Levi Barry Coal Co.

[Sawdust]

Thanks Mike, Andy & MikeC. You know MikeC this is one of those things where it looks better if things aren't straight, even, symmetrical or the same. They probably roughly cut these I-Beams with a torch, roughly milled the wood beams & probably never cared too much about sinking the I-Beams in the ground very even as long as they did the job. Even if they did, ground movement by freeze & thaw periods would have caused everything to move.

I stained & washed with A/I the wood beams. I will probably add some smaller sections at the two ends, maybe flank them a little.
Before the A/I wash.


After the wash.




Thanks again for viewing!

[ak-milw]

Jim,
The markings on the boards are perfect!!

[Sawdust]

Well the Mine is back, remember the tunnel portals I built back in the early winter.
Here is the tunnel all foam boarded up.


SawdustJr always gets up on top of things when he is working. I can remember not to long ago I had to lift him up there.




This Portal won't be finished for awhile because it is breaking on one of the sections & will join the other.


I will be working on this end of the tunnel because it runs behind the Coal Tipple.


I laid the track inside & ballasted.


This is the side I'll be working on.


Here is the crumbled aluminum foil I posted awhile back to line the inside of the tunnel.


I piled some ballast up against the bottom to give it a finished look. I only did what was visible from the outside.


Here is my concoction for my ballast. It is a mixture of sand, a little of Woodland scenics ballast, white tile grout, & a little Structolite.


Here I'm going to spread some Structolite around the base of the tunnel for some scenery later. I drive a few drywall screws into the bench work so the plaster will adhere to the wood without pulling away while setting up. I leave the heads stick up slightly.


Tomorrow I'm going to lay some track under the Tipple & do some planning & if I do enough I'll post some pics. Glad your still with me & Thanks for viewing.

[Steve]

Looking sweet Jim!
Those tunnel portals will look awesome there.....Great job

[ak-milw]

Jim,
We are with you all the way!! Keep up the posts!!

[GrampysTrains]

That tunnel and portals is looking good, Jim. I've found that mixing some Sculptamold with the Structolite mix will stick to anything. I use about a 1 part Sculptamold- 4 parts Structolite/Gypsolite. DJ.

[Jeff LaPorte]

Jim, progress is looking good, Now I'm going to get off this computer and do some modeling..

[Sawdust]

Thanks Steve, Andy, Jeff & DJ for the tip. I will try that.

[Paulanator]

Jim,
looks great, I really like your inside tunnel wall material, very clever....

[Sawdust]

Thanks Paul, I have used this method several time & liked it, quick & simple.

I did some more work on top of the tunnel, this will be removable.
Here is a layer of ceiling tile that will be glued & an access hole cut into it over the middle of the tunnel.




The foam board structure will be the removable part.


The tunnel portal coming out of the area behind the Tipple.




Just some track planning. I put a Pennsy caboose in the middle for some of you Eastern modelers.








Thanks for viewing everybody & stay tuned in for more!