Update

Thank you all for the nice comments. Sadly the BBRy as envisioned by me is on indefinite hold. I do have some HO rolling stock including an unlettered 3-Truck DCC and sound equipped shay available for sale. This page will remain up as a repository of knowledge. In the meantime, keep your water up!

Still Chugging!

I've been busy with other projects as of late but I'm still planing on the layout! Here is some sawmill action I took during Forestry Day this year.

Springtime!

Here is an archive shot of Big Six somewhere in the Chilcoot. Behind the locomotive the beginnings of a slide ass jammer can be seen. The date is unknown but the camera taking the photo is obviously quite old and well used.

Well it's springtime on the BBRy, and that means things are stirring once again. I afraid I may need a bigger railroad! Just acquired a bobber caboose and another loaded 40' flatcar for the railroad. The hard work will again commence this fall as other obligations and commitments are tying up my time right now. In the mean time swing by Fort Missoula and view not only some Big Blackfoot relics but view the the only public regularly scheduled, steam powered sawmill in the Big Sky State! Dates will be April 23rd and 24 and July 4th from 8am-4pm. Also I should mention plans are afoot to see if the whistle of the oldest Willamette in existence will see steam once again. No hard plans yet but I'll keep you all updated! For all you of you following this blog, thank you! If you have any questions or comments, feel free!
James Maxwell
Blog Writer

Going DCC

This layout will be my first to feature Digital Command Control. I'm happy to report I've just sent away for a MRC Prodigy Express set and I couldn't be happier. Not only because I saved money by shopping around but because it's the system I've had my eye on for quite awhile. I've looked at the system at my local hobby shop, debated on what I really want in a DCC system, compared prices and read many reviews. And in the end it was the first system I looked at that came out on top. I'm quite excited.
I've added to the roster the Bachmann 45-tonner. It's a great locomotive and I look forward to switching with it when the the time comes. It may even do some over the road service when the time comes, locals and transfer service. If you haven't picked one up, you should. The detail is wonderful and it comes with DCC on board.
Right now I'm still in Virginia City working on a steam locomotive. I'm not quite sure when I'll be done but when I am work on the BBRy will begin again in earnest. Our local home recycler has proven to be a great source of material for bench work at low, low, LOW prices. The two closet doors I need for the sides of the layout come to $8. And they get the dense foam in every now and then for around a $1 a sheet. If you have one in your neighborhood you should check it out.
Other BBRy news is that ealier this month the Mount Rainer Scenic Railroad got a 75-3 Willamette under steam. This is the same class as the BBRy's #7 but oil fired and visually smaller. MRSRR now has every major builder of loging locomotives represented alive and well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQvTuo6c9tA
And last but not least I've picked up a set of NWSL Shay gears for my 80-ton sidewinder. They are very small! It looks like with a bit of patience I should be able to put them on. Bravo to NWSL now a Montana company by the way, for doing such a great job on this. This will make using this wonderful model that much, er, more wonderful. I called Dave about an update on the Climax project and it is progressing. More good news.

The Root Beer Line

While in exile up here in Virginia City I've started work on a 2'x6' micro-layout. It's goal is to transport root beer across a raging creek to the mainline. More on this as it progresses.

Benchwork? I don't think so!

As the time comes to finally begin setting up what will become the BBRy, the subject of benchwork keeps coming up. I've settled on foam. For almost everything. In perusing the aisles of my local home improvement stores I've found that dense foam comes in many shapes, sizes and prices. And with the final design of the layout almost complete there is literally a size for everything!
The layout when complete will be a point to point in a classic U shape. Whereas most layouts constructed in this manner have all the scenery on the outside or the inside the BBry will break with convention and have scenery in locations designed for operations against a wall. On one side the scenery will be on the outside of the layout, on the other, the inside. This will allow the operators to work at the same time without interference, or allow one operator ease of access. It's also a space saver as I don't' have wasted space on the wall side.
Looking at all Code 83 for the layout. I would like to go smaller, Code 70 or less but the ready availability of Code 83 track is the clincher. In looking at historical images of the McNamara area there was little to no ballast, the rails laid on ties, placed directly on the ground. Duplicating this in 1:87 may be a bit difficult but I can foresee no reason that modern scale railroading can't replicate this minutia of the real world. Model railroading has come far beyond that. (Extra points if you get the reference for the last quote)
As things stand now I have only to start buying foam and the layout will begin to take shape. Bulletins as events warrant.

Things are progressing on the BBRy. It was mentioned that I could use hollow core closet doors as a base for my layout. I have used a door previously and with foam on top are very sturdy and lightweight. My Climax has been sold. But it's for a good cause! Dave over at Northwest Short Line needed one as a test bed for up coming Climax Parts. He lives close enough that it just made sense. But what am I getting? Some money but more importantly a set of NWSL's newest product, metal Shay gears for the Bachmann 80-ton Shay. In the words of Richard Hammond, I think you can see where this is going.
The call for summer work will be coming shortly. I only hope I can start setting the layout up before I go. I may hire an independent contractor to finish it while I'm away. Time will tell.