Greetings All,
The virtual ops catalyst strikes again! Bedford Park on the N.Y.C.T.L. has finally been upgraded. That's right!
Bedford Park was one area of my layout that resisted the virtual ops catalyst for a long time. I wasn't sure I liked the close environs of this area and tight curves. It's lack of scenery and identity often left it as an afterthought.
I tweaked the area more than once going so far as to build some imagineered structures and adding Bedford Park Yard. And that was it until the more recent virtual ops and the increase in freight traffic. Add in Penn Central C424 #2415, 1/87th scale PC Ralph holding down the BPY Turn, some decent looking and working auto racks and the increase of rail traffic to and from this area and it was time to get it upgraded.
Lets check out the project;
In the last P.C.C.M., #39C, we saw 1/87th scale PC Ralph at Bedford Park Yard getting ready for work. PC C424 #2415 is to the right.
#2415 shoving past American Hardware with little to no scenery.
Pulling two coil steel coaches from Ford. The Bedford Park Yard office looks nice. To be honest not much else was satisfactory.
A quick trip to my local Lowe's and I picked up a bag of paver base. The bag I purchased is a gray colored material. It's all about the base!
Next I stripped the area and got to work.
The paver base has been sifted thru a piece of old metal window screen and applied. I used alcohol to allow the diluted glue to penetrate and here we are waiting for it to dry. I set the coil steel unloader into the wet mix so it would be steady and level.
The tank car unloading platform to the left as also set into the wet mix. The Ford Plant flat needs some loading dock junk and debris along it's base to give it that rail siding feel.
Beford Park Yard and All City Storage looking much better.
American Hardware Supply is in place and the spreading of the paver base in this area is complete. I used a thinner layer of paver base applied directly to full strength Elmer's Glue without the alcohol and diluted white glue mix under A.H.S. and in BP Yard. Hence the lighter color.
An overall look at Ford and the turn to the Cornelius Vanderbilt Memorial Bridge. The far side of the curve has been scenicked with the paver base, Woodland Scenic grass and some Lichen from Hobby Lobby. (Use your coupon for 40% off!)
The right side of the curve is looking much better. No longer painted plywood like the left side!
The approach to C.V. bridge. The paver base looks pretty good!
With both sides upgraded this area is no longer one to be avoided when taking P.C.C.M. photos!
The Ford Plant is back online!
And so is PC Train BP-12... RALPH!!!
Looks like 1/87th scale PC Ralph heard about 1/87th scale Senior Engineer Sir Neal and AT JOE's escapades in P.C.C.M. 39 and thought his engine could make it under the building as well. Completely forgetting his engine is an Alco!
After the smoke cleared I added some little details here and there for more visual interest. Some painted wood cubes with a figure and pallet jack are on the team track. I added similar cubes to the rear at All City Storage as well.
A Ford Pinto station wagon graces the yard parking lot while American Hardware Supply received some loading dock crates and a barrel on a pallet. A forklift can be seen in the distance going up the ramp into All City Storage.
Coil Steel Coaches AKA Breadbox Trough Cars or Clam shell hoppers are in position on the steel unloading track.
60' auto parts cars are spotted at Ford. Some loose lumber from busted pallets and shipping crates have been added. A three dome Gulf tanker car occupies the tank car track.
A long overdue project is now in the the books. A little more 'stuff' can be added here and there but I think Bedford Park and BP Yard are ready for prime time!
Thanks for reading!!
Some really great looking upgrades for Bedford Park and BP Yard. The paver base really dresses up the plywood. Both the Team track and Tank car platform are looking sharp with the new details. Great FX with 1:87 PC Ralph trying to fit the C424 under All City Storage. He'll need to bring the shove platform next time. Nice looking details to the Ford plant and American Hardware. It seems the little details really help bring out the scenes. Master PC Jedi Ralph has mad skills in that area. Bedford Park is the place to run trains!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the compliments Brian! You are 100% right that Master PC Jedi Ralph has mad skills in detailing and bringing scenes to life!
DeletePaver base!!!!! I hadn't thought of that! It certainly seems to lend itself well to scenic improvements. The before and after shots really show off your work. Nicely done. Those poor folks at All City Storage must have needed gas masks when the ALCO ran under that loading dock!!! I like the boxcar storage shed as a scenic detail! Great cosmetic changes that show up well in your photos!
ReplyDeleteIt's all about the base! Thanks for the compliments! I think the folks at All City Storage will be talking about this incident for years to come. Once they can breathe again! That photo still makes me laugh...
DeleteBig improvement! With rock or sand style scenic base, you don't need alcohol, you can just use wet water with Elmer's glue. Woodland Scenics ballast is made from crushed walnut shells, though, and does clump with water.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment and the tip on using just wet water. I'll try that going forward. The Woodland Scenics ballast had a tendency to float and clump when I used it at Hudson Coal. No more of that!
ReplyDeleteAs a recent visitor to the NYCTL I can say with authority the photos don't do it justice. The idea to use paver sand is really cleaver. Even after screening the bag of paver sand is big enough to supply ballast for all our railroads. The whole area looks completely different now. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteThanks Double E! We'll need to put Bedford Park thru the paces in our next ops session!
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