Indian Creek through the years

With this being my first layout to get much beyond basic benchwork, I've made a number of mistakes along the way, many of which can be traced back to my tendency to design the layout around the prototype's trackage, while giving little thought to scenery.  As you can see from this 2004 view of my initial attempt to model the area, the Indian Creek scene was a prime example:  I essentially neglected to allow for the creek at Indian Creek.

By the time of the 2011 view below - a mere 7 years later, mind you - I had recognized the error of my ways and cut the creek into the benchwork.  I also reconfigured the UP's 12th St. Line to represent it more accurately.​ 

You would think I'd be smart enough to address the situation more completely before adding roads and static grass...

...or backdrop photos and trees...

 ...but I apparently like to do this procrastination thing up right.

That's about to change.  As you can see below, the push is finally on to finish this scene once and for all.  It's one of the first things visitors see when entering the layout room, so I'd like to wrap it up before the OS Omaha operations weekend May 15-17.  The plywood "bridges" have now been cut away under the UP and IAIS mainlines, and while it's not yet visible in the photo, construction of the concrete channel and the first couple of bridges has begun.

I need to have the IAIS main back in service this week to stay on schedule for the layout to be ready for OSO, so that bridge is coming first.  The UP main is static, so the bridge for it and the several abandoned lines over the creek will come later.  I may be a reforming procrastinator, but I still need to be practical. 

Stay tuned for more updates throughout the week!

A Layout Is Never Done...

Joe -

At least you were able to go back & make changes to match the prototype & keep your interests piqued as opposed to those of us who get frustrated & just tear the whole thing down & just start over from scratch. Nice job, by the way.

Correcting vs starting over

Thank you Joe.  I've been blessed to have been able to go back and correct my mistakes in most cases, at least to a point where I'm satisfied with the makeup of the scenes.  My emphasis still leans toward operational accuracy over including every scenic feature, but hopefully I'm capturing the feeling of the prototype scenes regardless.  There's never enough room to have it all.

You answered yourself!

Joe

i think you answered yourself when you said 'there's never enough room to have it all'!

From what was initially probably just another interchange, when you start to look later after building some of the main scenes, makes you rethink the way you did something. If you have believable scenes elsewhere, that are recognizable, even if they are condensed, then change elsewhere is inevitable. And operationally, what you had was Indian Creek anyway, it is now more like it scenically. Looking at the Bing photo, and how you've altered the model, it certainly makes it recognizable now.

If one tries to plan everything before one has started, then a layout would never get off the drawing board, or it would be so long that one would lose interest.

i always enjoy seeing updates on your layout!

Brian

Update

Thanks for your encouragement Brian.

I made some long-awaited progress on the Indian Creek canal today and thought I'd post a quick update.  I built the canal itself from 0.060" styrene...

...then added the curved lower corners using 3/4" PVC quarter-round, as shown below.

 I've since removed and painted it, and I plan to add weathering and water Tuesday before the permanent re-installation.  With the canal in place, my hope is to complete the first bridges by about Thursday.

Done, for now

This morning I made enough progress on the Indian Creek scene to call it mostly done, for now.  I still have to add another layer of Mod Podge for the water and then seal that today.  I also need to locate more Micro Engineering girders to finish the three remaining bridges I plan to build here, but their construction will have to wait until after the OS Omaha ops weekend next month.  Anyway, given the gap in the plywood that's been greeting me here for far too long, I figured this was enough of an improvement to warrant new photos.

First, a bird's eye view.  

Looking south down the channel.

Looking southwest.  UP apparently has a weight restriction on their 12th St. line's crossing of the creek in the foreground, but I plan to address that soon.  Beyond the IAIS's bridge in the background is the now-unused structure that originally supported the Rock Island's EB main.

Finally, an overall view of the area.  To the right of Indian Creek is the site of an abandoned concrete plant I plan to model at some point.  To the left will be a larger Ready Mixed concrete plant.

Nice work!

Joe,

Very nice work...Am glad you included the early photos showing how you redid the entire scene.  We've all gone back and redid areas of the layout just most don't admit it.  Early in my scenery construction I added a large hill in one spot near one of my towns (with no real prototype reference) and after a month realized it added nothing to the layout and took a large hand saw and flattened the area one weekend.  

Charlie

Charlie

Thanks Charlie.  Now to finish getting ready for OS Omaha.  Hopefully it's not too late for an op session with the locals in a week or two...if I can find anyone who's willing to drag themselves away from the prep work on their own layouts. 

Great Scene!

I really like how this came together Joe, it looks great!

Bill

Thanks Bill!  If I ever get caught up on other projects, I'm hoping to add your joint bars throughout.  The West End was all stick rail until just the last few years.

Someone was asking if the IAIS and UP interchange via the connecting track shown in my earlier photos, so I thought I'd post one more to show where the Indian Creek scene sits in relation to UP's Pool Yard, the primary IAIS/UP interchange point.  The swing gate in the photo is the main layout entrance, which is why it was so important to me to get this scene done before OS Omaha.  Before this week, there was just a big ugly gap in the plywood there - not a very welcoming sight for visitors.

Turnout levers.

Joe,

Yoy have a really fine layout. I enjoy seeing your solutions to scenery challenges. I do wonder though with your turnout levers sticking out so far from the fascia at the UP yard do these ever get knocked off?

