JUNE UPDATE PT 2

Here's another, closer, shot of the new Budweiser billboard atop the former Bradley Building. It is now the Bailey Building; the new owner is a local distributor for Anheiser-Busch, and thus the reason for the new billboard. However, the building itself is no longer a warehouse- it was converted into loft-style apartments in the late 90's.

Here is another shot of the newly installed street light by the storage building.

This is the night shot of the warehouse area with all three lights working.

All four lights are seen in this shot, including the just-installed light in the M.O.W. parking lot at the far right.

And here is that new light, illuminating the corner of the lot. Now the night crews can find the Port-A-Potties without needing a flashlight (they still need shoes!).

JUNE UPDATE PT 1

Some recent changes to the layout...

A before shot of the open area between the tracks and the wall. While not obvious from most viewing angles, it still was an area that needed improvement.

The 'after' shot. A piece of foam board trimmed to fit, painted, and then covered with ground-foam "grass" and small trees and shrubs fills the space in nicely.

As you can see, the trees and shrubs help carry the scene to the backdrop, adding a hint of distance. Also in the photo is a newly installed street light, beside the storage units. More on this later...

Two new things in this photo.

1) The alleyway behind the buildings on Market Street has been widened with the addition of more foam board. A length of hedgerow has been placed to hide the edge. This is the first stage of what will eventually be more scenery on the back of the layout to hide the back trackage from view.
2) Speaking of the back of the layout, notice the new sign on the roof of the former Bradley Building! After seeing Miller Engineering's new Budwiser sign, I knew of the perfect place for it on my layout! The sign works, I hope to put up video of it someday soon (my camcorder needs a tripod!).

To go along with the backside scenery concept, I stapled strips of (cheap) grass matting along the back risers with this effect. Now, instead of bare wires and benchwork, there at least seems to be a hillside! I have since added more foam board on top of the risers, and plan to add backdrop buildings on top of those - to hide the tracks at the back and (hopefully) make the layout seem even bigger.

TOWN LIFE PT 7

With a local car show comming up, Tony and his gang have been busy getting the local's old classics back in 'A-one' condition! While the '48 convertible in the background receives attention, three more cars are ready for their owners'. From left to right: a '57 T-Bird; a '63 Corvette (split-window!); and a '59 Fairlane.

A UPS truck turns into the warehouse lot to make a delivery to Tony's garage. Repairing old cars takes lots of special-ordered parts! Reportedly, Tony has received an offer to buy the warehouse. He might as well, he's the only one who uses it anymore!

One of the younger guys owns that Honda Civic Si 'tuner'. Wonder how that lowered suspension works on gravel and dirt driveway and parking lots! The PT Cruiser beside it with the pink(!) flames belongs to Maggie, who works in the yard office. Someone has to keep track of all the paperwork!

The traffic on Main Street contrasts sharply with the empty rail yard. The soda bottler plant local is out, as is the plastics plant local; otherwise those tracks would be full.

After pulling up in a rental van, two men carry a roll of brand-new carpeting into the building next to Joe's Radio. While the new tennant has yet to be named, it's unlikely that all this work is being done for nothing!

PASSING TRAINS PT2

Another look at another train passing through Hilldale, this time an eastbound freight.

A string of ADM covered hoppers is part of the consist.

After the ADM hoppers are these CP Rail covered hoppers. Notice they are all sub-lettered 'SOO'. The Canadian Pacific Railway gained control of the Soo Line in the late 1880's, and used it as it's subsidiary in the U.S. In the late 90's, CP absorbed the Soo Line, but still uses the reporting marks on covered hoppers used in U.S. service. (It's a tax thing, probably.)

After the CP Rail hoppers, a string of 'Eco-Energy' ethanol tank cars. All of these cars are empties headed back to the midwest for re-loading.

An Amtrak train passes through in the late 90's. While the locomotive has since been retired, the Amfleet coaches are still in service; albeit repainted into a more recent scheme.

PASSING TRAINS

Track side in Hillsdale...

A passing freight features a string of wood chip hoppers on the head end. Wood chips are used in the manufacture of paper products, and can be carried in quite large cars due to their light weight.

More wood chip hoppers, including a pair of old Southern cars still in original paint. These cars have a 7000 cubic foot capacity!

Midway through the train, a string of kaolin tank cars. This daily train services the paper mill just outside of town, dropping off loaded cars and picking up empties.

While several auto-trains pass through Hillsdale daily, it is rare to see one comprised entirely of Gunderson Auto-Max carriers. This one has several BNSF cars up front.

Like most freight cars today, unfortunately, APW 25503 has a healthy dose of graffiti- showing why the railroads abandoned the original open auto racks for the fully enclosed variety!