added: March 28, 2018  /  updated: October 12, 2022 (Part 4)

 for bigger size photos you may click on the 4-digit number under each photo

Part 1: Pictures from 2015 to 2017 show the construction of his new layout
6/06/2015 it was started on a bare table - 2006	6/06/2015 - 2007
8/25/16 - 9104	8/25/16 - 9102
9/06/16 elevated track bed was done - 9276	9/06/16 - 9274
9/25/16 whole elevated part is done - 9395	10/11/16 tracks need ballast - 9606
10/19/16 insulation foam was used . . . - 9634	10/19/16 . . . for the rock formations - 9637
10/24/16 afterwards, cutting is to shape - 9684	10/24/16 - 9688
10/28/16 next step is painting the foundation - 9777	10/28/16 - 9773
12/04/16 adding gray paint to give structure - 7874	12/24/16 adding some yellow/red mixture - 8134
12/24/16 sand was added - 8136	12/31/16 test run around the rock formations - 8249
4/26/17 test run with a long unit train - 0052	5/06/17 another test run with a manifest - 0110
6/19/17 roadbed is finished - 8047	6/19/17 again, insulation foam was applied - 8049
7/16/17 a long bridge was mounted - 8334	7/16/17 - 8341
5/21/17 landscaping makes the difference - 0356	11/06/17 test run over the bridge - 8316
9/29/17 gray paint was applied - 7875	9/30/17 and another test run was made - 7907
12/29/17 Arizona style colors - 8697	12/29/17 three test units make their round - 8705

 updated: February 9, 2019

Part 2: Pictures from 2018 show the continued construction of his new layout
1/14/18 Here is the construction of roads. I was checking a few examples on Google to get an idea. - 8772	1/15/18 home made template for the RR Crossings - 8782
1/20/18 all roads are made of cardboard - 8843	1/20/18 everything was hand painted - 8845
2/18/18 overview w/rock formations in the middle - 9151	3/02/18 construction of new small bridge - 9275
3/06/18 construction of the wooden tunnel - 9323	3/07/18 portal and retainig walls are painted - 9345
3/09/18 new small bridge (scratch built) - 9355	3/13/18 new bridge was mounted after the tunnel - 9394
3/16/18 setting up my big wooden trestle . . .  - 9416	3/19/18 . . . which was on my old layout. - 9440
4/18/18 construction of two modules. - 9809	4/18/18 overview of new corner module - 9812
4/25/18 laying pebbles and sands for the "desert" scenery - 9918	4/26/18 different size gravel and sand to get realistic look - 9954
5/05/18 Following construction of the two modules with sculpture of the rocks with a dremel tool. - 0024	5/05/18 ready to apply first coat of paint. - 0038
5/21/18 setting up the decor with grass and rock. - 7905	5/23/18 landscaping on the right side is done. - 7938
6/08/18 construction of the road bridge. - 8131	6/08/18 bridge is loaded with weight until glue is dry - 8134
6/23/18 fresh insulation foam was applied. - 8306	6/26/18 rock formations are finished - 8360
7/01/18 last module seen from above. - 8468	7/25/18 construction of the upper part of the metal bridge with wood and cardboard. - 8802
7/29/18 following the metal bridge for the last module. - 8919	8/01/18 the metal bridge is painted - 8949
8/14/18 construction of the last module. - 9138	8/22/18 the upper steel bridge is mounted - 9288
8/28/18 aalmost finished module. - 9418	8/29/18 UP power on test run over both bridges - 9501
9/04/18 construction of the two removable parts . . . - 9579	9/07/18 . . . to join the two modules. - 9620
10/06/18 upper part of the last module. Before the foam could be applied I mounted a thin wire net to protect the tracks below. - 9928	10/06/18 afterwards I mounted wooden rods to retain the foam so that it does not collapse on the existing decor. - 9933
11/06/18 correction of curved tracks in the separation of modules on copper plate. - 0141	11/06/18 new wiring of the curved track connection. - 0147
11/20/18 correction of curved tracks in the separation of modules on copper plate, and correction of the pillars of the metal bridge. - 0256	11/20/18 I realized a little late that they were not right, so I preferred to redo ... it did not show too much, but as soon as I saw the mistake ... I could not leave it that way. - 0257
11/23/18 landscaping has started - 0283	11/24/18 vegetation was added - 0298
12/15/18 site of the collapsed tunnel - 0391	12/15/18 abandoned old tunnel w/buried gondola - 0393
12/30/18 Amtrak by Märklin on test run - 0551	12/30/18 Amtrak train is leaving upper tunnel - 0576
Below are 3 short Videos of this Layout
Video: Z Scale Amtrak West	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TCIHByPpH4
Video: Z Scale UP Heritage 1	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZeLra5N8Pg
Video: Z Scale UP Heritage 2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB4R3TUiX2A

