Since this is my first blog post here, I figured I should give some background on my desired layout. I started out looking to do a proto-freelanced style layout based on Conrail in the mid-1990s. My research lead me to look at portions of Conrail's Lehigh, Reading, and Harrisburg lines for various track arrangments and design elements. The more I looked into this, the more I began concentrating on the Harrisburg line iteself. One of my desires was to have some Amtrak representation on the line so naturally, this led me towards the western end of the line, starting in Harrisburg.

After leaving NJ, the Eastern end of the Penn Western, we cross back over the Delaware as we head to our next destination. The PW has two main lines, one northward to Allentown and one westward to Harrisburg via the Anthracite Coal Region. Some industries represent certain towns in PA that aren't geographically correct like Gettysburg, Shippensburg, Jim Thorpe and Mifflinburg, but the structures themself exist to keep the flavor of modeling PA. We'll next be heading to Allentown. The Allentown section occupies an 8' X 17' pod with 2 liftout sections for access.

Hello, as you know I build scottish modules, but I also got one FREMO moduel with a german theme. It's an industrial estate which is crossed by a one track branchline. Here are some pictures.

I just finished my Rock Island caboose and wanted to show a picture.  Material is styrene with commercial trucks, couplers, smoke jack, brake tank and valve.  The prototype was built on a re-cycled boxcar - hence the outside braces.  More prototype information is here

http://eid.mcor-nmra.org/PDFs/WigWag200612.pdf

Having just installed my first two QSI sound decoders, I must say I'm impressed, but only partially...

Finally I've found some place for my Silver Creek to test the tracks - in the entrance of my basement. I had added an extension into the floor.  And - like you see - testing is fun !!

;

The engine is a leased engine from a friend. Until now I own only these two cars. Now I can start with scenery. First step, building the station.

Wolfgang

Well, there's no point to calling something a chainsaw layout, if you don't cut it up. Yesterday, I decided it was time for my first (4x8) layout.

This layout served it's purpose for the past two years, namely

1. got me into the hobby

2. allowed me to try some things

3. allowed me to run trains while working on the next one

But more and more recently it's just taken up physical space, and become a collection point for tools and junk. I also need to put in a support post for the house in what was basically the same space.

While in another forum, I started a discussion on car floats. We talked about designs, what to make them from and what is currently on the market. I thought I bring part of that discussion here where there are a nmber of folks in all scales who might want to pipe in on the topic.

Over at the Railwire, we got an informal challenge this week to all build, in our respective scales, this:

The powers that be surmised it to be a track bridge that would allow loading of a box car on an adjacent, unseen track.