Has anyone modeled the New Orleans area yet?  I am getting into the hobby (no pun intended) and now live in the New Orleans area.  I have traveled around a bit looking at what I would like to model in a modern era railroad.

Here's the goal (though in standard gauge, instead of narrow):

And here's what I'm starting with, an older Bachmann 0-6-0 tank engine:

Hi Guys

I'm new to MRH, and I’m Kevin, the builder of the Rede Valley Railway. A railway rather than railroad because I'm from the UK.

Just realized it has been a year since I posted any layout updates on MRH.  I figured I had better make it up to everyone with some new photos.

There has been significant progress on the N Scale Fort St. John subdivision since last summer.  I started this layout in August of 2009 so this month also represents 3 years of work.

1. Helix was constructed to connect lower deck to upper deck

2. Upper deck benchwork modules were constructed and installed

3. Upper deck backdrops were painted

This is just a quick update on some backdrop progress.  I'll add more to my main scenery blog later.

08/13/2012: Scene expanded, see page 3.

Still working on connecting the upper and lower loops, and that means getting the bridges installed. Installing the bridges means getting some scenery below them in reasonable shape (not completely done, but basic stuff in place). And that means: rock castings. So without further delay, here we go: Rock castings (hydrocal, from 3 different molds) resting in place:

I need to convert my favorite freight and passenger cars for use at our club to steel wheels. However, as evidenced by the latest article on ExactRail, I need some help in determining which wheels for what cars. I have seen 28 inch, 33 inch, 36 inch and God knows what other inch is coming down the line. 

Simply put, what size wheel for what type of car and/or what manufacturer? I don't want to by trucks and wheels together - just wheels. Is there some simple guideline?

Thanks.

Okay, I went over to ExactRail before the show closed so I could get some photos of their new wheelsets - they come in brass, nickel-silver (which is plated brass, I believe) and blackened. 

Now, the whole idea was to get a more prototypical appearance out of the things. That's it - and according to Blaine, the machine they got to both make the stepped appearance on the axle as well as the curves on the inside of the wheel was a whole lot more expensive than one that they could have gotten to just make them in the regular shapes.