The two major pieces of the BQR are now sitting in the rec room in our new location. I have been contemplating how I want to rebuild and change it. In the old location it was tucked into a tight 7'x10' corner. So of necessity it had an 'L' shape. The new space is 20' long but limited in width. So the old landscaped helix goes at one end and the yard at the other. And something new in between. The landscaping survived quite well -- I had packed up all the trees, structures and figures -- they are still at the off-site.

A part of my layout design & initial build is what if any automation strategy should be employed and with that what elements are needed.  The overall aspects will likely evolve with the layout.  However, the first sections that will be built are the staging area.  These will be permanently installed from nearly day one.  So the automation strategy for that section is really needed now.  

Recently moved into a new home. The boxes. The stress. The throwing out of things. Moving can be as destructive as a fire. 

More than 10 years ago I purchased three BLI UP E9s, the "Heritage" units currently on the UP roster.  One of the E9As is an "Executive Series" DCC+sound equipped, but the other E9A and the E9B are "Stealth Series."  I'm building my first DCC layout and I want to equip these two units with decoders.  I'm not particular whether they are sound-equipped or not, but I can't find any recommendation for an appropriate decoder anywhere on the web.  Can anyone help with advice on this?

It's finally here, the long anticipated VIA Rail Canadian by Rapido Trains Inc.Below is my revue of this exquisite model.

Bingham Canyon railroads went through two conversions, from steam to electric motors in the late 1920s then electric to diesels late 1970s. The Electric motors gave them great reliable service for 50 years.

Well we made are move across the country and here is a  look at the new site of the new Colorado Front Range.

My entire blog index.  Updated 21/09/2021​​​​​​​

• The Elusive - RDG SD45 Extended Cab...

• 3D Printing in HO, endless possibilities...

• G Type/Tri-Light - Triple Head Signal Mast...

This is mostly a test of the 4K capabilities of my cell phone, as well as combining my stabilizer rig with the cell phone. Seemed to work pretty well.

I think I've figured out why I'm going so slowly on the scenery on my layout - I'm not very good at it yet, and I want to get better before I start going whole hog. I also want to get the railroad operating, which at this point is a combination of data entry and getting enough locomotives set up to my satisfaction.

Its always a unique experience when you work with the same locomotive on your day job as the one you model at home.  While its always tricky to capture the correct angle one would get from a ground perspective, I tried to match them as much as possible in the following images...