Category: Opinion

The Finished Mini-Library

The mini-library I first mentioned in my April 3rd post is now complete. Our hobby is heavily research and media-based. If you can’t find something, or it takes forever to dig it out, you’re always behind the eightball. Mounds of unused items become something you need to continually crawl over. I spent a number of […]

Managing Print Media

New library in my under-construction mid-century modern layout room. Understanding how the brain works, how it reacts to visual material, experiences it, and remembers things plays a major role in our hobby. For deeper dives, subjects that warrant closer study and reflection, print is more effective than digital. The experience has more depth and we […]

A Day in Georgetown

1951 USGS aerial view showing the endpoint of the B&O’s Georgetown Branch. (Washington, DC.) Photo courtesy of Ben Sullivan. Ben goes into much more detail on these aerials on his site HERE. Last weekend, I attended what was probably the most relaxing and enjoyable operating session I’ve ever experienced. It was graciously hosted by my […]

A Two Turnout Layout

LAJ Alco S-2 #1 basks in the sun awaiting its next assignment. 1964. ebay slide scan. Photographer unknown. It’s interesting how a little information, often innocuous on the surface, can totally change our perspective and make us realize that our layout offers opportunities we hadn’t considered before. Even better, this expanded view can be realized […]