Hollywood and The Downtown Spur


Film often contains a large art component and a lot of thought goes into the backdrop locations they use for their shoots. Picking the right one can really set the tone. The Downtown Spur has appeared at least three time on film and t.v. I suspect there have been others. Miami Vice. Crockett Meets Tubbs […]

Downtown Spur Op. Session


There is probably no person on earth that knows the nitty gritty details of CSX operations in Miami more than Tolga Erbora. It was a pleasure to have him run a one person operation session of the layout during the Mid-Atlantic RPM open house. He documented everything on video which you can watch HERE. His […]

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 […]

Downtown Spur Video


When he was up here last weekend, Tolga Erbora filmed what was probably the best video ever produced of my Downtown Spur layout. It’s amazing to me that he filmed this…while operating..with a cell phone. Throttle in one hand, phone in the other. Great job my friend! I have to say I’m very happy with […]

Sight Lines


My new, and long awaited, view block to control sight lines when walking into the layout room. The layout room environment matters and it matters a lot. A big part of that relates to sight lines. By that I mean what you see as you stand in the room and take the layout in. Of […]