Steamtrains 2009 Resolution Challenge

[Steamtrains]

Well folks...after much thinking it over, I finally came up with a solution to a problem that had been nagging me....Some of you may remember a thread I posted at the ol' forum dealing with the problem, and asking for tips, on how to place a spur off a track that's on a grade. Well...the ol' light bulb came on a few weeks back, and I opted to run a line off the main yard (Santa Rosa) to the area destined for the original spur. Less problematic, and I like the idea of the short run from the yard to the new area..in pusher mode..!! This new area will "house" a wire manufacturing plant (gotta use the copper that'll be coming out of the smelter at Las Cruces....) and whatever other support facilities it may require (a power plant comes to mind...). I, of course, have yet to build the plant...

So, I took my saws, drills and sundry tools and got to work....Unfortunately, I was a bit into the project before I thought to take pictures....

What follows are pics of the started project and how it's coming along...

Here's a look at the lead that got extended to the new site....



It's the second track to the left of the coal tower...It curves around the back of where the roundhouse & engine service area will be (next on the list....) and ends up here...




As you can see, this is the first time I've laid track on foam (part of the "brainstorm"...)

I next built up the terrain between the new area and the track on the grade behind it...



and carried it to join the unfinished rockwork at the base of the bridge....



BTW...You can see the new control panel I put in at the base of the rock work, and one of the two transistorized throttles I built to create my own "Loconet"....

Once all this was done, it was time to get plastered ....But that will be coming up in the next installment of this build....