I finished up two home made track cleaning cars. The design is simple, a 1x2 for the frame, added trucks and couplers, then a cork cleaning pad glued onto a old car weight. The pad slides across the rails, giving them a good wipe. The pad is held in place by two nails, glued to the top of the weight. I added three nuts to give the car more weight.

I used three of these cars. I push one ahead of a loco, then a second car with Liquid Wrench on the pad, then a third car trailing with a dry cork pad. Works great and keeps things running fine.

Took the plunge and started my first scenery. I havent done scenery since the late 80's at my old club.

I will cover more of the brown next time but for the first try I am satisfied. I will add more trees to the right side.

The trees and ground cover is home made foam, custom colors. Trees are made using weeds and foam.

Enjoy!

Latest update on the Virginia Southern:

Removed the upper frame and lighting for the entire layout and replaced with CFL bulbs. The choice was done to clean up the look above the layout, have smoother lighting across and to solve how to light over the transition areas between the decks.

I have also added a Facebook group for the VS: Virginia Southern Model Railroad

As fellow modelers your invited to shoot me a request to join or messages, all are welcome!

A view down a isle of my HO triple deck layout.

Top left: Nora Branch                    Top right: Fremont Branch

Middle left: Dante Yard                  Middle right: Delano Siding

Hello:

The Virginia Southern Railroad, a merger between the Clinchfield and Interstate, presents its paint schemes.

Unit 3000 is a Kato SD40 in the grey / yellow scheme which was applied to the diesels as ordered from EMD. The 3011 is a Athearn SD40 in the black / yellow scheme applied on later units and by the shops.

Both were custom painted by Marty Talley, decals from Stan Cedarbluff. I applied decals and will get railings and weathering applied soon.