Cisco Bridges: a new layout concept

[Scottl]

I was looking for reference images tonight and came across this new item.  This is from the 2011 fire on the CN bridge- pretty spectacular.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fire-erupts-on-rail-bridge-in-b-c-1.1124720

[dnhouston]

Scott,
This scene is coming along spectacularly.  I look forward to seeing it with water and waves!

[GaryHinshaw]

...and fire!   

Looking really good!

[Santa Fe Guy]

Try copying that smoke scene and play fair.

[Scottl]

I'll leave the smoke scene for Photoshop   

A week of painting, then painting again, and then adding gel gloss, more painting- you get the idea.  I was aiming for subtle waves as the river is very deep at high flow and the waves are more sheets than they are breakers. 

I gave the entire surface a final coat of Future which turns out to be a more of a semi-gloss than I would have thought.  It might be too thin, but the effect is not bad in person.  The Future is still wet in this shot, and the room lighting is generating annoying dual shadows, but I am hoping this is going to be done.
 

[Scottl]

Well, it is time to turn a new page.  I think the Cisco scene is pretty much done, short of more trees and vegetation and trackside details, but that will all come with time.  Since my DCC is still in the penalty box, I'm turning my attention to the next section of the layout, the Thompson River canyon.

This is a very different kind of scene.  The canyon is narrower and shallower, the trains are near to water level and the Thompson River runs clear due to upstream lakes.  There are several extraordinary scenes between the communities of Spences Bridge and Lytton, and the CN line is on the north bank, and the CP on the south.  I don't plan to do include any of the CP line in this scene because of limitations.

Here is an overall view looking east (upstream):  http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=497876

The tunnels that really interest me look like this:  http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=267766  I really like the crazy concrete work and the proximity of the river, all together with a suspended walkway access bridge for maintenance.  I think though that it might be a bit much for my space which looks like this:



I have to be careful not to try and jam too much in.  I am considering that a simpler scene of the western tunnel/shed might be wiser given the space restrictions:  http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=234824  I could have the track emerging from the tunnel and rock shed to hide the duck under and keep the scene relatively simple.

I want to think this through for a few reasons.  I have a visit to the area planned in a few weeks and I am hoping to get good photographs of the scenes.  I'll have limited time on site so I need to focus my efforts to get enough images to do it right.

In the meantime, I'm trying to get my head around the rock sheds.  There is nothing commercially available so I am back to scratch building.  Any suggestions to get the texture and shapes of the poured concrete and the wooden forms?  I have seen dates that suggest these are from 1958.  I could imagine building this up from a wooden master of some kind and then casting in plaster?  I am open to ideas, as usual I am on new ground here.

[Scottl]

I forgot to include this fine image of one of the tunnel portals near Skoonka.  This is the kind of detail that seems to be the norm with the concrete work in this stretch of the river.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=552067

[svedblen]

Well, it is time to turn a new page.  I think the Cisco scene is pretty much done

The water looks really good! But we want more pictures of it. And of that scene in general as you add trees and whatever.

I forgot to include this fine image of one of the tunnel portals near Skoonka.  This is the kind of detail that seems to be the norm with the concrete work in this stretch of the river.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=552067

What kind of track work is that?  How much of the total stretch is like that?
I love to see how you model that 

[TLOC]

I have commented before on  how great this scene is that you've recreated. I was on http://www.railpictures.net and typed in Cisco and I am even more impressed now than before. As I viewed the pictures I felt through your recreation, that I had already been there. Even if the Thompson Canyon is 1/2 as good as the Cisco Bridge scene it will be fantastic. Your patience in this recreation is admirable.
TomO

[Scottl]

Thanks both, I am happy with how the Cisco scene has turned out.   I have a lot of trees to go but winter is coming and I need to paint them outside, so that work will slow considerably.

The track work for the Thompson Canyon scene is a a c. 20" radius curve (Atlas c55 flex) on a 2% grade and it closes the loop of the layout from the duck under (on the right) and the Lytton yard on the left.  It is only about 2' of track in total, and the idea is to have both banks of the river in the scene as you can see from the roughed foam contours.  The backing will be a solid wall of rock to the top of the backdrop- I don't expect any blue sky to be showing.  I have to make a smooth transition from the canyon to Lytton where the valley opens up to distant views of the mountains, so there are some challenges there.

It should be fun- a new scene is great for getting the creative juices going!

[Cajonpassfan]

I have to be careful not to try and jam too much in.  I am considering that a simpler scene of the western tunnel/shed might be wiser given the space restrictions:  http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=234824  I could have the track emerging from the tunnel and rock shed to hide the duck under and keep the scene relatively simple.

@Scottl, THIS!
As to material, you may want to look at Fine N-Scale board-formed concrete retaining wall (FNA -3603) either as the construction material, or form liner. It's resin, and has a tendency to warp, but the texture is very nice.
Keeping my eyes on this, fabulous work so far!
Otto K.

[wazzou]

I used to do a lot of business at the tie plant in Ashcroft before Koppers bought it so I have made that trip from the Seattle area a few times.  It is a really stunning trip and your Cisco scene is just as I remember it.  I'm anxious to see how you pull off the Thompson River scene.  It looks like it could make good use of some of that Cripple Brush rubber rock, perhaps.  Cheers.

[Scottl]

It it is really great to be able to create the look of a particular place with our models.  I think there is something deeply satisfying about that.  I have a lot of fond memories of this location from my childhood- one of the first places I really railfanned.

Otto, that Fine N Scale board formed concrete wall is a great suggestion.  Do you know how large the pieces are?  I could see using that as a base for casting a plaster rock shed.  Might be just the thing.

I'm working on new rock molds.  Today I was trying out a brushable rubber compound (Mold Max Stroke) and the first coat is curing.  Looks promising as many of my older molds are falling apart and were not made with a suitable mold compound.

[svedblen]

@Scottl, thanks for the info about the model track, but you might have misunderstood my question. I was curious about the prototype track in this picture:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=552067

It looks as it has a kind of odd, or at least tall, profile. Is it used along the complete canyon, or only in certain places? What's the purpose of that type of track?
Or is it just some kind of camera distorsion making it look odd?

[Scottl]

It is almost certainly very heavy rail as this is a mainline and gets heavy traffic from both CN and CP trains (they run directionally westbound on CN, eastbound on CP).  Most of the canyon is on concrete ties and that photograph looks like the ballast is new too.  This particular line is frequented by rock and debris slides, so it is common to have dedicated work train that cleans it up.  Others might know if that is unusual rail, but it looks like what we see on CN mainlines in eastern Ontario.