Seneca & Chetola Line

[jhsimpson62]

After 15 months, we now have a name. "Seneca & Chetola Line" All future posts will be made here. The "New Railroad" will not be used any longer althouth the pictures will remain on the link, and will continue to be used. Here it is.

[alamosa]

Wow, I would give my eye teeth to have that much open space - great job

[jhsimpson62]

Alamosa. Thanks. The large space is nice, but comes at the cost of much more work. Thats okay since I retired so I could build a railroad. After visiting some friends over the weekend its back to weeding and mulching this week. I hope to finish this week so I can get back to finishing up the ballast.

[jhsimpson62]

Another week of pulling weeds. Since most of the big weeds were starting to set seeds I thought it best to get them out of here before the started popping. Also, after finishing the track bed for the inner loop, I added a spur line to the future logging camp. Also while weeding and prior to mulching I have been adding some plants here and there. (Got to keep to keep the boss happy). Here are the latest pictures.

[zakowitz]

Hey Howdy,

     Very nice.....your layout is really coming together....and it is HUGE! I am looking forward to more pictures!

                                            Zak

[jhsimpson62]

Zak. Thanks. Now that the majority of the weeds have been cleared you can actually see what the layout looks like. For a while I thought I would lose a train in the weeds. Soon the fun part will come. Building villages, saw mill etc. Jack

[jhsimpson62]

We finally accomplished something other than pullling weeds. I have started what will eventually be a mountain with a waterfall. So far I have built the tunnel framework. These will be covered and connected with stones then backfilled. I have the idea, just don't have everything worked out yet. Here are a few pictures.

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

I must say that makes the goby dezzert look small.

[jhsimpson62]

Its really not all that big. Although at times it seems so. Jack

[jhsimpson62]

Another week with not a lot of progress. Have entered into a planing stage for a water feature. Want to enclose the two tunnels with a mountain containing a waterfall. Did get about 50 feet of track ballasted. Need some more ballast so will make a trip to the stone quarry soon. Will be away for a few days next week. When we get back will start on the mountain and finish the ballast (have about 50 ft or so to go). Did add a new Locomotive to the roster; A 2-8-0 Consolidation. Had a trial run this afternoon and its really smooth.

[jhsimpson62]

Finally have some progress to report and some pictures of it. Water feature project is well on its way. Still have some finishing touches on the tunnels and their portals. Had someone install it for me, but isn't quite what I was thinking so I think there will be some modifications before all is said and done. Here are some pictures.

[Mike Dorsch CJ&M r.r.]

Your railroad is coming along real nice . Love the progress pictures . What do you think , about 5000 Alberta spruce trees to finish it off ?

[jhsimpson62]

Mike. I hope not that many. I do have a lot of planting to do though. Also will be constructing a bunch of buildings. After a little ballasting and some mulching the planting and building can start in earnest. Jack

[altterrain]

Looking good, Jack. You certainly have some red clay soil there. Our clay is more of an orange color. I see we use the same tunnel construction method.

May I offer a suggestion on your waterfall? If you could stack up a series of flatter rocks, slightly stagger back, for the water to run down it would give it a bit more visual interest. Just be careful of it not splashing outside your liner area. Also, mixing in smaller sizes of river rock will blend in the larger rock to the landscape. I am current finishing up a similar project for a client and will grab a few pics today.

 -Brian

[jhsimpson62]

Brian, Thanks for the comments and the advice. Thats kind of what I am thinking. Had I done it myself, I would have used all flatter rocks to resemble a mountain face with the river rocks just in and around the pond. I am going tomorrow to look for some such for around the tunnels entrances and maybe a few for the front face of the mountain around the waterfall. Jack

[altterrain]

Here's the pond and waterfall I just finished up.

 

-Brian 

[jhsimpson62]

Looking good Brian. The water fall is more what I had in mind. My pool is a "disappearing pool". With all the sun and no shade I have I wasn't sure I could or wanted to keep it clean. Going to look for some stones to finish the tunnel entrances and than maybe rearrange some of the water fall.

