A pair of CF7s toil away on The Palmetto Spur, a layout designed for acquiring the most crucial asset we need to embark on a model railroad layout: basic skills. Going back in time and getting a redo on some of our past life decisions, the thought crosses all of our minds. Unfortunately, the harsh […]
Author: Lmind1
Arrow Reload Systems – An Ideal Subject for A Switching Layout
A telephoto shot facing southward (towards Fruitland Avenue) into the Arrow Reload complex in Vernon, CA. There are at least four customers in this shot, the hoppers on the left, the coil car, two gondolas, and a different hopper customer barely visible on the right behind the switchstand. There’s lots of action and car variety […]
The LA Trip
A gift from the heavens. Cloudy all day, the sun finally broke out during the golden hour just as this southbound transfer run from Hobart Yard appeared on the horizon. I’m standing on the south sidewalk of Pacific Blvd., facing north. Malabar Yard is directly behind me. The tank cars are from Exxon/Mobil about a […]
Lost Civilizations
A duo of Geep 15’s rolls through the Philadelphia suburbs on the proto-freelance Chester Valley Railroad. Now a Genesee and Wyoming shortline, the line was originally conceived by modeler Hardold Geisell in the 1930s. Last fall, I was streaming one of these quasi-conspiracy series on Netflix. The premise of this particular show was that the […]
What the Hobby Greats Do Differently
Mastery of scene composition is probably the foremost skill Mike Confalone employs to put him on the list of all-time hobby greats. Throughout any given year, there’s the recurring thread of what makes a model railroad great. Given the subjective nature of the topic, everybody’s answer will be different. Not discussed that often is what […]