Author: Lmind1

Site Visits

Visiting your site in person creates a mental link between you and your subject that you simply can’t get from looking at photos online or in a book. This shot was taken looking east down Miami’s 23rd Street in 2007. I was taking in the sound of the aircraft flying out of MIA, the humidity, […]

Crossing 12th Avenue

The local runs down the switchback to pick up an empty at the Miami Produce Center on my Downtown Spur layout. This was a tricky move for the crews because they had to cross 12th Avenue to do so. “Twelfth” is a busy, four lane, boulevard through the heart of town. For whatever reason, there […]

Switching Ops. May 14, 2023

Cars spotted at The Terminal Corporation’s logistics warehouse in Baltimore on a very rainy day in May. The photo above, taken yesterday in Baltimore, illustrates how just a single turnout and judicious industry selection can provide a platform for an interesting operating scenario. Because this is a logistics facility, you can’t just dump cars anywhere. […]

Let There Be Light

As work on the East Rail layout ramps up, one of the more annoying issues has been the “black hole” dark spot in the corner. The poor lighting was really taking the fun out of working on the railroad and needed to be addressed. Adding lighting that is effective and cleanly executed isn’t always that […]

The Good Old Days are Now!

A Tradepoint Rail SW1500 hauls a cut of centerbeams on a transfer run up to the north yard. Among my peer group the 1950’s were, and still are, the holy grail when it comes to modeling subjects. It’s a favorite for good reason. When working with customers over the age 60, the overwhelming majority want […]