ATSF Los Angeles Division, circa 1949

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks for your kind comment @Scottl Its now up to the rock and finishing crew to bring it to life!
On the home front, I'm spending a pleasant day filing in some more missing scenery contours at the east side of Summit, about 3' long, pic below. Plaster bandages come next,
Otto

Amended: ta-dah!

[MDW]

Looking great Otto!   Just getting the bare plaster form in makes such a difference.  Can’t wait to get this point on my layout......

Michel

[Cajonpassfan]

East end of Summit. Time to paint the track...
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Fascias make all the difference framing the scenes. Here we are, making the (original 3%) grade at Gish. In my timeframe, that's the westbound, downhill track. Progress being made
Fun stuff.
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Tonight, I'm working on Bridge A63, just above Cajon station, on the original 1886 line. Unlike many of the newer bridges that have concrete piers and abutments, this one has original piers and abutments made of stone, see (lousy) photo I took many decades ago. Lots of carving involved...
Fun stuff, Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Spray bombed the carvings, and used light grey pastels, powdered, to brush in the mortar lines. Highlighted some stones with colored pencils. Fixed it in with Dullcote. Looks pretty good. More carving to do tonight on the head walls. Fun stuff...
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

As I am making progress on scenery, i need to start building more structures unique to the locations modeled. One of the many joys of proto-based modeling ...one can't just plop down a Walthers or similar building in place.

Among other structures, I need three if not four very similar bunkhouses for Summit, Cajon, Verdemont and possibly San Bernardino. The standard bunkhouse was almost 120' long and 21' wide, simple single story with a stucco finish and either corrugated metal, tile or composition gabled roof. Because I need this structure in multiples, I'm working with a friend to have the parts laser cut as a "kit" by a commercial  outfit. Partial plan below.

My friend is also looking into producing the Devore depot in both HO and N. I've already scratch built my N scale version of it many years ago (see below) so I don't need another one, but it may become commercially available as well. I've posted a notice in the Product Review section for those who may be interested in either or both models. PM me if you are.
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Making more progress on my friend's HO Pacific Coast Lines...
(My excuse for not making a lot of progress on my own LA Division layout )
It's all FUN STUFF!
Otto

[MDW]

Otto-
Nice to see the progress on your layout & the awesome bridge on your friend’s.

Michel

[OldEastRR]

Just wondering --- does your HO friend come over and do commensurate work on your N layout?

[Cajonpassfan]

No, he's much too busy working on this monster six days a week....
Wait, what's wrong with this picture?

Actually I do it because I enjoy it, it's like a social club, without the annoying "club" parts...no committees, no need to accommodate everyone's contradictory desires, no BS, just a (mostly) benevolent dictatorship. And I get to design and actively participate in something that will be truly amazing. And I get to hang out with some very nice, talented guys...
Nothing wrong with that picture.
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

More backdrops going up above Keenbrook station: Telegraph Peak (8989') and Thunder Mountain. Don't you just love the names? The next challenge is matching 3d scenery to backdrop colors. Harder that it seems...
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Given all the layout(s)work in my life, I had sent my new Kato FEF-3 Greyhound to our own Rick Brodzinsky to install the new ESU sound board. An unqualified success! What a beautiful model of a beautiful locomotive, and the double speaker/enclosure combo make it sound as well as it looks, pics below. At step 1 she barely moves, and runs smoothly through the speed range. I'm pleased with myself (and Rick)

My only regret is that UP didn't stick with their original, elegant idea of Two Tone Grey with light grey stripes and went with the yellow striping instead, purportedly to better match the yellow Streamliners when called up for protection service. Starting in '49, the Greyhounds got their light grey striping to match other TTG equipment, but by then, UP passenger steam was very rare on Cajon.
Fun stuff.
Otto

[RBrodzinsky]

Here's a video that Otto took (and I converted and uploaded). 

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, I'd call this scene done!