From the photos above and the few contained here, you can see I've made some progress on the Eerie/Lackamoney RR over the past year. Nearly all the benchwork was completed (save for one more peninsula to be added later), and about 90% of the track has been laid. My focus was to finish wiring for the Lenz DCC system I'm using to control the layout, and to finish doing the scenery and ballast in the yard area and the refinery. I pretty much have achieved those goals, only s

     Geez, it's been a loonnngg time since I posted any updates on my layout. I've done a ton of work since my last blog entry including tearing down the original 4X8 (expanded to 5X9) layout, and building a lot of new benchwork. I now have roughly 200 sq. ft. with about 150 ft. of main line and passing track. I'll try to post some pics if I can remember how. I'm roughly following a sorta prototype plan of the CN/GTW subdivision between Port Huron and Flint,MI.

So, It's been qui

     I watched a show on The History channel this AM about the evolution of steam trains in the US.

     My daughter and I attended Trainfest 09 on 7-24-09. We were originally going to take the daylong excursion on 4449, but decided to forego that and take a short ride and spend the rest of the day looking at exhibits and wandering the grounds.

So, tomorrow AM I'm off to Owosso, Mi. for Trainfest 09. I'm looking forward to the smell of hot lubricating oil and coal smoke (well, oil smoke anyway). Although I'm not a big fan of steam, I'm looking forward to a ride on the "Daylight". My daughter and son-in-law bought tickets for she and I for my b'day, so its off we go. Its about an hour and a half from my house to Owosso, so we're leaving early and hope to have eight hours or so at the site.

I have been trying to find a source for two cornerstone kits for almost six weeks. I'm trying to find the Nort Shore Refinery kit, and the Modern Amtrak station one as well. They're both retired and the only place I've been able to locate them is on E-Bay. I guess that I'm just not very adept at the whole bidding thing, as I've lost out on both items twice. It's kind of good news and bad news, though.

First attempt to post pics of new benchwork.           Gerry S.

     First of all, I want to thank all who respnded to my query concerning DCC for their input. Again I'm impressed with the degree of civility on this site as I've had some negative experiences on other ones. There has been some progress on the construction of the "new" Eerie-Lackamoney RR. I have completed three sections of benchwork. Two along the wall shelf units (although not shelves, technically), and one unit for a 5X9 peninsula.