December 12th, 2013 It has been almost 3 years since an update. Time is the issue, and I guess I I'm one of those that would rather work on the layout that peck at the keyboard. Lots to report in this update. Completed since the last update is the stone arch bridge, patterned after the B&O's Thomas viaduct. It is faced with Chooch large cut stone panels. The July/August 2013 O Scale Trains has an article about its construction. The branch line has also been completed, and crosses the future river on a combination trestle and thru truss bridge.The trestle is detailed with plenty of NBW, spacers (00-90 washers) between the stringers and galvanized metal atop the bents. The piers were built by adding Doctor Ben's "baby building blocks" (about 6000 of them) over wood forms. The truss bridge is an Overland HO scale double track bridge. With the branch line complete, it is now possible to operate two trains simultaneously. Work is starting on scenery in areas that won’t be easily accessed once yard and engine service trackage is completed. The layout visited by over 50 folks during the October 2013 Southwest O Scale meet. There are now several YouTube videos of the layout. This video is a good tour of most of the layout. You can see a few other videos using the following links: Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Video 5 At http://swoscale.com click on the one minute video for views of triplex #700 pulling a long train of battleship gons. Posted by Michael Ross

Questions and comments welcome: mross@vgnrailway.com
Technical problems: jross@vgnrailway.com

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