From the past - Backdrop mural of lake

This is from my previous layout in the alcove area.  The entire area with 25 liner feet was custom painted by a local artist.  I almost cried when I had to paint over it to prepare the room for the sale of our home!

Lake

Rick, beautiful backdrop!  I can understand how painful it must have been to paint over that.  My wife once painted Disney murals on our childrens' bedroom walls, and it really hurt to leave those behind when we moved.

As mentioned on my blog a few days ago, I finished another 20' or so of backdrop photos this week.  Got some shots this morning of IAIS yard job CBSW (Council Bluffs SWitcher) running over to UP's Pool Yard with interchange.  The consist is IAIS M420R 801 (Kaslo shell on a modified Atlas U23B frame) and SW1200 250 (P2K).

Here we see CBSW pulling west over S. 16th St., past the abandoned Ready Mixed concrete plant at the east end of UP's Pool Yard.

IAIS 801 leads the way into UP's yard.  In the distance is a string of ARMN reefers tied down in UP's Fox Park yard, former home of their business car fleet.

CBSW continues west on UP track #212.  Given IAIS's RI heritage, it seems appropriate that this track is referred to as "Old RI".

High Bridge

The signature scene on the prototype, and still my favorite on the layout. DMSW-22 crawls across the ballasted-deck girder bridge over Hickman Road in Clive.

James

Wow...just....

....wow James. I seriously thought that was a picture taken from Hickman. You NAILED the bridge!

James

Beautiful modeling and photo James!  Very well done.

Now, let's see how long we can keep this IAIS streak alive.  I'm guessing not long. 

That Old Time Feeling

Inspired by the work of J. Pachl's boxfile diorama, I decided to take a picture of one of my TT scale SW1200's.  Most of the pictures I look up of the PRR are black and white, so I thought I might try to capture that feel.

Driline rounding the bend of the Ralston Purina Plant

"had to paint over it to prepare the room for the sale"

Hi Rick,  Where was your previous residence? Did you relocate upon retirement?? ..DaveB

James, I like your model, but

James, I like your model, but I also favour your style of photography.  And, who doesn't like a good bridge shot??!

DaveB - we lived in NE Georgia

In the town of Cumming in the foothills of Northeast Georgia on a 1 acre lot with a 1,700 sq ft walk out basement.  I've been a work-from-home employee for years (and still am full time employed) and can live anywhere that there is a phone and internet connection.  We originally lived in Orlando, Fl for 30 years and moved to Georgia in 2003 for a job transfer (before I was a work-from-home employee) and also according to my wife to "get away from the kids!"

Last year she starting missing our three kids in Florida badly so back we came after practically giving our house away (at the low point of the housing market) and we now live about 20 minutes away from them.  I went from 1,700 sq ft of railroad room to 120 sq ft - but to tell you the truth it was worth it as I'm really enjoying being near family again.  It also helps that I belong to the Central Florida Railroad Modelers:

http://www.centralfloridarailroadmodelers.org/CFRRM_Website_2010/Home_Page/Home.htm

They have a very large layout where I can go and run trains anytime I like.

"she starting missing our three kids in Florida"

Hi rick, That's why we have wives, to point out the obvious and keep us on track......DaveB

Boxcab for Bernd

    Here's the brass boxcab partially built. The old prototype photo shows how much details need to be added to finish it (someday maybe) ...DaveB   

Great start. Joe and James

Great start. Joe and James beautiful as usual

@ Dave

Hey, now that's a very nice start on that box cab. I like the design. Clean looking soldering joints too. I knew there was some talent hidden out there.  Keep us up dated as you work on it.

Bernd

Crandell I still love your

Crandell I still love your steam shots. Is this on the new layout?

Thanks, Ray.  Alas, the new

Thanks, Ray.  Alas, the new layout is stalled until I get some mojo back.  I stopped working on it back in the early summer as life's other obligations of a seasonal nature took over.  We have had a nice fall with a lot more sunshine than usual, so I have done other outdoorsy things rather than work on the layout.  I'll get back into the loft soon.

Meanwhile, it's a shot from the now-defunct layout.  I tore it down in May of last year.

-Crandell

Pulling MOW flat

Very nice photos to all.  James, very realistic and excellent details.

Photo of a Southern GP38-2 pulling a MOW flat. 

Tim

Quncy Salvage

Not quite finished, but here's my old barn...part of Quincy Salvage by Sierra West

Here are a couple of Neil's

Here are a couple of Neil's second layout  

Ray, getting some flocking or

Ray, getting some flocking or static grass on my new layout is something I have accepted as a personal challenge.  It really does put a layout out front when done nicely, as shown in your examples.

-Crandell

A D&RGW coal drag at Minturn

A D&RGW coal drag at Minturn Yard on the Moffat Line.

D&RGW coal drag

Michael

 How big is your layout? It looks enormous

Ray, Its not that big. It's

Ray,

Its not that big. It's 12' x 15'. That shot you see is along the 15' section.

Wow

Ray, thank you!  I love seeing your pics of your son's layouts!  Some of my favorites of all time.  

Seeing your reference to James and I makes me laugh, reminding me of the time last summer when I hosted an open house following an op session weekend.  One of my visitors arrived and mentioned how he was looking forward to seeing my working grade crossing flashers and gates in person after reading my updates on-line.  Problem was...I don't have any flashers and gates yet.   After some discussion, it became clear that he thought he was visiting James' layout...and I'm pretty sure I saw a look of disappointment when that realization hit him. 

Tim, your layout is another favorite of mine.  I love that MOW flat!  I've always had a thing for MOW rolling stock, and you just nailed the look with that car.  Would you consider sharing some overview pics of your layout, and a layout plan?  Every time I see your work, I want to see more.