The sun comes up in Brunswick

I finally got around to seriously looking at lighting options for the lower level. I looked at numerous options and for now I settled on a flexible LED light strip. It is 16 ft long, there are 300 LED's that run off 12 vdc and is 24 watts of power. You can look at the first picture and see what Brunswick looked like before I put any lights in. It was even going to get worse once all of the scenery was installed above.
The strip comes with a sticky backing, but until I was sure of where it will go and even if I liked it I temporarily fastenened it with tie wraps. This took all of 5 minutes.

Look at the difference in Brunswick once I turned the lights on. It probably looks better in person than with a picture. The LED's are about 1/2" apart so the lighting is real even. The front to back spread of the light seems real good also. If you are a purest with the color then you'll have to figure it out.
This is the LED strip. It is not much thicker than movie film. It comes in color temps, just like fluorescent lights do. I chose "natural light", 4000K-4500K, with a yellow background. There are other options in regular light and reds, blues and greens. You can get a white background and waterproof if you want. I figured worse case I can use them as under cabinet lights in the kitchen.
I put a link at the bottom, in case anyone wants to look. These are ordered from England, but then shipped from Hong Kong.

http://www.ledlightsworld.com/smd-3528-flexible-led-strips-300-leds-p-90.html

Searsport Industrial Gets Local Control

First the new industries were installed and then the track was made operable in the computer. This allowed the dispatcher to throw the turnouts if needed for overflow, but wasn't good enough to allow operations. The next step in allowing the new industries to come on line was to get the new local control panel operable , so the YM could do the switching. This has now been done. the final step will be to change out the modified waybills to match the new industries

Not only is there local control for the new industries. The Searsport YM will be glad to know that four yard tracks were lengthened 1 to 1 1/2 car lengths, which should help, if just a little, in the yard. This was all there was room for.

First Signal installed

Today marks the first signal installed on the BRWM. The signal is installed on the approach to Searsport.

Chuck

Last minute additions before the MER Open House

With all of the additions from The Eno Valley Railroad, I spent time placing things around the layout. I finished the track work and Tortoise Machines for Searsport. Hooking up the electrical stuff will probably have to wait. I placed some of the new rolling stock in the area, just to dress it up a little.
I found another small building for a siding that will probably be used in Wiscasset. It will be the only industry to be located there. It should give me a chance to try a milk train and give the passenger trains something to switch.
I also changed out the screens for the Eno Valley Dispatch Panel. It is very nicely done, so it will make a nice addition. The other monitors will be used as spares.

New industrial area for Searsport

Searsport will be seeing the biggest changes. It was decided to not have a engine facility in Searsport and add more industry for the yardmaster at Searsport. The track has already been laid down and power and tortoise machines will come before the next Op session.

The Icing Facility that was in Brunswick is now in Searsport. Laura Chemical from Johnstown, Lowsaw Pipe from Benny, Grandt Tool from Alto and Lee Beverage will also be in Searsport. I add 12 car spots with these changes.

I had a Northeast Pipe in Bucksport which will now be replaced as something to be determined later. All in all I was worried were I would place all of these structures and the layout sucked them up with Searsport being the place where you will notice the structures.

Changes for Brunswick

Flats from Altoona looks like they'll make good backdrops for Brunswick.

The Ice Plant from Altoona will replace the Icing Facility in Brunswick. The orignial Ice Facility that is was in Brunswick is being moved to Searsport.

New (to me) Structures

One the truly great model railroads (Ed Dougherty's Eno Valley)had to be dismantled. I purchased a lot of his structures for two reason's, to save me time in building and allow parts of his railroad to live on. The next few posts will show some of these items and my plan changes for them.

The ex Tate Fuel from Eno will become Irving Oil in Rockland.

Ann's Creamery from Johnstown will become Ann's Creamery in Rockland. This used to be Hood Dairy. It just so happens that my wife's name is Anne.

Jack Brown's Barrel and Crate from Alto will become an industry in either Orrington, Bucksport or Bath.

The Power plant from Miflin will become the Power plant for White Mountain Paper in Orrington. It could possibly become a power plant in Acadia.