Great Northwestern Railway

It is SO easy to get ahead of yourself on a layout.  Such was the case for me.  I was definitely excited about getting some track down.  But laying track before installing a backdrop is not the best idea.  Sooo... time to put up some backdrops!  None of this is technically difficult.  Sharing some ideas that may help someone out there. Started with 3/32 (1/8") Masonite (or Masonite equivalent - the thin, wobbly stuff) and painted them white.  The white provides a nice surface for painting later on. Windows... framing... all looks a bit crude.  Watch the transformation.... I had put 2x3 posts up at strategic locations to support the Masonite.  As it turned out, I needed more, so they were added.  Once they were in, I used short (1-1/4") drywall screws to attach the sheets.  Each hole was pre-drilled and countersunk to keep the surface of the backdrop material as smooth as possible.   Just adding some white background changed it from 'just a train roo

Exciting Announcement! After (literally) 50 years of the Great Northwestern Railway (I came up with the name BEFORE my teen years), the GNW finally has an official logo!   Many thanks to the creative genius of my good friend Dalton Vanhooser for developing the idea and making it happen.  If you are ever in the need of a top-flight graphics design artist, look him up.

It is with great pleasure that the management and staff of the Great Northwestern Railway announce completion of the upper deck track work.  This important completion connects Chloride Junction with El Vado and Warm Springs.  Until now, our equipment and rolling stock were islanded. A short work train has been working from the Chloride side.  As soon as the connection was made at El Vado, Powder River and Chugwater Alco C420 #1383 was able to be run over the new line.  The GNW has been accumulating lease charges on the locomotive as it had been stranded since the work on the new line started. The following photos were taken by an anonymous railfan-photographer who chased 1383 over the new line. The Alco working its way up previously existing track past the Sunset Motel.  The new track starts just to the right of this photo. Climbing up out of El Vado, the line goes over former Mesa City  roadway and light industry.  The GNW purchased the land for the track realignment; busi