So, I came across this the other day, and found it to be QUITE interesting...

http://youtu.be/aH3fNl5jEp8

Very small device, yet, plenty of sound...

http://portables.about.com/od/headphone1/fr/Rock-It-Review.htm

Originally, the Penn Lake didn't have any rolling stock of it's own.   After I found Champ private name decals, that changed.   Being a coal hauler, most of the cars are hoppers, but there are a good number of flat cars, gondolas, and even a few passenger cars.

To All: I scratch built this spherical tank for placement at St. Louis Gas & Coke. I will add a coke gas tank and other structures in the future. The second pix is a scratch built covered hopper loadout that is placed at Monsanto Company.

Yours, Elvin Howland/E. St.Louis Rail Group Layout

Thought I would provide an update on what's been happening around the layout over the last month or so. I have been working on a small, truck load tipple that will be located at Big Chimney, West Virginia. Below are several photos of progress to date.

The harbor scene has been stewing in the back of my mind since I've started out with this addiction, ahem, hobby, and at one point I even accumulated all sorts of fun pieces to make that harbor happen, including a large Tugboat, a Long Revel fireboat, a couple yard cranes, truck cranes and even a Bachmann car-shops to turn into the warehouse on the backdrop!  Then alas one spring summer day I had an epiphany and sold the whole darn lot for way too little and thought I'd be happy without it!  Ha-ha!  Turns

To All: Years ago the SOO LINE RR painted a caboose for touring business men. It was used to drum up business for the line. I painted, lettered and detailed this caboose from a photo in the SOO LINE Historical Society magazine. Sorry, the pix is a little out of focus.

Yours, Elvin Howland/E. St. Louis Rail Group Layout (Jacksonville, Florida)

Work progressing on the layout. Potomac Creek Station scene is getting final scenery.

See for more photos and in progress work. http://usmrr.blogspot.com

Well it looks like I will be retiring my first layout this spring and moving to a more modular shelf layout instead.

Here's a picture of the new design for the main module. Its a 2'x12' urban industrial switching layout.

Well it looks like I will be retiring my first layout this spring and moving to a more modular shelf layout instead.

Here's a picture of the new design for the main module. Its a 2'x12' urban industrial switching layout.

A while back I got interested in rotary dumpers. The rotary that got my interest was the Salida Colorado one used to transfer bulk loads from narrow gauge cars to standard gauge cars.

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/79835