Progress Update

This past week I spent a bit of time working on the modifications to the layout at North Pierce. In the first photo you can see the first section of new hardshell and the trees that have been replaced in this area. As I have mentioned before, the trees on the hillside here were part of the first scenery completed on the layout. Some were left over from my first layout, and at the time I was only using two colors of ground foam for the foliage. This looked OK initially, but really looked bad in photographs.

The second photo shows the new track in this area, all of which is operational now. I added cardboard to the sides of the hole in the drywall to keep any dust from getting on the track. I painted the cardboard, the Homasote, and the plywood with black poster paint in order to make it less visible from the tunnel entrance.

In the photo below you can see the location of the new bridge on the mainline. Once the tunnel portal is weathered and in place and the bridge and abutments have been added, I'll finish roughing in the scenery in this area.

It's good to have all of the demolition behind me- I hate the mess that it creates. And I'm really looking forward to seeing the first train come through the tunnel heading eastbound!