Apparently one of my MTH Alco PA-1's has lost its mind. MU'd with the lead NKP unit #180, unit #181 just doesn't do anything. Running a Digitrak Zephyr power system on my layout and at the club, I've been told that there isn't enough power to program these engines with sound and that I need some type of "booster." 

So, say you are modeling the modern era... say... 2014...

Well, there is now no longer any excuse NOT to have Steam running up the 10 Freeway (Interstate 10) in Los Angeles!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAJaVlwfnHk&ytbChannel=Snuffy%27s%20Cat%...

This video fills me with so much zen... (notice the drivers in cars don't seem to pay it a second glance, but every car alarm in every parking lot notices!)

Here's a few photos of Ashland, a small shelf switching layout built to show off my Brownville and Ashland Railway custom painted locos and stock. All of the locos and most of the freight cars are by Southern Tier Modelworks and the crane was made by Smokebox Graphics. The layout itself is 6ft long by 14" wide with a 4ft fiddleyard and a small run off at the other end to help with switching.

In today's meet the modeler we interview Joshua Smith. Where we discuss the art, other modelers and a world scene of scale artist who is breaking out in a new mainstream art-form.

I've spent the last couple of months doing some reconfiguring here. I've swapped out several decoders for LokSound Select Direct's, done a fair amount of re-decaling of most of my locomotive fleet into WW logos, built a staging yard for the south end of the layout (eliminating a duckunder on the main aisle and creating a liftout across a doorway that may never be opened again), and then over the past 3 days, painted all of my fascia black with "Blackboard Paint" and redid the labels on all of my locations.

I am getting back into model railroading since I was a kid. I am in the process of modeling the Chessie Steam Special and the American Freedom Train. What is the best solvent to use, to strip the paint from old passenger cars to prepare them for repainting.

Okay, so... and hear me out... as this may be more controversial than religion, and politics combined... but...

What if...

... I don't build any staging?

At what point would the universe unravel, and implode upon itself in a great big heat death?

Like... what if, I just have a small fiddle yard, that is also used for switching or something? Or not even that?

Oh... man... now I feel like a REBEL!

Called the local Train Shop and they had one package of these couplers left!  I had them set them aside & drove over that afternoon to get them.  You may be able to see the cracks in the two couplers on the worm gear shafts.  They come off their shaft's with very little effort (since they are cracked).  Easy fix now since I have the new parts.  Emailed Athearn asking if they by chance had the sideframes I need for the SW7.

OK I added a bit of weathering to the model to make it look worn and rundown. I used washes and powders to get the effect so far achieved. Next on to the smaller details and then to start the ground work.

So, this idea is so crazy, that it just might work.

I'm kinda just posting this as a blog, so I can keep track for myself on this, though, comments are always welcome...