The Norma & Micaela Railroad as it appears today (16 May 2004)

[Anonymous]

Let me show you what I have. I have ordered more track and will install the 5 or so foot track that I have purchased...



(Click the above to inlarge)

I know its not much, but this will end up being the oldest section of the line. it will grow like a real rail line and eventually be quite substantial. Notice the first of my "Sow's Ears" pulling a limited load on the line. I set up a curved section of track and said locomotive could pull four cars... 1 Roundhouse Hopper, two Bachmann boxcars and a long Bachmann Caboose (not the one pictured above).

Well, that's all there is for now...more pics later...

Yours ever,

Capt Carrales

[Marty Cozad]

Capt, the photo in and of itself is cool with the words etc. Very professional looking.
I can wait to see it was your building more of it.

[tangerine-jack]

OK, cool, if I'm in Texas I'll be sure to see your railroad! I would imagine the cut will be quite the canyon after some geological time goes by. Looks to me like the makings of a very nice layout. Good job![tup]



[oX)]

[Anonymous]

Keep it going Joe, as with every journey it's the first step that counts. Please keep the pics regular.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

Looks very nice not much headway so far but pretty good all the same. If yousend me your mail address I will send you some tombstones, I make them myself and i owe you


rgds ian

[van buren s l]

Captain
Told you so!
Bob

[ghelman]

Looks like your having some fun Capt. Keep up the good work and continue taking and posting those pics.

[majnnj]

cool pop-up picture, how'd you do that, I'm still trying to load my pics

mike

[bman36]

Hey Capt,
Well done. Keep at it. Looking forward to seeing more in the future. Later eh...Brian.

[John Busby]

Hi Capt Carrales
That looks to be one well thought out acorn cant wait to see what the oak tree looks like.
It's a lot greener that I thought it would be ( probably me watching to many westerns)
The size doesn't matter its the pleasure it brings you and your family that counts
Mine is only 30' X 10" at the moment and gives me a great deal of pleasure in construction, play time and dreams that are far out of proportion to its small current size.
SWMBO enjoys trying to find the impossable suitable plants for the line
and has the odd idea that some times helps.
So it might just as well be one of those massive empires you some times see in GR mag it gives me the same pleasure those guys get out of there monster size lines
no reason your line cannot do the same for you.
regards John

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by John Busby

Hi Capt Carrales
That looks to be one well thought out acorn cant wait to see what the oak tree looks like.
It's a lot greener that I thought it would be ( probably me watching to many westerns)
The size doesn't matter its the pleasure it brings you and your family that counts
Mine is only 30' X 10" at the moment and gives me a great deal of pleasure in construction, play time and dreams that are far out of proportion to its small current size.
SWMBO enjoys trying to find the impossable suitable plants for the line
and has the odd idea that some times helps.
So it might just as well be one of those massive empires you some times see in GR mag it gives me the same pleasure those guys get out of there monster size lines
no reason your line cannot do the same for you.
regards John

Thanks John,

For the kind words and sentiments. The line will be growing but all in good time (and money) I've even begun to sell tomatoes and produce in the neighborhood from my limited garden to pay for improvements. I like the idea of taking it slow...everything in some sort of stage.

As for the color (colour?), yes, things are much browner than they appear. This section of the lawn is watered regulary...plus we have had rain. The rest of the layout's future grades are as dry as any western you have ever seen. Also, remmeber that Texas is very large...Eastern Texas was part of the OLD SOUTH and someparts resemble the swamps and forests of Louisiana. West Texas is all you could imagine about dry and arid.

I have a hard time with the "desert grasses," since they have adapted to arid conditions, they grow fast and intrusively when given water. It will be a fight all winter to remove this weed from the "Plantation areas" and replace it all with St Agustine.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Marty Cozad

Capt, the photo in and of itself is cool with the words etc. Very professional looking.
I can wait to see it was your building more of it.

Thanks, Marty, as a fan of your photography and layout that means a lot to me. There will be more added by the end of the month. I have to mail order all the track and such from the North (Yankee's)...much like the railroad pioneers in my area of South Texas.

Again Tanks,

Capt Carrales

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tangerine-jack

OK, cool, if I'm in Texas I'll be sure to see your railroad! I would imagine the cut will be quite the canyon after some geological time goes by. Looks to me like the makings of a very nice layout. Good job![tup]



[oX)]

Things will improve and I await your presence. I don't have much in electrical track power, only the boxes from Bachmann. I am holding out for a really good R/C Battery locomotive.