updated: October 29, 2019

Part 3: Pictures from 2019 show the continued construction of his new layout
1/09/19 this part needs new rock formations . . . - 0693	1/15/19 . . . with geological rock layers - 0745
2/01/19 vegetation with lots of bushes added - 7999	2/03/19 vegetation with lots of bushes added - 8013
3/13/19 lots of bushes and trees have been mounted - 8351	3/13/19 lots of bushes and trees have been mounted - 8354
5/04/19 construction of the garage "showcase" - 8609	5/14/19 scratch built risers for the wooden trestle- 8649
6/18/19 another structure was built - 8895	6/27/19 the first risers have been put in place - 8947
7/07/19 all risers have been mounted - 9018	7/11/19 finished lower wooden trestle - 9043
8/19/19 adding of different buildings - 9308	10/12/19 more buildings have been placed - 9737
9/04/19 overview of current construction status - 9455	9/04/19 overview as seen from the other side - 9465
10/12/19 SP-Daylight passing the train station - 9735	10/25/19 Coffee shop along Route 66 "showcase" - 9845
10/25/19 added vegetation with lots of cactus - 9848	10/25/19 landscaping around the buildings - 9849
10/27/19 it is actually a pity to hide this curve . . - 9860	10/27/19 . . therefore, I decided to open it - 9863
below are some new videos taken between March & December 2019
Video 1 - 3/03/19: Ferromex & Santa Fe 3	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pe6osHE0jY
Video 2 - 3/03/19: BNSF/KCS & UP	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbLbCOa37ys
Video 3 - 3/13/19:  Rio Grande	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxt1feGujzo
Video 4 - 3/19/19:  Rio Grande with 111 cars	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXo8iJ0s60E
Viedo 4 - 4/12/19: UP/BN/AT&SF/SP	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5d337VwzDQ
Video 5 - 5/02/19: GP35 Micro-Trains	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmxgO38C4QE
Video 6 - 7/28/19: Ferromex / BNSF	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFAkgyMjxkk
Video 7 - 7/28/19: SP / AT&SF	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlNJwdiZAvw
Video 8 - 9/17/19: Montana Rail Link / Amtrak Superliner	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdiGuHfhHWM
Video 9 - 10/05/19: UP SD70M & Big Boy	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccLN59L9RIA
Video 10 - 10/10/19: SP Daylight, SP gray/red and SP Black	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8K6SmHr3fE
Video 11 - 10/26/19: Citirail / Santa Fe	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS7e20bzHJU
Video 12 - 12/17/19: Santa Fe / Rio Grande (4'53")	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50bVvUvxlGo

updated: October 12, 2022

Part 4: Pictures from 2020 show the continued construction of his new layout
11/19 corner module with plaster applied - 9961	11/19 ground cover applied - 9974
11/19 tunnel with high clearance for double stacks - 9987	11/19 module almost finished - 8080
2/20 I moved the tunnel approx. 50 cm backward - 8796	2/20 new landscaping is finished - 8923
3/20 the existing tunnel will be daylighted - 9041	3/20 removing of the existing tunnel - 9055
4/20 construction of new bridge - 9173	4/20 new bridge is almost finished - 9226
5/20 landscaping around the houses - 9435	5/20 Santa Fe C44-9W locos in action - 9579
5/20 House of Tim Burtons Beetlejuice movie by Animek Models - 9887	5/20 finally mounted on the layout - 9894
6/20 romoval of the old tunnel - 9625	6/20 the tunnel section has been daylighted - 9640
6/20 landscaping with plaster- 9679	6/20 construction of new RR bridge - 9722
6/20 finished RR bridge and new road bridge - 9803	7/20 harvesting flowers to make trees - 8090
8/20 new house on top and planting trees - 8400	8/20 lots of trees have been planted - 8428
8/20 old windmill - 8764	8/20 horeses are competing with the UP diesels - 8849
10/20 construction of houses with cardboard . . . - 9286	10/20 . . . with windows and doors from RS Laser Kits - 9452
10/20 double tank truck on the road - 9422	10/20 a WP box car is used as a warehouse - 9424
12/20 freight warehouse with loading ramp - 0096	12/20 fully decorated with lots of items and workers - 0338
12/20 a 3rd track will be built for longer trains - 9555	12/20 3rd tarck is installed - 9608

Photos copyright by Patrik Siegfried (Switzerland)