Railroads are a major industry in the Iron Kingdoms.
Industrial spurs attract attention on every gaming table it's something different from the typical layout or map.
At track's end, a bumper, wheel stops, wedged or bolted ties or a simple pile of dirt usually keep cars from rolling off the end of the rail. Unless the track is new, spurs seldom have manicured crushed-rock ballast and shiny rail all the way to the end.
The last few feet before the bumper usually look a lot different than the working part of the spur. This area screams for additional detail because cars seldom make it this far. Besides your choice of bumper, add pieces of broken pallets, paper and cardboard scraps and some grass growing between the rails and ties. On older spurs, foul the ballast with mud or bury the ties in mud altogether. For really prominent scenes, add some standing water between the ties and/or rails. And don't forget weeds and small bushes.
For a finishing touch, paint the tops of the last five or ten scale feet of rail a dark rust color. If you're using a bumper with a striker plate, make sure to add some dark rust on the painted plate to simulate it's being bumped by a coupler knuckle.
The last few feet before the bumper usually look a lot different than the working part of the spur. This area screams for additional detail because cars seldom make it this far. Besides your choice of bumper, add pieces of broken pallets, paper and cardboard scraps and some grass growing between the rails and ties. On older spurs, foul the ballast with mud or bury the ties in mud altogether. For really prominent scenes, add some standing water between the ties and/or rails. And don't forget weeds and small bushes.
For a finishing touch, paint the tops of the last five or ten scale feet of rail a dark rust color. If you're using a bumper with a striker plate, make sure to add some dark rust on the painted plate to simulate it's being bumped by a coupler knuckle.
