And then there were 3!

With the tender trucks now oriented correctly SP #1802 is fully programmed, running nicely and weathered!

I'm very pleased with the results of my weathering. Just the right level of dirt for me on these workhorses.
It will be hard to choose which one to use on any given day.

It maybe my layout...

But Trevor writes about it so much better!

http://themodelrailwayshow.com/LayoutDesign/?p=3738

Might have something to do with the fact that he is a professional wordsmith.
At any rate, Trevor describes much of the thought processes and activity that as lead to the current state of the layout.
Since Trevor's visit, ties are all in in Clovis and about half is ballasted.

Scenic Express #50 Light Gray Ballast.
I'm really liking the colour and the fine texture. Wish I'd used this fine stuff before. Looks much better.
Still racking my brain thinking about how to best replicate the grassy California look. Many options to consider

Trains are stupid!

I've been chasing this problem for a couple of days now.
The decoder wasn't responding. Couldn't load the sound files or do any other programming.

Thought maybe I had a bad decoder.
Maybe the plug connector between the engine and tender was faulty.
Wrong wires connected in the wrong order.
Nope, nope, and nope.
Finally found the problem just now.
The tender trucks were turned around.
Sigh.

The Noive!

To steal a line from the Cowardly Lion!

It's takes a certain amount of courage to dig out the airbrush and weather brass locomotives.
But I'm glad I did.
I think they look great, just the right level of filth for hard working Valley Mallies.
A big shout out goes to Alan Houtz and his guiding videos on TrainMasters TV.
https://trainmasters.tv/videos/2017-09-1
I learned a few things and got to work with new products and techniques.
Now if I could only figure out why the decoder for the 3rd loco won't work.
Grumble

Joe Cocker said it best!

With a little help from my friends!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wG6Cgmgn5U

Trevor was here today. We spent a couple of hours laying out the track alignment for Clovis.
It's amazing how fast it can go when you have someone to bounce ideas off of as we go.
We also took the time to sort out some of the structure locations and some options for modeling them.
Thanks so much for the time Trevor.
Now I can  glue down turnout ties and and the fun stuff that follows.
We're both feeling real good about where this is going.

An Ice Deck for Clovis

This is what 4'6" of Tichy Ice Deck looks like with a Walthers Ice House in behind for storing all those blocks of ice.
Now I know that Clovis did not have an ice deck in reality, but Trevor and I agree that adding one creates a fantastic option for additional operational options. Extras can be run into Clovis of solid strings of reefers and then they can be distributed around all the packing houses on the branch.
Gotta serve the harvest rushes!
The Ice Deck will handle up to 10 reefers at a time. It certainly makes for an imposing facility.
And it's size dovetails nicely with my desire to have all rail served industries be physically large enough to warrant rail service.
If you're wondering about the colour, it's just an undercoat of Floquil Mud. Once it's fully cured I'll go over the whole thing with thinned flat white, trying to go for that faded, sun bleached look.
And of course weathering.
Lots of coats of paint yet to go!
But with this built we can now determine where the main line will be located, as well as all the other rail customers.
That'll be Wednesday's adventure!

A clean slate

Or is it a fresh palate?
I've scraped off the track that was Aylmer and filled in the minor divots with filler.

This area will become Clovis, CA. The major switching area for the new layout.
The prototype had over 10 fruit packers as well as a few other industries.
Lots of activity!

This scene captures the flavour very well.
A coat of paint over the filler;

and we're ready to start locating turnouts and trackage.
Trevor is coming over Wed. next and we'll have fun figuring it all out