Tag Archives: layout design

New York port railroad maps

Posted on July 31, 2017 by

For the map enthusiast, a few more hours of tracing rail lines….. From the UMSL Digital Library, maps of the port of New York , prepared by the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors.  These maps are a set … Continue reading →

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An alternative grouping

Posted on May 28, 2017 by

‘Proto-freelancing’ is far more popular in the USA than in the UK.  Perhaps this is due to the use of the same locomotive designs, with detail differences, across many railroads – for example the iconic F3 and F7 diesels.  Bu … Continue reading →

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Odd modelling idea #1677

Posted on May 16, 2017 by

It’s becoming a forgotten art, converting one model into another prototype.  When I was a teenager, Triang GWR Clerestory coaches could be made into almost anything, with a new roof and a bit of cutting and sticking. But this article suggests … Continue reading →

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Odd modelling idea #999

Posted on May 10, 2017 by

As I return back to the UK and the depths of Redhill….. Here’s why there is a red telephone box graveyard between Merstham and Redhill For most of us who commute by train the journey to work will be a … Continue reading →

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Off my trolley – North Hollywood yet again

Posted on March 14, 2017 by

Noticed recently that the restoration of the old Pacific Electric / Southern Pacific depot at North Hollywood has been completed and reopened as a commuter café on the Metro Orange Line.  This article gives the details, including: The official grand … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration, Layout design, Prototype, Traction | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Dawson Station

Posted on January 5, 2017 by

Another delightful minimum space layout….. Dawson Station is my portable 1′ x 4′ n-scale model railroad layout and is based on the Hull-Oakes lumber mill located in Dawson, Oregon. Hull-Oakes, one of the last steam-powered sawmills in North America, is … Continue reading →

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No New Ideas

Posted on December 10, 2016 by

Mike Cougill continues to post challenging – and dare I say it philosophical – articles on his OST blog.  It is not that common to read contributions from authors who can build models, but also to think and write.  Here … Continue reading →

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The Patch

Posted on November 2, 2016 by

An interesting part of the Los Angeles railway system was ‘The Patch’, an industrial area near downtown Los Angeles, served by the Santa Fe.  The area contains many old buildings and industries, served by a patchwork of tracks down streets … Continue reading →

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A small shunting layout

Posted on October 13, 2016 by

Model Railroad Hobbyist has a very nice ‘shunting plank’ in its October edition.  It’s in ‘O’ gauge, but the dimensions are a very reasonable 11’- 6” x 17’–19” with a 6’ removable extension for operation.  Note that this converts to … Continue reading →

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Is what you see what you get?

Posted on September 19, 2016 by

After a couple of weeks of exhibition photographs, it’s back to the crazed ramblings of the budgie…..  (I’ll try and visit another show soon.) Reading a non-railway magazine I came across this little story. Some years ago, a confectionary company … Continue reading →

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