A quick update for the second week of construction.  Track work has come to a grinding halt while I install the Faller Car System in what will be Downtown Los Angeles.

The system uses a small wire embeded in the road for equipped cars to follow using magnets. 

The first weekend of construction has come to a close and benchwork is underway on the new modern layout. 

The second night of open house was also well attended, but rather than a mad dash, people had more time to visit and ask questions, and they asked a lot of questions about the hobby and what not!

The narrow gauge was the only layout in operation on the second night.

Its open house season and here are some photos of night 1 of 3. ( two more to go). 

Three layouts were open to the public on Dec. 10th, 2016.  The recently "completed" Horseshoe and Cottonwood Hon3 was shown for the first time as well as the soon to be dismantled Eastern California R.R., a modern era standard gauge layout.  Additionally a 3rd small garden railroad was shown running a New Bright Christmas Train.

Started some work on the stringers for the Horseshoe Creek Trestle.  Long way to go! 

Also now that the mainline is done, most of the rough scenery is in place.  The backdrop on the level above the trestle is the last 15' section still needing to be installed.  More trees and structures to come!  In the new year attention shifts to the rebuilding of the modern layout.

Here are a couple more photos:

Progress has slowed as studying took over, but some progress has been made with scenery and track work with 98% of the roadbed complete and 95% of track installed and wired.  Only two more switches/tortoises to install and the rest is mainline run.  Aside from the frontage, scenery is in through the second titular town of Horseshoe Meadows shown:

The first train into Horseshoe Meadows. 

With just over a month and a half left before we begin dismantling the model railroad, here is a final cab ride of the layout as well as a shorter clip of the San Diego to LA section. Enjoy!

Another busy weekend getting ready for the regional layout tour.  The facia was painted giving everything a semi-finished look:
The decks are painted alternating light and dark shades which converge at the entrance to the layout.

Rob

Another long day of work on the layout:

The first train into Muir Meadow.  Got the static grass meadow, creek, and trees planted.  Another coat of water tomorrow.

It was another busy weekend on the layout. Several areas were worked on:

The most time was spent finishing the Alabama Hills. These iconic rocks were made from a custom mold that was made from rock samples from the hills and this weekend I finished painting and ballasting around them.  We picked up more ballast last weekend, which when sifted has a slight but noticeable contrast to the surrounding soil. The first test train is shown above. More: