Starting over in Charleston.....

 I've been actively building my new layout in 1/2 of a "conditioned" garage. The split HVAC system I had installed as part of our retirement home in Charleston has been keeping the garage at a nice cool 72 degrees over the hot summer......so lot's of work has been done.

I'm continuing modeling Maine narrow gauge using a 30" gauge.  This version of the S&SR is based on (as closely as possible) the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes.  I've got enough room to model from Farmington (the Maine Central connection) up through the junction at Strong with the line continuing north of Phillips (staging).

The junction at Strong was a very busy place with trains passing up and down the mainline to Farmington and the connecting trains coming off the Bigelow branch (the old Franklin & Megantic RR.). Right now, the branch is a staging track but I have plans for a second level which will model the line north to Kingfield and then on to Carrabasset and and finally to the mill town of Bigelow.

(The red outlines represent lighting fixtures.)

Nothing too fancy construction wise, just 1x4" frames covered with 1/2" plywood and black board sheathing that I painted with a heavy coating of white latex primer to seal it. (I painted both sides). I've used this product before when I couldn't get Homosote and it seems to work well for me.  I dropped a section of the benchwork to allow for a bridge scene that I wanted to include (Barker Stream, north of Farmington)

I was able to get this far by the end of the summer. In the fall I finished up the track work and get my Digitrax system working and made a start on scenery.

The last ops session on the S&SR Rwy........

Thought I post a couple of photos of the last ops session we ran on the railroad before the "great tear down" prior to our move..........in attendance were Mark Chase, George Downer, Tom Colasudro and Bryan Brown.

                Given the importance of "the last run", a special timetable was produced.......

                The session begins building the first southbound milk train in Andrews......

                Mixed trains meet at Troy, where cars may be exchanged for the branch to Franklin or down to                         the Maine Central interchange at Burnham Jct.    

                Tom C. is working the Sheepscot yard.

                George is watching the action at the junction in Troy.

                Train #3 is heading out of Troy yard for the Maine Central connection at Burnham.

                S&SR coach "Tulip" was kitbashed from a Bachmann coach by narrowing her to a 6'6" width.

                Engineer "Brains" Brown takes a moment to reflex at the Andrews water tank.

            The last trains of the day meet at Troy.

                Bryan wonders if that steam donkey is a CHB model????

Mark, Bryan and George finished up there work and head to beans.......

It was a fun day and things ran pretty smoothly. I want to thank my "regular" crew and the visitors I've had over the years the Sheepscot and Sandy River Rwy. was running.

Next up will be the start of new construction in our retirement home in Charleston, SC.