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.