Been an interesting week running in my various sound locos now that I sorted out that cute problem with my programming track. I had bought the Railroad&Co Programmer module -- not that jmri wasn't doing the job, but for the run-in script feature. This allows you to setup a script that runs the loco in different directions and speeds for user-determined lengths of time.

Good Evening Folks!

I've been reading MRH for a few years now and keeping up a blog of my own on the progress of my HO-scale Mattawa & Chalk River Railroad. Before anybody gets too excited, most of the blog to date chronicles the process of finishing the 10x14 room in my basement that will be the home of the M&CR!

Since I've had my other blog on the go for a while, I'll use this for short updates and links to new blog posts.

Although one of my over-arching modeling goals is to replicate some of the operational constraints of the prototype (like manually operated switchstands) I am going to compromise in the near term in order to achieve some “plywood pacific” operations before the end of this school year.

I took a little drive along the BCRY route today for a little inspiration and to see if there was any sign of recent activity (though with the snow mostly gone I don't know how I was supposed to tell).  I pulled into TAG and sure enough, two of the line's ubiquitous DM&E hoppers were spotted on the twin sidings.  But something caught my eye that I never noticed before - they both had patch jobs for something called RCPE.

Every once in a while I visit a friend of mine who has a large scale outdoor layout.  In case you have not had the pleasure of visiting this railroad, I have posted a video of my last ride for you to enjoy. 

Thought  a Blog would be a good place to document the thought process and building process of a Model Train Elevator for my On30 Layout.

Why do I need an elevator?

I don't really, but it would add so much to operations of my work in progress layout.  It would allow me to have an loaded / empties operation for my logging line and allow true Point to Point operations during operating sessions that I hope to have one day.  

This blog will follow the Canton Freight House Spur from inspiration to implementation. Along the way, I'll share methods that were tried and the results that followed. Please feel free to comment on the posts!

I was going to make a removable diorama for my Marion shovel, but in the end I realized I could not build what I wanted without damaging my open pit too much. I did modify my open pit and lay some track and scenic a small area so the Marion has a home. I still plan on making a diorama in a small display case, but that will be another project.

In the end here is where the shovel will sit on my layout.