Track Plan and some history??

This is the trackplan. The main yard is in Arcadia and the route extends from Punta Gorda through Arcadia to Lakeland. The railroad was originally used to transport phosphate ore from the Bone Valley to Punta Gorda where it was hand loaded into transport vessels for shipment to the world. The Bone Valley extends north and east from Punta Gorda for many miles and produces 90% of the world's phosphate. The model will simulate the washing and drying of the ore into pure phosphate, the manufacture of fertilizer from the pure mineral and the export of  both the purified mineral and the manufactured products via interchange with CSX, railroad car ferry from Punta Gorda and barge loading at the wharf in Punta Gorda. Most of this still takes place today however not in Punta Gorda.  My condo IS in Punta Gorda so.... that's where the revisionist history takes over.

Laser leveling for the benchwork and backdrop

The laser is self leveling so it projects absolutely vertical and horizontal lines on the walls. I used the laser to guide my marks for the tape. The tape is the outline for the backdrop and the lower line of tape will mark the guide for the installation of the wire shelving

A new beginning - a room sized model railroad

This is the spare bedroom in the Florida condo that will be converted into the railroad. The closet doors and the vertical blinds have been removed and the "stuff" had been organized so that the rug is mostly visible:) and the real work can begin.

Canal Cruise Day 7 - Costa Rica

Ooops, we couldn't get into our berth due to the bad weather. Oh well, one extra day at sea will have to due.

Canal cruise Day 6 - Sub close up

No flag?? Looks modern though.

Canal cruise Day 6 - Canal Railroad

Looks like railroad MOW facilities, track supplies and an old engine house however only one lone crane on the tracks. This area is now between the old locks and the new one just opened for the super size ships so perhaps these tracks are now cut off from the rest of the system.

Canal Cruise Day 4 - Curacao departure

Pontoon bridge over docking channel

 Pontoon bridge swings open to allow us to pass.

 

Next:)