Wisconsin Central - Heritage Division

[w neal]

Thanks for the kind words sirs! It helps. My nerves are getting a bit frazzled with the layout tour getting closer, plus having to help on my kid's 4-H projects (the fair is the same week as the layout tours!).  Baby steps...

 

Yes, I will wire them. I talked myself out of "wiring" my farm's fence posts, but I think I will make myself do so here. Got some Berkshire Junction (I think it is) "threads" waiting...

[MichaelWinicki]

Good deal on the wiring of the poles.

I think they look several times better with wires. 

[cv_acr]

I like the billboard. I'm totally not familiar at all with that station or the area, but it definitely adds that local flavour and helps proclaim "this is Wisconsin".

[w neal]

Got nothing done all weekend due to servering as "artistic consultant" on my son's 4-H dioramma. It helps when you have a dad that has some scenery experience. He built the "car" model, garage, etc . The garage was his idea. 1:25th scale.





Figures. The fair HAS to be the same week as the NMRA layout tours. Ahh well, there are other ways to serve...

[w neal]

I DID however manage to get that pile of poles planted. Egads, painting all those insulators!

I decided to alter the styles of arms a bit here and there. I decided to go with more of a steam era configuration since these were going to be near the old depot location. Not that all the lines still exist or are used here in my world, just thought it would be fun for variety. I have seen lineside poles change configuration like this sometimes seemingly without notice.  Probably this is grossly unprototypical. I will get lines on them soon.

[w neal]

This one is a bit blurry. Sorry...

[w neal]

Forgot to mention that I "finished" the US - 41 crossing. That is, I "mudded in" around the bridge abutments and highway shoulders. Ok, so I am not a highway engineer. This is what it looks like when a railfan attempts to model something other than tracks.






I plan to cover the rough ends of the highway, fear not... This crossing was a bit of an afterthought (by 3 years), therefore the ends will be covered by a separate piece of facia. Kinda embarrasing to show that layout this way, but in light of the 4-H project, I'm just so happy to have accomplished something.

[Philip H]

great work.  Ar those Atlas poles? Any way you can do a post on your techniques?  And as to lines, I have seen a ton of old line poles along tracks out east here where only one or two active lines remain on a two or three tiered arm.  Just sayin . . .

[w neal]

I dunno about great work, but thanks for the feedback.

Thanks also about info on the lines. Thats what I have seen too. Have you seen the crossarm's patterns change along a line of them?

Atlas poles? Yes. Post my techniques? Sure, but its pretty basic stuff. Nothing fancy. I'm not sure I'd have much to post. I'd hate to put my poles up against some by master modelers out there. Mine would look awful crude I'm sure. I'm looking more at the "big picture" I guess.

[w neal]

T minus 4 hours till showing. Track cleaned. Junk picked up. A couple more things to wrap up. Then showtime...

[w neal]

Couldn't wait to show you some of the pictures my friend Pete took with his cell phone. Great perspectives!!! Wow Pete! Great stuff!!

The usual disclaimer from me: unfinished scenes - more work to be done. I'll get rid of the gaps, string lines, weather tracks, etc.




A local pushes cars into the Cellutissue plant:







Switching Presto products:







Passing the Tomorrow Valley Coop at Nelsons:

[nscalemike]

Passing the Tomorrow Valley Coop at Nelsons:

All the pics look great but I really like this one!  Very nice looking layout!

Mike

[w neal]

A few more?

Another load of wood pellets spotted at Dale:






Clear to proceed at Wayauwega:




All above pictures courtesy Snakespit productions - posted with permission, I think.

[kc9jts]

As always lookin' good!  Question from the audience: In the Nelson picture is the second locomotive the 7638?  Any chance on getting some info/photos as to what you have for a roster?

Nick
Omaha

[w neal]

My agent says all will be revealed, in time...