I attended the LDSIG/OpSIG/NMRA PCR joint regional meeting in Santa Clara, CA during the weekend of January 24-25, 2009. http://homepage.mac.com/jacobsen/LORM2009/

I noticed that every time I return to this web page I have to log in. It logs me out automatically. Is this going to be a normal thing from now on ?

I'm having a little fun with the idea of clutter and the way that some modellers have created a reality by moving the concept of reality--to one less 'cluttered'--ie; to any area that resembles anyplace in the semi-arid to arid regions of North America. Or, in the case of Lance Mindheim, creating a less cluttered approach by placing one layout in a more modern industrial park--more modern buildings being cleaner in outline and form. In a way we can now discuss this as a form of minimalist realism.

Happy Tuesday.  It's finally snowing on our nation's capitol today, so what better day to think about model trains?  I've uploaded the latest track plan, as mentioned in my last post.  If you refer back to the one beofre, you'll see the basic concept is intact, but a few tracks have been changed to accommodate suggestions.  So, I'm putting it out in your capable hands for comment.

Many small layout need a lift-up or duck-under to help their layout accept a doorway.

Here's mine - it is strictly functional which makes it easier to build as it does not need scenery to hide it.

For those of you who had a chance to attend the Great Train Expo in Louisville, KY last weekend, thank you.  The promoters estimated the total attendence to be around seven to eight thousand.  For us, the Radcliff Model Railroad Association, the event was a big success.  There were crowds of children of all ages around our three layout displays (On30 8' x 16', HO modular 12' x 75', T-Trak 30" x 12') from the time the doors opened in the morning of the first day to the time they closed at the end of the second day.  I'm sure the venders were

Here is a diagram of my small S-scale layout. 

When I first designed it I had no room for turntables.  Later, as I began running, I saw the need for some way to turn locos.  I devised two turntables simple in operation.  The first one is at the end of a fortuitous industry spur.  For a pivot bearing it uses telescoping brass tubing.  The bearing surface is styrene on styrene.  Operation is manual with an MRC DCC reverser.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, January 22, 2009 (Pacific Time), Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine reached 20,000 downloads of issue 1!

Our goal was to reach the 20,000 mark on issue 1 by the time issue 2 was released in April 2009. Rather than taking the expected 90 days, MRH achieved its 20,000 download goal in just 12 days - and the downloads of issue 1 continue!

Where is the top for a totally forever free model railroading magazine like Model Railroad Hobbyist? Frankly, we're not sure!

Please keep telling all your friends and modeling buddies about us - the larger our download count, the more interesting we are to hobby advertisers. And the more advertising we get, the more likely it is that we will be around a long time.

Also, if we get enough circulation and advertising interest, it's very likely we'll seriously consider going monthly at some time in the future!

So spread the word - we are now here, we're a great read, and we're forever free to download!

http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp299/Feldman718/bayridge2.jpg

If the above works, it shopuld be the basic layout of the Bay Ridge car float aprons (along the left side) and the yard areas that support them. You'll note that there is alot of other stuff in the plan including the Long Island Rail Road Lumber Docks which do not exist any more as fart as I know.

While we all wait for Joe to finish the site server upgrades (and I think it's great that the launch of the e-zine was so successful as to prompt upgrades), I have been busily working on the layout.  I have a revised trackplan, incorporating the run-around track suggestion, as well as a revised yard ladder arrangement on segment 2.  I've also done some bad order inspections for my locomotives.  The older ones probably need s agood celaing out and re-greasing, and I have about 1/2 of my collection to add MT couplers to.  Good news is I have lots o