#44 – June 2010 Status Report

June 2, 2010

This time we’ll again take a look at some of the recent big changes at Entertrainment Junction (EJ).  Most notably, the brush has been cleared between the I-75 and EJ’s back fence, providing a much better view from the freeway of the mural and the Thomas the Tank Engine track which will run along almost the full length of the back of the building.  The track is shown under construction in Figure 1.  The open door on right leads into the current volunteer workshop.

 

 
Figure 1.   The Outside Thomas the Tank Engine Track

 

Inside, in the layout, there’s a new watercraft, waiting for real water.  One of the canal boats has been installed in the canal in the Early Period, just down the aisle from the Civil War depot (Figures 2).  The canal is still dry, but that fact is difficult to see unless you’re tall enough, so it’ll get by as is, in the near term.

 

 
Figure 2.  Canal Boat

 

The Middle Period city’s Union Station has new platforms (Figure 3) and a walkway with stairs providing access for passengers to each of the platforms.  These replace the large multi-track train shed that was there before.

 

 
Figure 3.  The New Union Station Platforms

 

Farther along the lower level of the Middle Period city, just past the fruit and vegetable supplier stands a new factory (Figure 4).  Its products are 55 gallon steel drums.  They can be seen in various stages of construction via the details that have been added to its interior and exterior.

 

 
Figure 4.  The Steel Drum Factory

 

Still farther along the embankment between the lower and upper levels of the Middle Period city, beyond the drum factory, is a new meat packing plant, complete with holding pens, loading ramps, and cattle (Figure 5).  The interior of the building is also detailed; however, those details are hard to see, because the building is so far away from the aisle.

 

 
Figure 5.  The Meat Packing Plant

 

Right next to the aisle across the tracks from the drum factory in a large new factory, whose product has yet to be identified (Figure 6).  It’s wonderfully detailed, both inside and out, needing only the addition of signs indicating what is made there.

 

 
Figure 6.  New Factory

 

In the Modern City (Oakmore) work has gone on for quite some time on the subway station at the base of the main street (Capital Drive).  That station is now complete, a real work of art produced by Tom Breon, one of the Cincinnati volunteers.  It includes two entries from the parking lot above it, the one with the escalator is shown in Figure 7.

 

 
Figure 7.  Captial Drive Subway Station Entry

 

The station itself (Figure 8), visible through a window in the aisleway wall, is wonderfully detailed, with a curving faceted back wall, reminiscent of the Metro in Washington, D.C.  The platform is well populated, with a variety of folk, including a folk singer in search of donations, with his guitar and guitar case,.  There’s a lit advertising sign, including an ad for EnterTRAINment Junction, and a suggestion that you can “Rest in peace” at the Oakmore Hotel (Hmmmm).  There are subway system maps, benches for waiting passengers, and trash cans.  The lighting flashes, warning that a train is approaching; and the subway trains stop for several seconds after they arrive.

 

 

 
Figure 8.  The Subway Station

 

As always, these few and small pictures don’t do adequate justice to the outstanding modeling of these item and throughout the layout, but I hope that they whet your appetites to see more in person.  You won’t be disappointed.

 

© 2010 Tom Bartsch

MVGRS Big Train Project Coordinator