The Expansion On The Layout Continues!

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad and my blog!

As I refine the operations of the railroad and my operating sessions, I always look for ways to expand the railroad. No, I'm not adding more track. I think I'm pretty sure I have no more space for that. If I did suggest it, I know a few guys who would tell me in a few short words "Are you crazy!". 

The last expansion was to fill a space in Rock Ridge Freight Yard backdrop divider. It was blank, a track was parallel to it, so I added an industry, ShopRite Supermarket Warehouse. It's used mostly in my virtual op sessions, and when I'm running solo. Tough to have the yardmaster make moves lately to this place since he's busy switching cars and building trains during the operating sessions. 

I saw one area that I knew I could expand, and it was Shapeless Steel. This industry has 3 tracks, one of which is a long siding. It's adjacent to the window, and while the view to my back yard is nice, I wanted to see how I could make use of that long third track.

I had some extra walls left when I had made the diesel facility that is in the Richmond Hill Engine Terminal as well as from other Walthers backdrop kits. Here's what I did...

Pieces added on the left side of the building as well as the right side. 

Then I needed a way to support it against the window. The official staff photographer of the A.P.R.R. Norman, who is also knowledgeable in woodworking and especially taller than me, helped me add the supports to make it stand upright...

With the support in place, and giving Norman some Tylenol for him going to the pain contorting himself that night, I proceeded to finish the industry and put it in place, albeit temporary.

Welcome to the expansion of Shapeless Steel! This additional structure is close to 40" and the other side to the left of the tracks is about 18" in length...

I still need to finalize the backdrop, add a backing to it as during the day the sun comes thru and you can't see the sign on top. Also, I'll paint the side walls a sky blue all the way over to the Amtrak Station. The far right side of the addition has some blank wall spots, which have the ability for me to add some loading dock doors, if I choose. That gives me the ability to have not only coil and gondola cars, but box cars as well.

A lot of work and planning went into this. Thanks go out to Norman and John, who gave me some great feedback and help during this build.