I really enjoyed seeing the work he has done on his Milwaukee Road. I grew up in southwestern Montana and have relatives who worked for the Northern Pacific and Mlwaukee Road. As a kid I had the opportunity to ride in the cabs of the Little Joes all over the electrified line, all of the way from Harlowtown to Avery, ID. He has done a great job depicting the area from Alberton, MT to Avery, ID. Beautiful work. Miss the overhead cat.

This is probably the last surviving video of the Davenport Rock Island & Northwestern Railway shot at the Bettendorf Yard in June of 1995. This was RAW video shot by my photographers at WHBF-TV. I finally dug up my VHS copy and edited it to look a bit nicer. This is the railroad I model.

Can anyone refer me to a basic link on working with brass--cutting, drilling, etc?

Many years ago I was conversing with a chap named James Powell. He was building an HO layout called the Wiscasett,Travino and South Western. We both shared advertising signs etc and ideas. That was about 2003 and since then James sold his layout ,moved into making the coolest pet kennels and then onto theme park set design and manufacture.