Peter August 14th, 2008
I’ve completed ballasting track 1 and 2 on the front of module 1. I have done half of track 1 on module 2, and will hopefully get more done tonight.
The photos below show the progress so far, along with a few photos of a train on the tracks and signals.
I am going to add some detail bits between the two main tracks to make it a bit dirtier…looks a bit bare at the moment.
Right, here are the latest photos:
An overview of the ballasting progress so far…
I still need to put an LED in one of the NJ International signals (the one with the black target), and I need to paint the target on the other signal (which is fully functional with an LED). I am hoping that the rumour from BLMA about their N scale modern signal bridge is true as that would work perfectly on this part of the layout…but will have to wait and see! In the meantime, I am using the NJ International signals for this section of track.
A couple of photos of a BNSF Autorack train going past the signals
An overview shot of the layout
Peter August 10th, 2008
I’ve finally got round to starting the ballasting. I have completed track 1 on module 1 and will be finishing off track 2 this afternoon and starting on the second module.
So far, so good. I’m impressed with the Arizona Rock & Mineral ballast I bought in Denver in May. The only tricky thing is fighting gravity, as it is heavier than normal ballast, so profiling is not as easy.  I’m having to put a layer of glue on the slope of the trackbed to hold the first layer of ballast, then using that as grip for the next layer.
But in the end it is ending up looking quite good. See for yourself in the photo below. More updates to come soon…
Peter May 18th, 2008
All the styrene has now been laid, and the apron is ready for painting and texturing. However, this will have to wait till I get back from Colorado in a few weeks as I am buying the concrete texture powder from Caboose Hobbies in Denver. I am also purchasing the ballast from them, so will be able to start on the track ballasting as well!
Here are the latest photos.
Peter April 22nd, 2008
I have just started the first layer of the scenery, the ground cover. A second layer will go over this (bushes, weeds, rocks, etc), then I will lay the ballast so that it all blends nicely.
Have a look at the Scenery Gallery to see the first bit of scenery on Rochelle Intermodal.
The first section I am working on is the ground between the main tracks and the edge of the layout. The space between the main tracks will be ballasted, so no use putting any ground cover there. I will add some bits and pieces after the ballasting has been done there, but nothing drastic…a few weeds and other detail bits (old ties, parts fallen off trains, etc).
At the moment I am looking at getting a mix of Arizona Rock & Mineral Co ballast which will be close to the colour of the ballast at Rochelle (a mix of Chicago North Western Pink Lady and CSX/SP grey). It looks like Caboose Hobbies in Denver stocks it, and I am hoping to go to Denver at the end of May, so will bring back some ballast from there. I will only be able to bring back a bit at a time, but at least I can then get started on the ballasting.
I am also about to start laying the concrete apron for the intermodal yard. I purchase sheets of styrene yesterday, along with strip wood for support, and I will hopefully be able to start on that over the weekend.
Right, time for bed…I would rather stay up to do some more scenery work, but some of us have to work…no fun 
