2.18. Gravel Works
The Stephen A. Green Stone, Gravel and Ballast Works
This gravel pit replaces the machine factory, which completely filled the space. The gravel pit is a better fit visually, and includes a favorite first-gen kit that appeared on the original Newport & Rock Falls. The dark grey arc in the track plan is a (non-functional) narrow gauge rail line made from T Gauge flex track. And look: the gauge of the flex matches the track detail on the kit!
Incidentally, the gravel works business office is actually the bridge control cabin from the rolling lift bridge. When I relaxed the ground rules, one of the first changes I made was replace the original control cabin with a Kibri switch tower. But I felt the original was still useful; first, it became the yard office, then when I saw a need for the gravel works to have a business office, I reassigned it.
The kit itself is pretty much a straight build. One deviation I made was a little interior detailing: at the right viewing angles, it's possible to see the main structure is completely empty, so I installed the chute assembly from the first coal tower, which had been accidentally smashed beyond repair while the layout was in storage.
At first I was a bit disappointed that I had to orient the gravel works building with the "back" facing the front of the layout. But it turned out for the best: the back is actually the more interesting side of the structure.
By 18 February 2021 I'd completed the little narrow gauge line that serves the gravel works. I scratchbuilt the trestle from strip styrene entirely by eye, with nary a care about precision, since structures such as this often looked spindly and wonky. To wit:
Between 5 and 6 March 2021, the gravel works was just about wrapped up.
Roof Work
I'd always thought that Pola overdid it with the roof holes. After all, the building is there to protect machinery, which I'm certain cost money. Why leave that investment out in the elements? So on 27 March 2021 I patched the holes with black Washi tape. I actually think the roof is more interesting-looking with patches instead of holes.
Pola B250 — A DKS Retro Fave
Known here in the States as a coal mine, this kit is actually a ballast works, so I thought it would be refreshing to feature it in its original form. Back in the day, a powered accessory (Pola B251) allowed the modeler to fill cars by remote control.
Pola B276 — Business Office
The business office is actually the bridge control cabin from the rolling lift bridge.
