I could not leave Laurel so barren as it actually was. I had to add more switching operations. Near my home in Streetsville is a large milling operation, once owned by Reid Milling, now owned by Nabisco. The trackage is rather interesting with one spur off the main beside very large grain silos, then on to a slight S curve into another set of silos. There was a second spur that curved over the previous one in a diamond and on to a building. I liked the setting so I decided that the corner of the stairs would be perfect for this trackage. But I did not want the mill as the industry, but something more unique.
In Scarborough, Ontario, there is a large wax factory, International Waxes, which always has many tank cars and lots of activity (railroad wise). Perfect, I'd have International Waxes using Reid Milling's track plan. This will make for some interesting switching.
Once I had the track in place, I realized that I actually had more space at the further end from International Waxes for another two industries. Can't just have one! So I added another spur for a small apple cider mill, which I called Hardey's Apple Cider (Laural and Hardey!). The building is after a cider mill in Brooks Hallow in Ontario.
Another spur to Canada Spool and Bobbin was actually in Walkerton.
Mount Forest was interesting as it was a town the CPR had to back into. They actually had a wye outside of town (no room here for that). It sported a nice station, the only one of that style on the layout, a freight shed and a grain elevator. Lorn Smith Gasoline was actually serviced by the CN, and Brooks is unknown, but most likely the CP. The cattle pen was an added extra, but surely there was one somewhere at some time.
So far I have started scratch building the Cider mill, and kit bash the Wax factory. The station I've done as it was at the turn of the century, a small flag stop. The Mount Forest freight shed is started to give me the size I needed for the space, as also with the grain elevator. Canada Spool and Bobbin plant is a kitbash.
To make things more interesting, I've added a small creek as you start the bend into town. I built a combination wood trestle, steel deck bridge which has both the creek and a small cart trail running under it. It's in a great spot. As you walk down the isle you practically run right into it.
Scenery has been started on the edges for testing purposes. I've decided to try the felt idea for making grass. It's simple enough, glue down some green felt, cut the excess out, and tease out the fibers. You can do just a little teasing to make short grass, or a lot for taller grass. Prior to the teasing I applied different blobs of green and brown die as well as tan acrylic paint watered down. This gives the uneven and colour variations seen in grasses. Later I'll add some brush and ground foam for more texture.
The felt works really well. It goes down fast, and does not take too much time to tease it out. I plan to use this method for most of the layout.
