Hey guys.  A while back I noted in another post that I have a pretty decent collection of locomotives and rollingstock.  However I have never yet gotten one of the elusive "a-round-to-it" to build a layout (my wife says I'm the world's worst procrastinator).  Be that as it may, I am actually making progress toward a diorama or two.  But until I feel my work in physical world is up to sharing here, I though perhaps you'all might indulge me, and hopefully enjoy, pictures of a couple of locomotives I have created using SketchUp.  Pl

It's been a while.  When I posted last we had bought a house in Northern Va.  and a layout in the basement was in the plans.  Then my Contract was not renewed.....So after 12 years in the DC area, (6/7 years designing/redesigning layout for basement .....I kept loosing space to housing superintendent....i.e.

Hey, Gang. Just getting back into the hobby and I’m deep into sorting out some design considerations for a smallish layout. I thought I’d start a post here to see if anyone would like to follow along or contribute. I’m months away from starting any construction, so I think this will be a fun thought exercise in the meantime. 

You can see our club layout in 2010 and now here.

Well this will be a full time Job, More to come. I will be working hard on this for some time.  

OK, time to get back to work.  If I start making trees now I will be set for the forest I plan to build in years to come.

I think I will give this a go and post how it went.

Enjoy, share and give it a thumbs up!

We are working hard to get basic scenery done on the Inside Gateway layout section in time for the holidays.  But we took time out for this month's running session and we again had a great mix of eras and consists!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAsM4xB6S6g

You can see it here, and see the video here.

I have been buying books about West Virginia railroading and have learned lots over the past 6 weeks.  My future railroad space appears to be about 14 x 40 feet so that is what I have been assuming for my sketches.  The first I am going to post is the Campbell's Creek Railroad based on Todd Hanson's very fine book: Campbell's Creek.  This  railroad has many of the things I am looking for including lots of mines and features to research and build.  It interchanged with the Kanawha and Michigan RR (NYC) east of Charleston WV.

Hey everyone, thought I would show the progress on my Atlas Barb's Bungalow kit. The plan for this is to eventually have a full interior and lighting, but in the meantime, the plan is to do the exterior walls and leave the roof removable both for the future interior/lighting and so I can show it off when it's finished.