Took care of some things this weekend.

Follow the Dakota & Manitoba local from Caledonia to Aberdeen and return.

Stay tuned.

I have a confession to make. I like lists. Always have probably always will.

I like to catalogue and I like to plan. I'm one of those sad people who love spreadsheets and I can still remember the thrill I had when I first started writing databases.

Even as a boy I kept them. A list of all the books I had read, started in the back of a large red diary that I still have tucked away in a box somewhere. Throughout the years I have added to this list with every book I have read. It migrated across to journals and then a spreadsheet and now an Access database. There's a large number of Ray Bradbury books on that list, most of which have multiple entries.

It's not perfect, but I'll describe my trial run of hand laying a #6 turnout, HO scale, code 83.  I learned a few things, and I've got some ideas on how to make the next one better.

This is not the only way, or even the best way to hand lay a turnout, but it is my way.  I do not use any jigs or special tools, and I make my own plans to fit the application.  The only tools needed are a large file or two, a track gauge, and a soldering iron.

Hello Friends

I would like to show the progress of the Swamp Diorama build by my Friend Stefan Foerg from Germany. I've already a small Diorama from him and the Quality of his work is outstanding.

to all .......

A happy Friday to one and all!  My name is Jim and this is my MRH blog. A little about me. I've been a model railroader (armchair or otherwise) since my parents got me an HO starter set to run on a piece of plywood on our pool table when I was a kid.  Since then I've done a lot of reading, been a member of a large layout club and somewhere in there owned and operated a retail hobby store.  I've finally gotten to a point of having enough space to do a reasonable home layout, plus some office space for a shelf layout or two!

Next month the old layout will start to come down and the proposed new, continuous running one will start to take shape. I have attached a diagram (first time working with this program so it is a bit rough) for your comments. The current point-to-point had a number of flaws in its operation and design. So, with the "acquisition" of some new space from my wife, who is being more than gracious since I agreed that a furnace, washer and dryer are essential, I now have a larger area. The new size is 12' x 5' x 30" deep around two support poles.

Lowerton, on my HO scale switching layout, started as a staging yard 12.5 inches below Upperton. Additional lower shelf space was added providing what was called Lowerton  docks. The problem, a one person switching layout where more than half the time was spent reaching under the shelf was a pain in the backside.