Helix progress

An old pic of mine...

Kodak Disc Cameras...Remember them?

Well that's the reason this photo is so grainy.....But at 15, that's what I had.

In this photo taken in December 1984, we see a SD50 #8591 sitting in the yard. In the distance are the New GE Units that were shipping to China via Newport News. The turntable still exists at this time.

Enjoy!

Parts to start the......

HELIX!

Tonight I started cutting the trapezoid segments for the helix. The helix is a 2.5 turn 30" radius helix at roughly 2% grade.

I wanted to use radius cuts, but the wasted plywood was an issue. I'm using 3/4" cabinet grade (8 ply).

The joints will be glued and kerf jig joint screwed. I've used this system for the valances as well as some furniture I have built. It's very strong and reliable.

Merry Christmas

Today's picture is the Southern passenger station used by Amtrak even still today. Amtrak service at the C&O station stopped sometime in the 70's. This view from the C&O side shows the station prior to its refurbishment. This is how the station will be done on the layout.

Union Station 1996

Historic Pictures

I've decided to start posting pics of my modeled area that I find on the web. One of my favorite sites is Steve Trumball's "Charlottesville - Then and Now".  Steve finds historic photos taken around Charlottesville and shows the current "today" view.

His site is also a blog site, found at http://charlottesvillethenandnow.blogspot.com

This Ed Roseberry photo shows downtown Charlottesville in 1972. Matacia Fruit Co. is in the lower center.
Charlottesville warehouse district aerial view 1972

I'll continue to add more as I have the time.

PS - walls have been painted, more Masonite backdrop is up, drop ceiling partially installed.
Yes, I'm getting something done!

Looking down the aisle.

Left side:
Lower is Charlottesville
Upper will be Staunton, VA
Right:
Lower will be redone as west of Charlottesville
Upper will be Brand siding, start of Staunton

Experimenting with LED striplights

I started using 4100k t-8 bulbs, horrible CRI....Ordered LED striplights, suppossed to be 4000K, not even close - that upper light blue and lower dark blue IS the SAME color paint! There are actually three colors of light used in this pic - The upper left is GE Sunshine 5000K high CRI bulbs, the lower is the LED... and past the boxcar and drawings is the 4100K lighting. I will slowly switch to 5000K bulbs, and order some LED's that are 5000K. If they don't work, I'll use GE Sunshine CFL's in some areas.