Thanks,

Capt Carrales

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

Looks very nice not much headway so far but pretty good all the same. If yousend me your mail address I will send you some tombstones, I make them myself and i owe you


rgds ian

Ian,
Thanks, the line will sally-forth!!! I've send you my address later today and do the same for me so I can build you a little something.

Capt Carrales

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bman36

Hey Capt,
Well done. Keep at it. Looking forward to seeing more in the future. Later eh...Brian.

Thanks Bman,

How are things going with your Shays? I too need to name something for you.

Capt Carrales

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Carrales

QUOTE: Originally posted by Marty Cozad

Capt, the photo in and of itself is cool with the words etc. Very professional looking.
I can wait to see it was your building more of it.

Thanks, Marty, as a fan of your photography and layout that means a lot to me. There will be more added by the end of the month. I have to mail order all the track and such from the North (Yankee's)...much like the railroad pioneers in my area of South Texas.

Again Tanks,

Capt Carrales

Capt, for the short little bit of track you have, it has been very deceiving from your great railfan pics! I enjoy yours and Marty's the most because they acheive prototype view of things. You' ve created wonderful pics that give the impression your line is 5 times what it is!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by carpenter matt

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Carrales

QUOTE: Originally posted by Marty Cozad

Capt, the photo in and of itself is cool with the words etc. Very professional looking.
I can wait to see it was your building more of it.

Thanks, Marty, as a fan of your photography and layout that means a lot to me. There will be more added by the end of the month. I have to mail order all the track and such from the North (Yankee's)...much like the railroad pioneers in my area of South Texas.

Again Tanks,

Capt Carrales

Capt, for the short little bit of track you have, it has been very deceiving from your great railfan pics! I enjoy yours and Marty's the most because they acheive prototype view of things. You' ve created wonderful pics that give the impression your line is 5 times what it is!

The trick to it is thinking like you were just a few inches tall. Take the photo from the perspective of a scale person, then the mind adds the realism.

Thanks for the kudos, I'm really still looking for that perfect scene shot. The fun is in the trying!!!

Capt Carrales

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Carrales

QUOTE: Originally posted by bman36

Hey Capt,
Well done. Keep at it. Looking forward to seeing more in the future. Later eh...Brian.

Thanks Bman,

How are things going with your Shays? I too need to name something for you.

Capt Carrales

Hey Capt,
Only have the one Shay right now. My indoor line is on hold with Spring being here. Outdoors I have added a new Solar House. I'll mail you a pic. Waiting for the plants to start growing and then I'll see what needs to be added for this year. I'll keep ya' posted. Later eh...Brian. [:D]

[Anonymous]

Bman, how 'bout the Grain elevator you were working on a while back? Have any contemporary pics? I feel I am ready to build outdoor structures and I may have to "pcik you brain."

[vsmith]

Joe
Looks great. Now that you've got one section done, the rest should flow pretty easily from now on. As I learned laying pavers, once you get a good sized section done and have made all the mistakes and found a couple quicker ways to do things, the rest gets done a lot easier and faster. The same is true for any endeavor, even track laying. Looking forward to more pics, Vic[8D]

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Carrales

Bman, how 'bout the Grain elevator you were working on a while back? Have any contemporary pics? I feel I am ready to build outdoor structures and I may have to "pcik you brain."

Hey Capt,
I'll have to send you some pics. It's tall and very green looking. Used Smith Pond Junction Cedar Shakes on all the roof surfaces. Love em', a lot of fun to shingle with. Have an idea for your RR...how about a small country restaurant. Namely "Brian's Back Bacon Grill" [:D] Truly Canadian eh. Hee Hee. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bman36

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Carrales

Bman, how 'bout the Grain elevator you were working on a while back? Have any contemporary pics? I feel I am ready to build outdoor structures and I may have to "pcik you brain."

Hey Capt,
I'll have to send you some pics. It's tall and very green looking. Used Smith Pond Junction Cedar Shakes on all the roof surfaces. Love em', a lot of fun to shingle with. Have an idea for your RR...how about a small country restaurant. Namely "Brian's Back Bacon Grill" [:D] Truly Canadian eh. Hee Hee. Later eh...Brian.

I think that fine Canadian (Canadien?) cuisine is a necessary cultural import to the Miceala Valley!!! So far the only culture to speak of is "agriculture."