Most of the areas I've completed so far have been rural scenes or isolated industries.  Now I'm working on the first actual town.  Welcome to Milton, UT.

Since completing the Cedar Creek scene http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/13720 , I've worked on some additional watercourses.  Cedar creek used epoxy resin, while these don't.  I like injecting some variety.

I had a gap of about 30 feet in the backdrop between a the scene I completed most recently and one I last worked on just under a year ago.  I figured it was time to finally get this area complete.

Time to make some progress on this year's forum challenge.  I'm finishing a scene set in the valley just west of my Junction City yard.

The scene above my west end staging helix was crying out for some finish work.  So what's happening over there?

I've been working on some structures so I can get a better handle on the composition of Junction City's downtown.  Before finalizing locations of streets, parking lots and so on I wanted to make some progress on a few things.  None of this stuff is really "done" yet, as I still need to do more weathering, window glass, light baffles to block views through building interiors, and various other items.

I recently found myself in eastern Colorado.  I was able to get a few hours to wander around looking for industries to photograph, and found remnants of an older fuel dealer adjacent to the BNSF in Lamar.  The location suggested it used to have rail service.

I was looking for another project of limited scope that would still deliver some impact, so settled on finishing the backdrop behind my Junction City yard.  The yard is supposed to be on a valley floor adjacent to some river bottomland like the prototype UP yards at Riverdale and Ogden, UT, as well as the former D&RGW Ogden yard now used by a shortline.  The basics of the trees are similar to those needed for backdrops for other prototypes as well.

I wanted a project of limited scope that would still provide evidence of progress.  Modeling some water sounded like a plan, so I got to work on the Cedar Creek scene from last year's MRH Forum Challenge.  For construction of these scene in preparation for water, see http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/8540 .

Progress on the layout has slowed for the moment due to some ongoing projects like adding a basement bathroom and crew lounge.  Since I've received several requests for a walk-around tour kinda thing, I'm shamelessly cribbing from what Tom Johnson has done on his L&IN photo thread.  As I go, I'll explain how a few things operate, as well as some of the design decisions.