Southern Pacific's Jefferson Branch

[ratled]

Changes at the Siskiyou mill……

If you remember when I was laying out the Siskiyou mill back in spot #1 was going to be a set out track for log cars.



This was never supposed to be for long pulls of cars that would feed the hungry appetite of the mill but more for the odd log car that came in from points beyond.  
The more I worked on this concept the more it felt like a forced fit.  It got to the point I stopped worrying about it and started to treat as abandon track.  For a bit I even
thought about modeling as abandoned track.   

Whenever possible I like to have an alternative plan just be sure I’m on the right track.  I started to look through all the Pacific Lumber pictures I have and found this one.   



What caught my eye to this one was the odd shift in the middle of the building.  After a little while I realized this was a screen grab from Google Earth street view I did a while
back and the shift was where GE stitched 2 photos together.  Although it’s not rail served I thought  it might make a nice addition and balance the iconic mill building at the other
end of the scene.    It couldn’t upstage the main building but would have to be large enough for rail service.  I did a “what if” in my head based on the picture using where GE did
the picture shift and that might make a nice sized building for the spot.  The exterior bracing would add some visual interest.  There is similar outside bracing on the Roseburg Mill in Weed,CA
I had in the last post. A building such as this would keep all the buildings from looking the same and keep the scene from seeming repetitious.  With all the buildings being yellow, the
challenge I’m trying to over come by varying the shades of yellow, and if I am able vary the buildings as well, It might just come together nicely.

I then remembered a Rouge Valley club’s Medco building that is similar that might work.  If you have never seen the Rouge Vally club’s layout it’s worth your time for a visit if you can swing it.     
Rouge Valley Club

(Photo credit to the Rouge Valley club)


I did a quick test for proof of concept using a cereal box (I have 2 teenagers and we go through a lot of cereal!)










While it wasn’t “it” I was on to something. I remember some mega layout on one of Allen Keller’s old videos, yes video, where most of his structures were foam core with basic
details.  He used larger sheets and used the back of a  butter knife on the inside of the corners to make folds for the corners - no seams.   A little paint and they looked good.  
Foam core should be good enough for mock ups too.  Walmart has foam core board that is 24” x 30” for 88 cents a sheet.


Armed with a sheet of foam core, some wood scraps & leftovers, and gray poster board I went to work.  I also had a rattle can of dusty yellow and a basic yellow.






And here is the completed mock up.  I’ll put more detail into the final structure but it works for now.   I had to add 3 more boxcars to the inventory for it.   I have been
putting it through the paces the last few days and it is working out well.  The warm and fuzzy I’m getting from it justifies replacing the log set out track … though it would have
been a really good scene......