South Pacific Lines is pleased to announce the running of the first through train

[robengland]

South Pacific Lines is pleased to announce the running of the first through train on the main line (ie the completion of a display loop). The loco is 4-6-0 #99.

The hastily assembled crowd stayed clear of the station platform because of the long steel spikes extending from their heels :-) I also note that in the excitement the engineer forgot to turn his headlight on. Neither scenery nor weathering have come to the SPL yet. #99 is not decoder equipped yet but buzzed its way in under DCC control. Nevertheless this is a milestone on the way to fully operational trackage by Christmas we hope.



Here's what it "really" looks like so far


'cept since this photo was taken we have, as announced, got a loop of track around. In fact since the announcement and ceremony, we've got three DCC-controlled Toroises, a passing siding and about to get a double-slip-switch under control too[:)]


Photos by Peter Garrett
Track by Tillig
Loco by Bachmann Spectrum
Station building by Walthers

[Anonymous]

Congratulations!!! always an exciting moment!!!

[Anonymous]

Congratulations! I need to do something like this with my line, the Bell and Santa Fe Railroad.

[tomwatkins]

Congratulations! That's a major milestone reached. I really like the photo of #99 pulling into the station. That's a keeper.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[Anonymous]

Congrats!! I think it's cool that you celebrated this event - kinda pumps up the excitement for continuing forward. I like the pic you included of the whole layout. Shows that you can work in stages around the layout vice doing all of one thing for a year, then something else etc.

I do notice you have a fantastic backdrop. What is is made of?

Again - CONGRATS!

[NZRMac]

Well done Rob a huge milestone!! Looks great

Can't wait either for another down-under railroad to be underway!! Mine.
keep us posted

Ken.

[robengland]

Thanks for the feedback guys [:I]

The backdrop is just 4mm MDF curved around the corner and screwed to the walls. I put it up single-handedly which wasn't much fun but not tooo hard. It is painted with plain white acrylic one-coat ceiling paint, tinted in six batches with varying amounts of artists ultramarine acrylic from the tube, applied in bands. the paint dries a bit fast making it hard to blend edges of the bands - others use oils or enamels for the longer drying times. Seen for real it is a bit patchy, not as smooth a transition as I had hoped for, but it photographs well.

Actually what makes the photo look good is not the backdrop itself but the way it is set off by the fascia, the lighting valence (more MDF) painted with all the leftover blues mixed into more white for a pale blue shade, and the black curtains.

One detail lost in the process of compressing the photo for the web was the chicken on the station gable. I think we'll make him a mascot in all future photos. Any suggestions for naming him?[:D]

[NZRMac]

Hey Rob

That's a good web site I've book marked it.
When I've got some time It'll have a good read on some history!!

Ken