Gordon

Turnout levers

Thanks very much Gordon.  Good question on the turnout controls.  Those are actually longer by design at this location, because the vast majority of the time, that gate is open, resting against the fascia as shown below.

The longer dowel rods here allow them to extend beyond the gate for easier access.  When the gate is closed, it's only in that position long enough for a train to enter or leave staging, shown on the left.  The only time that happens is when I run UP detours or if I'm doing continuous running.

That prototype photo...

...well. That's a lot of bridges. That is a very large amount of bridges. Wow.

Bridges

Yes it is!  My original thought was to add one more abandoned structure behind the IAIS bridges (pink ballast below) for the old MILW main, one in between the IAIS and UP mains, the UP bridge, and then one more abandoned CNW bridge in front of it.  However, after studying the scene more, I think that might be overkill.  The prototype definitely has some open space between the IAIS and UP mainlines, but what I've described above would make the whole scene look like nothing but bridges for a foot or so.

Updated plan is that I'll leave out the Rock Island bridge in between the IAIS and UP.  Not ideal, but that'll still leave me with two supporting active lines (on the prototype - only the IAIS is truly live on the layout) and three abandoned bridges.  I'd appreciate feedback from the MRH community on that approach and whether you think it'll give the feel of the prototype view at the top of the page.

Compromise

Joe

As long as the scene is recognisable, then it has to be a compromise.

You don't really have room for a bridge between the IAIS and the UP. However, if I'm correct, the UP bridge and CNW bridge are more or less combined, so therefore that would be ideal, as with the UP towards the front of the baseboard, it would be noticeable if you left it out. I also looked at Google Map and the bridge is prominent. Any more would be overkill.

Brian

Thank you

Thanks a lot Brian for your input.  In addition to the UP and CNW bridges you mentioned, I think I may still include the MILW bridge at the very back.  It should make a good view block for the stream/backdrop intersection.

Great Job!

Looks great, Joe.  The progress photos really show the work that went into this, captures the feeling of the aerial image you showed as well.  The shot looking from the UP Pool Yard is very cool, it's great to see overall shots of layouts to give some perspective.  I hope to make it out to OS Omaha one year, was planning this year, but timing did not work out with family events.

Looking very  well done Joe.

Looking very  well done Joe. Colour of the concrete is spot on.Did you blend light grey and sand colour? Question is how did u make those low level bushes. And looking at the proto  picture, you might have to add some  Armour  Yellow to your roster

Regards Phil

Thank you Doug!

Thanks very much Doug!  If you ever find yourself coming to Omaha, I hope you'll let me know.

Looking great,Joe,with such a

Looking great,Joe,with such a pleasant mood to it.. The canal looks like a very convenient recess for a camera lens, too.

Mike

Phil and Mike

Thanks Phil and Mike for your encouragement.

I started with a base of Rustoleum light gray primer, then oversprayed with Model Master Camoflage Gray.  Finally, I weathered it with PanPastels.

Those are black fiber fill.  Once the glue was dry, I pulled at them vertically to give more of the appearance of a branch structure, then sprayed with hairspray and sprinkled on leaf flake.

He he he...my roster actually has quite a bit of Armour Yellow already!  In addition to my IAIS roster, I currently have a UP C44AC, an SD9043AC, an SD70M, 4 SD40-2s, a GP38-2, an MP15AC, and an SP C44AC.  I'd eventually like to pick up an SD70ACe as well.  Besides the UP having trackage rights over the IAIS and running a number of detours during the month I model, they also share IAIS's Council Bluffs intermodal ramp.

It's strange given that I live so close to UP's headquarters and that most members of my local operating crew are employed there, but I'm not aware of another UP modeler in the area.

It's strange given that I

You would think that there would be more people  modeling, something so close.  Thats a nice mix of  Motive power you have. I have been thinking of adding a foreign road under the guise of power sharing. seen allot of NS engines  on UP trains (in pictures). Wonder if IAIS  power share.

Regards Phil

Great job Joe!

I remember that bare table from way back when...

I think adding the CNW bridge next to the UP (aisle side) would be very representative of the numerous abandoned ROWs in Council Bluffs.    After that, call it done, the two middle bridges would take away the overall scene.  

I fondly remember when I was "that guy in Omaha modeling UP," but I can't argue with the Air Force's decision to make me move at all...

Mike Huchko

Honolulu, Hawaii

Phil and Mike

For the guys that work at UP, I can understand.  As much as I like my job, I wouldn't want to make it my hobby too.

I think you'd be completely safe to include pooled power from either NS or CSX.  I'm guessing KCS, CN, CP, and BNSF are less common in UP consists, but I'll bet they still make their appearances.  IAIS, though, would be stretching it.  Many years ago one of their GEs made it onto BNSF, and I believe ran as far west as Denver before heading back to home rails.  Other than detoured IAIS trains on the UP across Iowa due to IAIS flooding, I don't recall any other times of their power leaving home rails.

Now THERE'S a blast from the past.  Hi Mike!  Great to see you on here.  It's been a while!  Hopefully there's not much left on the layout that still looks like it did when you were here last.

Thank you sir.  I wish I would have planned this scene out better to have gained more space between the IAIS and UP mains for those other bridges, but that takes us back to how this thread got started.