To use Tunnel Portals or Not With mountains

[Trainman11]

New to Model Railroading, and I am about to start making a mountain with Tunnels. Do I need to have portals with the tunnels or not. I am not sure at this point. Can I make the portals on my own, if I make my own, what wood would I use. or do I have to buy them. I am planning on trying to make the mountain out of a shell, and then use paper mache, I hope that is a good choise. I hear good and bad about paper mache.

Thanks to all who answer. I just don't know what to do at this point.

[ttrigg]

Trainman11

You speak of using "paper mache". Most, not all, of the folks on this forum do our railroading outdoors and paper mache will not hold up outside. I do not have tunnel portals on my tunnel as my "mountain" is made from cinderblocks and rocks with mortar. I plan to eventually construct portals and headwalls someday. I will use copper treated redwood or cedar when I do build them. If you are building your layout indoors, then you could use any wood you wish.

[GearDrivenSteam]

I think it depends on what kinda railroad you're buildin. Are you gonna be buildin a big passenger mainline, or a small crappy backwoods almost bankrupt industrial short line? Surely, the big passenger line would have nice portals, probably concrete or stone. But the small crappy short line might only have rickety wood portals....or none at all.

[Great Western]

Trainman,

 You mention "tunnels" in your post.  If there is to be more than one then you can have a "solidrock" opening, a rock with concrete facia or the older style wooden braced front.

There is no reason for them to be the same: in fact variety is the spice of life so they say.

[GearDrivenSteam]

variety is the spice of life so they say.

I told my ex that years ago. Somehow, I don't think she agreed.  

 

[TheJoat]

Here's a shot of tunnel #2 on the ET&WNC.   Just carved out of solid stone.