Well, it’s been about 8 months since my last update.  I’ve been too busy working on the layout, and just now getting around to updating my blog.

Okay, it's almost 10:30pm (2230hrs) (Eastern) here in Cleveland, and I've been on the go since 2am Pacific. I'm starting to see things.... fireworks, actually - one of the local towns to my hotel is setting off quite the show right now.

Okay - I'm going to start with a positive: This is an incredibly nice facility and we are practically it's inaugural convention, from what I've been told.

Finishing up some smaller details on the CB&I scene on my IAIS Grimes Line layout. I was able to get some photos of the signs around the outbound crane, and modified them in Photoshop. The pump house is from a Rix Products kit.

Quick update- the RTA marked versions (the green cars) are just about sold out according to Bowser's website.  They still have versions marked for other systems, in case anyone's interested in doing a little kitbashing.

To All: Today I present a CofG "Heritage" Boxcar with the old style Railroad Roman script herald. Yours, Elvin Howland/E. St. Louis Rail Group Layout

"I think I can see my keys."  Adding a storm drain can create a scenario of it's own. 

Storm drains and heavy rain runoff is something that we don't need to worry about on our layouts.  The real world is not so fortunate.  So having drainage modeled into our layouts is something we need to consider.

The end to the story following my progress of the Central Vermont RR's Barre Branch layout's construction.

Modeling 22 Stories Up

Been too long since I had a chance to work on the railroad. But the garden is in and doing reasonably well. And the front and side decks have new deck boards -- why would anyone put decking down with ardox screw nails??? 

Changed some fence posts and strung some wire ,(hair from my wife's brush) Think Ill wait for the E-Z line.
I went with .030 styrene rod. I think its pretty flexible and more likely to bend than break, and its what I had. With out the macro picture you cant even tell the wire is there, but we know it is
Dick

Never a dull moment around here !

112 car BNSF Unit Grain Train heading south with BC Rail Power in the lead...

I think your border crossing is located 2000km west of here... no?

- Bill