Got the base to the new riverbank’s in place this morning.  They’ll get a layer of plaster cloth soon to complete it out.

Shaun Previous Layout

Along with replacing the old bridge spans with a new BLMA Truss bridge, I also wanted/needed to replace the abutments for the new bridge (the existing weren’t wide enough).  So I decided to go with a squared off concrete abutment this time around.

I first started with 6 boxes of Monroe Models Bridge Expansion kits. This gives you 12 total pieces.

I cut off the little  backer piece on top (not shown) so the tops were nice and flat.  I then glued two sections together with a little piece of popsicle stick, and then glued 3 sections together to form a 3 sided box.

Gave everything a spray on “concrete” Floquil in-a-can paint…

And voila! The new bridge is in place.

Just need to redo the terrain around the new abutments, extend the roadbed a tiny a bit and she’ll be ready to roll.

Shaun Previous Layout

Finally had a full weekend off from work so I made some time to work on the layout a little bit.  This afternoon I finished putting down the first bit of concrete tie track up to the east control point on refinery siding.

I super-elevated the curves on this section (and will do the same on the last large corner) using Jamie’s method described here.

And lastly, a few photos of the BLMA Brass bridge I got. This bridge is fantastic looking, and I’ll be using Monroe Models’ Concrete Girder bridge expansion kit. I’ll toss the girder sections and using the concrete sections to build a modern squared off concrete abutment for the bridge, kind of like this.

Shaun Previous Layout