Bench Work

The South Elkins area is mostly flat. The Tygart Valley River has a large meander that borders the railroad on three sides. There are no other creeks and only one drainage pipe has been found on the valuation map. With this is mind, the landforms are two inch thick blue extruded Styrofoam sheets. These are painted a tan-ish latex paint then cut to fit. These sheets are glued onto the bench work grid with latex construction adhesive, but the sheets are also wedged between the backdrop and a Masonite fascia that extends fro the top of the foam to about two inches below the bench work.

The railroad does traverse a few minimal grades. Along these portions of the right-of-way, the foam is cut out in cookie cutter fashion and carefully raised the appropriate amount. The main grade is on the line to Belington in order to raise it above the staging level. Another grade lifts the rails out of South Elkins to cross the Tygart Valley River heading north. I noted a similar ramp on the prototype and thought it would be interesting to include. Two percent grades are the maximum.

Much of the track is laid directly on the foam with drainage ditches carved into the foam. Homabed branch line roadbed is used on the C&I line and the Belington line. On passing sidings and spurs the track ramps down to the foam level.