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At the far southern end of the prototype Hills Line sits a relic of times long vanished... The Plymouth HLC-2 locomotive dates to 1928 and spent most of its life as Union Railroad of Oregon #1. After 40-some years of work as the sole locomotive on the line, it was retired and sold to Eldon … Continue reading Relics
Finishing up US Highway 6, a major arterial thoroughfare in Iowa City, and the first road constructed for The Hills Line. Last time I built out the curbs, medians, and other elements. On this entry we'll paint and detail the road to match the prototype. My weapons of choice are, as always, whatever cheap and … Continue reading Curb Appeal, Part Three
Roads and grade crossings on a model railroad are two things that every visitor to our layouts can quickly identify and relate with. That comes from the simple fact that we interact with roads on a regular and ongoing basis. On The Hills Line I've begun construction of US Highway 6, a major arterial road … Continue reading Curb Appeal, Part One
If it feels like I'm taking forever to get to tracklaying, you'd be correct. But the extended effort now should benefit down the road when the rubber meets the road... or the ties meet the foam. First off, the deck and bridge ties for the Iowa River bridge are complete and installed. The bridge is … Continue reading Prepping for Track
The Hills Line 