2002: The last curve gets widened

This spring I replaced the last section of 5 foot diameter track on the layout with 8 foot diameter track.  All mainline curves are now either 8 foot or 10 foot diameter curved track.  This was a major goal of mine to remove all the smaller radius curves and replace them with larger radius curves.  This will allow better operation of cars with body mounted couplers, and will allow me to double head my Bachmann 4-6-0 engines.  I also rebuilt a number of buildings that had deteriorated after years in the weather.

2003: The Year of the Tool Shed

In 2003 I built a new tool shed to replace an existing one at the rear of the layout.  The new shed location was about 20 feet to the right of where it was which added about 160 square feet of property to the GC&E.  Because it was a very wet summer it took me all season to get the shed built so no changes were made to the railway.

The new shed was built to represent a railroad station and was painted in WM colors.

One wall inside the shed has a series of shelves for car and engine storage.

This hinged lid box encloses three tracks which run to the outside and connect to the layout.

The view from the operators bay looking out towards the GC&E.