Utrainia is expanding

Now that the prairie scene is more or less finished, it's time for Utrainia to expand. Since every module so far has been a straight line, I decided it was time to make a corner module.

So this morning I jumped on the computer, fired up Inventor and started sketching out a track centreline and the module boundaries. The great thing about Inventor is that it's parametric, so you can define relationships between things, such as "these two lines need to be parallel, at 45° to everything else, and 300mm apart. You can then drag things around until everything lines up.

So plan in hand I went down to the workshop and started chopping my timber.

A couple of hours later and I had the ends made up:

A great way to end the day

After a week of overcast weather, it was with a happy heart that I saw some rays snaking into the office this afternoon. So after work I grabbed a quick dinner and camera in hand, headed off up the road.

As luck would have it, the regulars were there with a short manifest. I checked on the scanner and they were waiting to take possession of the next block, so I knew I'd have a good half hour or so of shooting. 

Focus stacking

I bought a new camera the other week, and reports of a good snowfall up in the mountains had me itching to use it. So today I packed myself a lunch, grabbed a book, and hit the road, heading for my favourite spot again.

There was less snow on the road this time so I was able to park just around the corner. I opened up the laptop and started picking up some ATCS transmissions. Soon I had a pretty clear picture what was happening out there... nothing. Never mind, I had my book to keep me company and knew that in an hour or so the regular Glacier Express passenger train would be coming through.

Sure enough, a couple of hours later I saw the track occupancy circuits on the ATCS lighting up, so I headed out and set up for my shot. Unfortunately with no other traffic on the line there would be no crossings or breaks here, and hence I'd only get the one shot.

Building lighting

It was going to be another long night, I could tell. The siding was being shunted tomorrow and we had a load of grain going out, so everyone was rushing to get the last of their harvests in today. Which of course meant another late night at the weigh bridge for me.

I'd run all the numbers and my radio serial (Drag Net) had finished, so I stepped outside for a breather. There was a warm breeze blowing and the crickets — or were they frogs — were loud, as usual. Sometimes I wonder if they ever sleep.

I wandered down the road a little and looked back up at elevator. It was quite a sight looming up there, flood lights over the loading bay. Tomorrow I'd probably have to climb out on the roof and inspect the cyclones. Off in the distance I cou...

Sunset at the grain elevator

They say there is nothing better than Summer in Utrainia. I'm inclined to agree. Coming home one evening I saw some activity down at the grain elevator. I pulled off the road, grabbed my camera and went off to investigate.

Turns out the hot new kids in town were doing a spot of shunting, and the lighting was just perfect.

I clicked off a few shots and then headed for home. A friend in a chopper (a Robinson R22 I believe) forward this to me, I'm surprised I'm not in the shot!

San Luis and Rio Grande SD90s

New motive power is rare is rare here in Utrainia, but this morning I got word that some very eagerly awaited locos were heading out for a test run. I made a quick call to the San Luis and Rio Grande yard office and found out their plans for the day. Seems they were scheduled to haul the prestigious Ski Train! To see the Ski Train running was great news, but with a pair of fresh SD90/43s on the front! Oh boy!

I immediately put all other plans on hold, topped up the car with gas and hit the road. I knew exactly where I could catch it, a nice little clearing up north where the double track turned into a single track section. As I got closer I noticed the weather closing in and soon there was snow at the sides of the road. Luckily I had chucked my All Weather Railfanning Crate in the back with plenty of warm socks, mittens, arctic-grade jacket and so forth. Winters here in Utrainia are known to be unforgiving, so it pays to be prepared.