Late Sunday Update

Got some quality time on the layout. Worked on Gilpin Tram area in North Black Hawk and Black Hawk proper.


Ripped out old roadbed and started again. Used 1900 Sanborn Map to space buildings. Really had to compress to get turntable in before mine on far end.

Picked up a pristine unopened Machine Shop kit modeled after Harry's (slightly smaller). Have a mock-up for the 50 Gold Mine Mill. Hoping Mike Blazek can do a plan for me, we have been emailing. Room for Gilpin and several other well known structures. Lace house will be close to the TT.

This section will have both 2ft and 3ft gauge track. If I ever get a bigger building will try to make the scene deeper as 2' really limits what I can fit in.

N. Black Hawk
Added a Woodland Sceneics 3% incline. Never used the product and wanted to try it out. Secured with my trusty chalk. Will cut out section by engine house where the trestle will go.


Looking right to left. Incline added, mock-up of engine house from plans Keith published in Gazette. Creek cut-out began. 2' gauge track with 1 soldered rail put down, second rail will be soldered using a track gauge to verify width.


Left side where incline meets switch-back. 3 rail made using ME code 55 and adding 2' gauge rail. Right now just ACC'd into place, may need to add some pcb or spikes to make sure it does not break loose. Little car is a Railway Recollections modified with 2' trucks as a test.

Had to make one compromise, the spur into Polar Star Mill and Ore dump for C&S in prototype came from 3 rail lower track. Looks like it will have to come off incline section as not enough space to add trestle from main.


Looking left to right. 3 rail ends past ore bin. 2' continues on to engine house.

This has been a fun section. Motivation has been easy and getting to try new stuff. Did latest sections on 2' rail using resistance solder station. It really works well. Also made first HON2 turn-out. Used HON2 template from Fast Tracks for 1 rail and tie spacing, then set second rail using z scale gauge.

Religious Holidays will keep us busy through Tuesday so hopefully Wed I can get some time to work on layout.

Going to try building turn-outs in place to fit track plan. Buddy of mine suggested running main and then cutting in turn-outs to allow faster progress. I have so many turn-outs to do it will allow us the added as we have time. Otherwise I seem to get locked into just building turn-outs which I'm much less motivated to do.

Thanks for stopping by - Cameron