[jhsimpson62]

I found some suitable stones for the tunnel ends. Also modified the waterfall somewhat in order to get several streams of water rather than just one wide one. Also placed a water plant just behind the lip of the waterfall. I think it looks more realistic. Here are some pictures.

[jhsimpson62]

Its been almost a month since my last update. Been busy finishing up the tunnels. Have completed and installed portals on the tunnels. Mulched and planted some greenery in front of the waterfall. Also built a "Throne" for the CFO. Hopefully in a day or so, there'll be some new pictures posted. The throne started as a swing purchased in March. CFO decided it should be placed where my dirt pile was located, so had to wait till the pile was used up. When attempting to level the area it became necessary to erect a small stacked block retaining wall, then she wanted pavers under the swing. In the end the really good deal she got on the swing was multiplied several times in preparing the site. Next in line is to finish ballasting the last 50 feet or so of track and another 2 or 3 loads of mulch.

[jhsimpson62]

As promised, here are some pictures of the latest progress. I have since mulched the areas shown in the pictures and planted some more ground covers and plants in the sections. Completed ballasting the inner loop and hope to finish the logging camp spur today if the rain holds off.

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

Exelant work. Leaves me to wounder what the structures are gona be, whatever they are I'll bet they'll be great!

[jhsimpson62]

First will be a logging camp. I have the bunk house finished and the plans for the saw mill and a lumber storage shed. These are plans from Garden textures. After that, who knows, but will be some sort of village and a farm. There is a nice looking station downtown and a small country church close by that I would like to scratch build in the future. Jack

[jhsimpson62]

very little accomplished sinced last post. Took a weeks vacation and since returning the heat has be horrific. Had some fines to use up so I went back and touched up some of the first ballasting. Now the last section is ready for mulching as soon as the weather breaks a little. By nine oclock today it was already in the 90's. Weather man says it should break over the weekend.

[jhsimpson62]

Finally had a break in the weather. It was only in the 90's a couple days this week. Have finally finished mulching everything. Even had the Connie out yesterday to make sure I had enlarged the portals enough to permit her to pass through. No more problems!! Got the camera out for some pics, but alas the batteries were dead. Got them on the charger now. Will be away for the weekend so will have to wait till next week for next pictures. No its on to building some structures.

[scottychaos]

Jack,

great photos and railroad, thanks for sharing! :)

When I first saw the name of your railroad, I assumed it must be somewhere in upstate New York! ;) Here in NY, we have Seneca Lake (one of the Finger Lakes) named after the Seneca Indians, who are a member of the Iroquois tribe..

but after taking a look around your webpage, I see you live in the city of Seneca, South Carolina! I have never heard the name "Seneca" used outside of NY state before...do you know how your city got its name?? is it somehow related to the Seneca Indians?

just curious..

thanks,

Scot

[jhsimpson62]

Scot: Don't know for sure how the name ended up down here. The area was populated by the Cherokee's before the settlers moved in. I'll put my wife to work on that. She is really into that historical research stuff (maybe she already knows). Will get back to you after the weekend. Jack

[jhsimpson62]

Here are some new pictures. I took advantage of an overcaste day to do a counter-clockwise trip around the train lot. All track work and mulching are complete. Last Friday I cut lumber to scale and today started erecting a Garden Texture storage shed for the Lumber Yard. The stepping stone (last picture) is the one remnent of the garden train in Pennsylvania.

[Anonymous]

I am part of the Cherokee Tribe removed from up there that is now in OK. Truefully I miss the Pow Pows because of my illness I cannot travel any more.

Dang man your place looking great!!! Love it. Any people around your place come over and check out what you been doing? 

[jhsimpson62]

When I first started, everyone was stopping by to see what the new kid on the block was doing. Now they're used to it, but still stop by ocasionally when the trains are running. They would all tell me they can't wait to see the finish product and would be mistified when I told they neither they or I would live that long. They just didn't understand; if finished I would have to start all over again. I still have some room to expand if needed.

[Anonymous]

very nice job what can i say wow