I would like to start a club for people like me who don't have a lot of space to work that would love to joint venture on a lease of a small building to use for a model rail club are there any such friends in my area  if so please contact me at Risingtides@verizon.net  Joe

I made a quick update post on the LK&O blog about my backdrop progress. For my US friends, if you find yourself so full of turkey you can't move and clicking is all the motion you can muster up this holiday have a look.

No it's not a model railroad (or even an ideal one)...

It is railroad related.

It's also rather silly...

http://www.flixxy.com/top-gear-trains.htm

Charlie

I sent this to the members of the club and thought a few of you might enjoy it.

Hi Folks, I have been working on  some new signals and thought I would show the group. The store bought ones seem to expensive and most of the time are not to scale. I have combined a TrainCat kit with Oregon Rail Supply heads. I cut the backs off the heads and use just face and hoods... not perfect but pretty good. The LEDs are surface mount without lenses (from Mouser) and I am using Zebra Wire to hook them up. I glue the LEDs to the head with gap filling ACC.     How does it look... any suggestions?

Don Carman

Hi, Jack from Star, Idaho.  I guess we are all on the same train when we must realize that it's time to pass the controls to a new engineer.  As I have mentioned in previous posts I have MS and I have reached the point that things are getting difficult to do and with much thought and sorrow I have to say that I have reached the end of the line.  I need some advise on the best way to sell my layout.  Every thing I have is Ho scale and in really excellent condition.  I have everything from steam to diesel most with decoders and sound.  In addition,

Over on one of the N scale forums there's been a lot of discussion about what's going on with the paper magazines and what that all means for the future of the hobby.

As the publisher of MRH, I track this closely and I have some insight that may help.

For years, the paper magazines have been declining in circulation. Looking at the two leading model railroading magazines, Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman, you can see MR peaked about 1993 and RMC has been steadily dropping since 1980:

This blog will serve as a reference for rolling stock weathering techniques I use on the rolling stock of the Greenpoint Dock & Transfer company.  As cars are deemed complete photos and a summary of techniques used will be added to the post

Has anyone information on either purchasing or making "flags" for engines and crummys (white for extras and green for followingsection) and attaching them?

Second search is for a pair of "elephant ears" either purchase or instructions on making them - I have a Mikado that the NKP used for passenger service and would like to detail it correctly.

Thanks.

The Greater Nickel Plate Lives! Trackwork is completed. Wiring and testing will be started next week with the Golden Spike ceremony still scheduled for the end of the month. After that, ballast, painting, uncoupling ramps, scenery and small details will take place over the next year or two. My railroad is coming together after being in boxes and crates for nearly 30 years! Woo! Woo!

Here are a few photos to share: