Well, to whoever reads this, you may be wondering where I’ve been. Last update was back in April and a lot has happened since then. First of all, I’m a DADDY! His name is Kyle Thomas and he weighed in at 8lbs 5oz, 21″ long and was born on 6/23/04. Mom & Baby are both currently doing fine. We’ve been spending all our time with baby so no time for layout work, really. We also just got back from an annual trip up North to Cape Cod and are just now getting back into the swing of things.Which means, I will finally have a little time for the layout. So, progress report: I have updated some of my trackp plan, a new version coming soon online. I’m desperately searching for a Precision Scale brass model of a B&O Q-1c 2-8-2 which is the class of #4320 which ran the GB local often email me if you have one for sale! I explored deeply the possibly of using an Athearn USRA Light Mikado as a starting point for a Q-1c, and thanks to many on the Yahoo B&O list, I’ve decided not to do it. Just too much work for me at this point. The model and the prototype are so different in several key areas, most notably the boiler jacket which has 5 courses on the Q-1c and 6 on the Q-4 (which the Athearn is most like). I’m tidying up a few things here and there around the site, like adding some more sources to the History page, etc. I’m saving up to purchase the DCC system and preparing to get down to the basement to get that benchwork going! Check back soon for more updates.
History & Gallery updates
I picked up a “Car Service Circular No. 4” at the last B&ORRHS Sorting Session. There is a small mention of the GB in it, so I scanned and posted it in the History section. Matthew G. Vurek was generous enough to lend me 3 more photos of his! They are really great, so check them out in the Gallery. Work in the layout room is on hiatus right now as I am building a brick walkway in the front yard, a retaing wall in the back yard and a walkway ’round the side of the house.
Gallery update
More work in the basement – new pics in the Gallery.
Gallery update
More work in the basement – new pics in the Gallery.
Signal & Landmark Map
Added to the History section. Provides info on what the signal layout originally looked like at Georgetown Junction. This layout changed in 1996 with the MARC/Amtrak accident in the Geo. Jct. area.
More work & some updates
Got some new pics up in the Gallery. Also, my site was recently listed on the Abandoned Railroads site. Check it out! I’m also working on a diagram of the track at Georgetown Junction which indicates what the signal arrangement was.
Ceiling goes up & some additions to the site!
The drop ceiling installation has begun, pics are in the Gallery. I added a long list of articles from the Washington Post newspaper in the “Sources” section on the History section. I added a few photos from the collection of Matthew G. Vurek who was generous in allowing me to share the photos here on my site. In the Gallery! I also made some spelling/textual changes here and there to the site. Enjoy!
Website maintenance
Just a few things. I reconfigured the Gallery page, added the second part of the Georgetown Branch Notes in the History section, made some typo corrections here and there and added some more pics to the Gallery.
Trim, Spackling, Insulation Foam & Conduit
I put up most of the trim around the room, did some spackling on the ceiling around the main house support/duct, put up some insulation foam and hung the 4 outlets & conduit on the cinder block walls. Pics of the progress are up in the Gallery.
Wood paneling is finished
Bruce came over again and helped put up the rest of the wood paneling. It went well with only minimal planing and adjusting. Overall it looks great and I’m so psyched to have the work done! Check out pics in the Gallery.