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Great stuff! I enjoyed the webpage and your figures. Especially the way you made models of people you know. But what I never understood about the outdoor railroads is how do you deal with the weather, what a challenge that must add.
Yeah, it's a bit of challenge, although in San Diego it's not too bad. At least I don't have to deal with frost heaves, or snow crushing the structures, etc. My trestles and ore bins are built with Western red cedar for durability, and are painted for extra protection. Everything else is metal, plastic, concrete and stone. I do have to pay attention to drainage, especially as I add buildings. I don't want them getting flooded.
UV damage from the sun is a big problem. Took me a while to find paints that held up well and didn't fade or color-change. I use latex exterior house paint for most things
Animals are another issue. Last summer I had to trap a bunch of ground squirrels that were digging up the layout, and causing problems inside the tunnels. I also need to repair a bridge that had the catwalks broken off by some large animal, possibly a cat or possum. But at least I don't have deer stepping on everything, like folks in other areas do!
Or moose, like the one guy up in Canada posted.
When I installed the outhouse on the Cliffside Mine, it didn't fit the way I wanted it, so I had to put it in facing towards the hoist house. This made it hard for visitors to see the interior. I also found that it blocked the view when photographing the mine from a key angle.
So I finally did what I should have done in the first place. I got out the hammer and chisel and chipped away at the cliff to make a better place for the outhouse:
I've also been working on finishing up the conduits and low voltage wiring on the lower level of the layout. And I've done some work to prep the area where the town of Dos Manos will be. I had to remove some of the rock at the foot of a cliff there, to make more room for the structures. Soon I'll be putting in the foundations and a concrete "retaining wall" to divert runoff away from the (future) structures.
Ray, a little demolition and construction is the answer to most problems.
The outhouse looks much better in the new location, although the miners have to watch that first step out the door.
Ray, I saw your spot in a garden railroad magazine (can't remember the name for some reason). Real nice stuff you have going on!
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