SR&RL models

I have been steadily accumulating freight car and structure kits for a future layout based on the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes, which is my favorite of the Maine two-foot gauge lines. Recently I started building some of them, starting with a few freight cars. The coal gondola is a resin kit from F&C, and the rest are laser-cut kits from Mount Blue Model Co. 

The side and end panels for the rack cars were scratchbuilt from strip wood using this simple jig. A bit tedious but the result was worth it!

I've also been working on models of buildings that were located in Kingfield, Maine, including the wood/tool shed, the hydrant house, and the car repair shop. All three kits were released many years ago and are out of production. The tool shed is by Chris Cardinal, the hydrant house is by Kennebunk Models with modifications to match prototype drawings, and the car shop (still in progress) was produced by Portland Locomotive Works. All are painted in the Maine Central color scheme that was used on the SR&RL following its acquisition by the MEC in 1912.

While these buildings are intended for my next layout I will use them on the current one as well, near the roundhouse which will be scratchbuilt. I still need to reinstall the turntable, which was removed when I moved this section back into the train room.

Ball signal

The ball signal is a B.E.S.T. (Bollinger Edgerly Scale Trains) model of the Whitefield Junction signal in New Hampshire. The signal is set to allow the narrow gauge to cross the Maine Central track.  The shack is from Portland Locomotive Works and is based on a structure by Sam Swanson. 

The final step on the crossing was installing the guard rails inside the diamond. Like the other guard rails on the narrow gauge track, it was made using plastic rail to avoid electrical shorts.