Improving the Binghamton Yard scene!

 Hello,

I recently improved the backdrops I use to represent "Selkirk" and "Mechanicville" when I'm photographing and filming virtual ops scenes for our PCCM series posts.   As often happens for me, one project snowballs into another and I found myself wanting to make similar enhancements to my "Binghamton" yard scene to make it look better for our operations.  John and I have referred to the way our participation in PCCMs motivates layout improvements as the "Virtual Ops Catalyst".  Its been effective for me lately!

Here is what Binghamton used to look like on my layout:

It was OK, but the scenery was underwhelming.  Setting it up was also a little inconvenient.  I had to connect two separate foam core sheets representing the sky and strategically place the oversized water tower in the middle of the picture to hide the seam between them.  

After I added better looking Northeastern US mountain scenery to my Selkirk and Mechancville scenes I wanted to create something similar for this one as well.

 Once again I permanently joined two foam core sheets and covered them with cloud printed paper that I found at Michael's craft store.  I then printed off several images of the Catskill Mountains that I found online, and after cropping them for my particular needs glued them to the foam board backdrop.   I replaced the smaller buildings and grain elevator on the left of the original scene with more print-outs of larger brick factory structures similar to those actually seen at Binghamton.  

I then glued all of the scenic elements together so the backdrop is easily moved and stored. 

 Here is how things look now:

This is the Kings Port & Western's fictional CS Yard at Binghamton.  The large background building in the middle is a blow up image of an actual structure in Binghamton.   The long grey freight house creates a staging area for trains from the LV, D&H, and EL to appear from or to duck behind as a way of suggesting interchange with the KP&W in a large yard.  Binghamton Tower is the same structure used for Williams Yard Tower.  I applied the Binghamton name to the other side.

I'm hoping that the long K&W freight house can serve as another PCCM consignee for car forwarding routes yet to be determined.

 I mentioned in my previous post that recent trackwork changes allow me to film trains leaving yards and arriving at my "facade industries" without having to remove cars by hand from my regular layout and place then on my former shelf for photography and filming.   Now I can roll trains directly from CS Yard to the site on my layout where I stage the facade industries like ACME Auto Parts.

Speaking of ACME, the following video shows a KP&W local heading out of CS Yard in Binghamton to serve the Auto Parts maker with a couple of steel coil coaches and a number of boxcars loaded with batteries and other parts.

 

 That completes my new yard scenes!  I'm hoping that they will enhance photos and videos of the KPD's participation in PCCM virtual ops with John's N.Y.C.T.L.  and Neal's  Atlantic Pacific R.R. !