July being the slowest of the year for me, I plan to spend the extra available time working on the layout which means more posting on the blog!    

   I appreciate everyone following the blog.  I hope you find it interesting and helpful.  Please support our advertisers!  Your support helps fund the layout which means more posts to the blog!

  Summer also means riding my bike to my favorite destination; the Rochelle Railroad Park.  Its a great place where you can always catch some trains.  Here a few I was able to video a few days ago.  Sorry bout the wind.  Enjoy!

Ballast for West Staging Yard

I finally completed the last of the ballasting in the Fulton/Clinton/Proviso area. The West Staging Yard received limestone ballast . I believe that's all for ballasting for awhile. I think I will now turn my attention to a few structures in the area.

Ballast for Proviso Engine Facilities

I am so close to having all ballasting done from Fulton through Proviso. Here you can see the engine facilities track getting the ballast treatment. Only ballasting left to do in this area is the west staging tracks. Hopefully I'll get that done this week. Of course then there's Rochelle and Franklin Grove still left to do.

 View looking west.

View looking east.

Progress Video

Watch "May 6, 2012 Progress Update" on YouTube