K&I traffic on the NM

[Tyson Rayles]

Those who have been following this know a pallet co. on my NMRR worked out a trade agreement with a chemical co. on Charlie's K&IRR. Charlie posted some pics a while back of the first NM boxcar load of pallets to make it to his EVM Corp. chemical co. Today the first tank car load of adhesives from the co, has made it to the furniture co. on my layout! Charlie and I think it's nice the L&N was built as our own personal bridge line

 

[Tyson Rayles]

The L&N has cut loose from the rest of the train to spot the tank car it the yard.

 

[Tyson Rayles]

And at last the tank car is spotted at the factory by the NM's GP7.

 

[Tyson Rayles]

My photography doesn't do Charlie's tank car justice. The weathering is as good as I have ever seen! I may look at parting with the extra bucks for a 50mm macro.

 

[Drew1125]

Hey Tyson,
The pics look fine to me!
It's great to see some more shots of your layout!
I may have said this before, but that is some of the best looking N scale trackwork I've ever seen!

 

[kettlestack]

Superb idea you and Charlie put into practice Tyson.
Who needs a club when there's The Gauge? .
Now then, where's "The Box", or has Gauge Ind's hidden it away in a boxcar?

It's a great arrangement you have there guys and you have proof that it works!

It needs something better than beer to celebrate huh? If you open the champaign magnum, I'll toast to your success .

Errol

 

[Tyson Rayles]

Charlie thanks for the kind words, I put a lot of effort into the track to make it look close to scale. However the track is the ONLY thing that is finished in those shots, the low camera angle doesn't let you see the roads, ground cover, etc. isn't in yet. Ahhhhhhh the magic (smoke and mirrors?) of model railroading. Errol if you read MR then you know those rich and famous model railroaders swap rolling stock back and forth, even cordinate operating sessions together. I don't see any reason us little guys can't get in on the fun!!!!!

 

[Tyson Rayles]

One last shot

 

[Drew1125]

Hopefully, you don't mean that "last shot" literately!
Your great looking trackwork has inspired me to go back, & do some much needed touch-up work on my scenery!

 

[Drew1125]

Tyson,
Here's what I did today...
I built up the ballast, & ground cover a little, & added some trees. I thought it added a nice contrast to all that brick!

 

[Tyson Rayles]

Fantastic Charlie, looks really great! A lot of people don't realize that even in an industrail area there are scrub trees and bushes as well as weeds and junk. That scene reeks of realism In regards your previous post I hope thats not my last shot either . The track really isn't finished there, still need to age it and add the weeds, etc.

 

[Drew1125]

Tyson,
What do you use for ballast?
It doesn't look like the regular Woodland Scenics stuff.

 

[Tyson Rayles]

Charlie, sorry it took so long to get back to you but been covered up with work and rolling stock transactions with the Copper Ridge Railway . For the Southern and L&N mainline I used Woodland Scenics med-gray color and fine on the size, then aged it with a mixture 75% alcohol, 25% India Ink applied with an eye dropper. All rail is painted flat black and ballasted to the top of the ties.

 

[Tyson Rayles]

For spurs and the Graham County R.R. (which never used ballast) I use a mixture of finely sifted red clay and regular dirt taken from my yard and ballast to the top of the track on the outside of the rails and durn near to the top on the inside, then clean off the inside of the rails with a pocket screwdriver.

 

[Tyson Rayles]

For the Nantahala Midland yards and mainline I use a 50-50 mixture of the sifted dirt and ballast and ballast it the same way I do the spurs.

 

[Tyson Rayles]

Another picture with the loco backed up a little and closer in. Notice the rock between the rails. In a cut like this they are a constant problem in real life, this rock however does JUST clear the bottom of my old GP-7 ! Hope this helps some.

 

[Tyson Rayles]

Oops! Helps if I include the picture!!

 

[Drew1125]

Great pictures, Tyson!
I love the way that red dirt looks...You have really captured a little piece of the South there!
Thanks for sharing, & keep 'em coming!