This is one great operational layout.  Lots of trains and cars to move and spot.  Thank to Bob Moore tons of fun.  

Here is my first post on this group.  After much prep work and my weird space I've developed a version of the Louisville & Indiana line that I think will provide some interest.  My main criteria is to get a loop of track up and running before the last of my kids leave the nest.  I wanted a passenger layout but was not sure I could run the long trains in this space to be interesting.

For those that have read my blogs, I am modeling the early Illinois Terminal, or the Illinois Traction as it was known before the 1930's.  My next project is recreate the early drop bottom gondola hoppers that the Illinois traction had as shown in this photo below courtesy of Mike Fourtney's collection. Specifically it is car 3065 in the foreground.  The Illinois Traction Company had about 300 of these I think.  

This is a chronical of the restoration of my railway that started in 2000 but has been neglected and become decrepit. The rails were torn up and the right of way taken down to the roadbed. Some thoughts of where to go at this point would be appreciated. 

I’ve updated this with a name that represents my wife and I in the name (Sherrill & Neil Erickson or S&NE). 

Neil

Now that Iowa Scaled Engineering is close to releasing their new ProtoThrottle, and since I've been blessed with the opportunity to beta test the PT for the last year, I thought I'd create this post and its accompanying videos with a few tips on configuring and operating it.

My plan is to use servos to move the points of my turnouts. To that end I have ordered a bunch of servos from HobbyKing. I chose one that was recommended by MERG (Model Electronics Railway Group) to use with their kit form of the Megapoints controller. The Megapoints board is a commercial product that was offered to MERG to be made into a DIY electronics kit at a reduced price. I ordered the kit and built it with no problems. It requires a 12v DC source at a minimum of 2A. I am using a switching power supply for that from China. 

14 The Trestle at Sulphur Gulch

16 STAGING

13 Benchwork

12 The Helix