I grew up right next to the Newtown Square branch in Llanerch. In the days before television, My friends and I were entertained for an hour or so each day watching the shifting operations from a vantage point at the top of a shallow cut at the top of our street. We were up very close to the trains and got to know the crews quite well.

Next it is time to lay my first piece of track. 

First I carefully ran a fine bead of Barge Cement along the track ties on the bridge and the underside of the rails, then I had to wait 20 minutes for it to dry.

Got the lot paved, and finally get to set out a few of the vehicles and containers I've been accumulating (mostly by being at a show, and forgetting I've already got a box full of the same sort of thing at home):

Model animation—bringing models to life—adds enormously to the interest and enjoyment of any layout or individual model! This entry describes how to build what I call a “DCC Function Generator,” a combination of DCC base station and throttle for about $8 that can be used for mixed DCC animation control, DCC testing, Absolute/Emergency Stop blocking for lift-outs and bridges even for Keep-Alive equipped DCC locos, trolley multi-stop control, and all around DCC havoc!