Just realized it has been a year since I posted any layout updates on MRH.  I figured I had better make it up to everyone with some new photos.

There has been significant progress on the N Scale Fort St. John subdivision since last summer.  I started this layout in August of 2009 so this month also represents 3 years of work.

1. Helix was constructed to connect lower deck to upper deck

2. Upper deck benchwork modules were constructed and installed

3. Upper deck backdrops were painted

It's been a while since the last update.  Recently I marked 2 years since start of construction of the prototype-based Fort St. John layout.  Most of the lower deck is now complete.  A helix and the upper deck scene will likely keep me busy for the next two years. 

The most recent milestone was completion of the lower level staging yard. This allows me to run nice long trains across the Peace River bridge and into Taylor yard.

On Friday I hosted a fellow British Columbia Railway modeller from Vancouver who had come to Calgary to take in the 'Supertrain' show.  The trip provided an opportunity for him to see my N Scale Fort St. John Subdivision in person, and to have some fun with interchanging a train (His layout contains part of the Fort St. John sub as staging).  There were a few challenges including the fact that neither of us has yet to lay track to Septimus (where are two layouts "meet"), and there is a difference in eras (mine is 2002 vs. his at 1977).

Some steady progress over the last few months has allowed more trains to cross the Peace River on the N Scale Fort St. John Subdivision.   Northern British Columbia, Canada is a remote place and there aren't many trains, but here are a couple I caught crossing the bridge.

First a northbound...

A major milestone has been passed.  The first test trains were run across the Peace River bridge this weekend.  At this point everything is under temporary DC power.  Rail joins on the bridge need to be soldered for good electrical conductivity and all my locomotives need a good run to break them in.  Despite that, the test runs went well.

Almost 2 months since my last post so time for an update on my N Scale BC Rail layout.  The backdrop painting is complete and the foreground bridge scene is well underway.

Here is the current status of the lower deck backdrop on my N Scale layout based in northern British Columbia, Canada.  I am going against the conventional wisdom of 'understated backdrops' and going for detailed sweeping scenes.  It takes many hours of painting but since my layout will be fairly small it is a worthwhile approach.   I would like visitors to remember my layout for the backdrops as much as the trains.

This weekend was spent backdrop painting on the lower deck.  I am using a pale blue that won't distract from the foreground scenery.  I then blended the blue into white near the horizon line to simulate the effects of atmospheric scattering seen in real skies.  

Over the summer I spent some time on N scale locomotive detailing and painting projects.   There are no commercially available SD40-2s in the red, white and blue BC Rail scheme that I need to model the 2000-2004 period so I decided to try it myself.   The starting point was two undecorated Kato snoot nose SD40-2s.   I used detail parts from Miniatures by Eric for the following details: Canadian style steps, nose and ditch lights, over cab bell, lift rings and single rear light.

A long overdue layout update for August 2010.

Most of the last few months have been spent working on extending the lower deck benchwork and kitbashing some freight cars.  A few revisions were made to the track plan and a work continues on developing an operating plan.

The following are some images from the last few months of work.  

First off... Two kitbashed 60ft double door box cars that are close reproductions of BC Rail prototypes.