First up is a shot showing two new changes to the layout. On the double track "inner" main, we've installed some new bridgework to open up this area and make it a little more appealing to the eye. On the single "outer" main, an eastbound stack train glides alongside the new passing siding and station. The engines are KCS AC44CW 4621, UP AC44CCTE 5817 and SP C44-9W 8125. I plan on patching the SP to a prototypical AC44 road number.
Next up is BNSF SD60M 9275 bringing a westbound coal drag down the grade on the peninsula on track two. The large grain elevator is serviced by the branch line. I'd also like to get some PRB-style hoppers to make a solid, realistic coal train.
Here's a shot of a westbound manifest on the inner main occupying track one by the new bridge span, led by a pair Ex-SP SD40T-2's, UP 8766 and 8726 from front to back, in addition to NS high hood SD40-2 3214.
Here we see CNW C44-9W 8627 serving as a DPU on the eastbound stack train, shoving the tail end of the train through the west portal underneath the inner main. This engine isn't actually powered, and will be patched in the near future to a prototypical UP AC44CW road number.
Next is a shot of the eastbound stack train at a rural crossing just outside the industrial area of the layout.
The tunnel motors look right at home as they power out of the portal by the car repair shops and branch line.
At the interlocking between the outer and inner mains, we get a glimpse of the westbound coal train meeting the eastbound stack train.
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At this point, I decided to make things a little more interesting. I turned all the lights in the basement off except for the small Christmas lights strung around the perimeter of the room to create a late evening lighting scenario, using bulb exposures to capture the motion of trains through the layout.
First is the "experimental" shot of the stack train at a crossing on the west side of the industrial area.
I followed up this first attempt with a two-second exposure with the BNSF 9275 awaiting a signal at the interlocking as the DPU on the stack train cruised by at track speed.
Here's the coal train again, and you can track the path of the train as it works downgrade from the summit around the peninsula.
Catching up again with the train in the industrial sector of trackage, the streaks of light wind alongside the tall buildings and pass the interlocking tower and switch for the branch to the engine/car servicing facilities and other industries on the peninsula.
I followed that shot up with another photo emphasizing the contours of the trackage, with the coal train curving around on the outer main, then crossing onto track one of the inner main.
The next two shots show the eastbound stack train streaking past the mixed freight, first at the bridges and then at the S-Curve just west of the summit.
To finish off this mini-gallery, I leave you a shot of BNSF 9275 sitting at the interlocking as the stack train streaks by.
I hope you enjoyed looking, and there's surely more to come in the future. Again, if you have any questions, by all means ask. And if there's something you'd like to see more of, let me know.
