Progress Report, March 27, 2012

The last few weeks have been rather productive on the CSX Chickamauga. Bought two locomotives with my tax return, an Atlas Family Lines MP-15 and Atlas Family Lines U30C, with a third unit on the way, an Atlas Seaboard System B30-7. Also bought materials to do another batch of Supertrees and have started the boiling and drying process on them last week. 

Completed scratchbuilding the abutments for the TVRM girder bridge, which to date has been probably the most complex portion of this layout project. Picture if you will: a former double-track mainline on a long fill that slices across the layout at roughly a 30 degree angle to the fascia, crossing the CSX main, which itself is travelling at about a 4 degree angle to the fascia. Okay, now add to that a six-segment skewed girder bridge that will be suspended across the CSX main by two scratchbuilt styrene abutments and six plaster (simulated concrete) pilings. Consider that the whole mess occupies about five linear feet of my 10' x 15' layout, will be the most eyecatching and distinctive feature, and is so complex that it required plotting out not only in AutoCAD but also in realtime using 24" wide banner paper as a mockup, and you will understand what I'm up against with this project. I have the abutments fully fabbed, and have sanded and primered out the defects; next comes painting and weathering them, followed by installation and scenery work on the fill.

Also completed painting and installation of my auger loader, a piece of machinery engineered to dispense conical piles of ballast into waiting cars at the Vulcan Materials facility as modeled on the layout.  Essentially comprised of PVC pipe, a funnel, an auger bit, an automotive wiper motor, and various assorted bits of hardware, this device also required plotting out in AutoCAD in order to obtain maximum design efficiency. I am really pleased with the result of this project, as it adds increased challenge and enjoyment to my operating sessions.

Furthermore, I have completed the painting and installation of my car card boxes on each CTC panel, making operation more efficient and enjoyable. Also managed to get an initial coat of weathering on 15 more freight cars, including painting the trucks, which first had to be soda-blasted for better paint adhesion.

Last night I added railings to the Shallowford Road overpasses, kitbashed with styrene and Rix Products Wrought Iron Overpass Railings.  I am pleased with the way this project turned out, much better than I anticipated. The next step is airbrushing them an aged concrete color, followed by weathering and installation in their respective positions on the layout.

The next big hurdle is procuring the necessary items for the crossing installation at Lightfoot Mill Road, near Tyner Junction.  I figure this will run me about 100 dollars; I will need another Grade Crossing Pro circuit from Logic Rail Technologies and a bell ringer circuit from ITT, plus a pair of signals from NJ International and additional photocells to activate the circuit, considering it is a two-track crossing. 

Another big item on the to-do list is to complete the shop/office complex and loading dock of Sequatchie Concrete Services, and the cement unloading bins at Sherman Dixie Products Co.

So many projects, so little time...