My descent into railroad madness started when I decided to create a train tunnel for my father’s G-scale indoor train set as a Christmas gift. I planned to incorporate two laser-engraved portals I had designed and create a waterfall feature. I clearly needed to learn better techniques as I stumbled down the track. 😉
I liked the shape, although it might have been too deep. I was going to cover it in paper-mâché, but as I hid it on one of my dad’s visits, the dogs got too playful and destroyed it. Lesson learned.😭
After much research on structure building, I created the hill from an old Amazon box, foam board, and Woodlands Scenics Scaper Sheet materials. I found foliage and decorative ideas on a trip up Logan Canyon. Added some trees from the Christmas village décor and gave the plaster a good wash of colors.
Christmas was a huge success, and my dad loved his Tunnel! I first gave my dad some Schleich Wildlife animals, telling him it was to remind him of the animals we saw on our last trip. He probably thought he would display the black bear, elk, and fox on his desk. Then I brought out the rest of his present!
He had fun placing his animals around the scenery and watching the train going through the portals. Unfortunately, my calculations were off, and one of the trains could not fit through the portals without taking its stack off. 🫣
Many ideas were tossed about on how to fix the Tunnel; however, we eventually decided to redesign the portals and raise the mountain. My mother said it best at the end of the video clip-
“Well, this is just the beginning.”
So not only has the Tunnel grown, it’s expanded! Dad’s display ideas now include a bridge, lake, and mountains. Thus, the Tunnel Project was born.
It was supposed to be simple, but like any dedicated model railroaded, we have learned – we’re now just in it for the fun!
Life takes many twists and turns down the track of life. Sometimes, we are derailed for a time or sidelined to destinations unknown. I have discovered that where I thought I was going and where I am today are two separate tracks that parallel each other and have entirely different views.
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