A key scene on The Downtown Spur is the point where the line crosses 12th Avenue. A major element is the Metrorail line running overhead. However, just because it’s there, should we model it? My next book will be “Realism Principles For Model Railroaders”. Give me four to six months to get it on the […]
Category: Prototype
Strategic Omission
Charm City, Switching’s Promised Land
One of Tradepoint Atlantic’s switchers makes a transfer run between yards. The empty centerbeams were pulled from the massive Home Depot facility. Trains shuttle back and forth between yards all day. A new Starbucks is being built just out of view to the right. Having the luxury of being able to watch prototype switching operations […]
Graffiti Tips
An upgraded Walthers Cryo reefer sits in front of SALCO on the East Rail 2 layout. If you’re a modern era modeler, graffiti is part of the landscape. Here are a few tips to make it more convincing on a model. Working with larger decals takes patience as far as getting them to ultimately sit […]
Salvaging A Soap Carving
As far I know, the only source of my beloved Cryo Reefers is the decades old Walthers model. Although it’s been discontinued, you can still find some kits on ebay. The one I picked up was clearly many decades old. The model came from the old era before the “find standards” freight car production boom […]
Arctic Monsters
About every other time I rail fan in Baltimore there’s a cut of cryogenic reefers spotted at Terminal H (Canton RR territory). These monsters are block-out-the-sun massive. Photos really don’t capture the impact they make in person. Between their size and paint scheme, it’s hard not to be drawn to them. Thirty years ago Walthers […]