NS Yard job with a cut of boxes.

Why Model Railroad?

Why model railroading? Well you can simulate what you seen as a kid, things that are fond to you when you were growing up, or that engineer waiving to you from the cab, or the conductor, or that first ride on a passenger train that sets an impression. You learn many skills, painting the models, assembling the models, electronic skills and computer skills, painting the back drops, building dioramas where you represent a particular scene in the country or city, operating electronic effects, carpentry skills, scenery skills, i mean you name it, model railroading offers it all in one package, and as I mentioned in another video folks from your average joe, to royalty, to cops and military or firefighters to real railroaders, to heads of state and entertainers, so it's not a hobby for kids when you see it on this scale.

Time honored traditions Vs. New expirements.

Ground cover, the scenery for our layout. What brings our layout down to earth if you will, and lets it become one. What separates the track from the pink foam board underneath. This is ground cover. This weekend, the track work was completely finished. Scenery starts. I could have gone with the time honored tradition of foam ground cover, from Woodland Scenic, Kibri, or other suppliers, but instead I decided to use my own ground cover: my backyard. Some modeler friends looked at me like I was crazy. They said dirt was dirty, ironically enough, they said its not sanitary and is a habitat for ants, seeds, and other things. So, I shoveled some dirt, baked it at 360 degrees for around 30 minutes, and killed any living thing in the soil. This also dried it out to a fine mix instead of a clumped variety. Behold sitting on my layout now, the most realistic ground cover I've used yet.

P.S.

If in a hurry, pop it in the microwave and nuke it instead, hurries up the process.

Shamrock Corp., International Paper and Mayer Electrical

Over the weekend in Roanoke, VA, rail fanning around the yard and shops, I took some time at night to conjure up some proto-mocks of some more industries. Trying to find info for a buisness on Google maps can sometimes be challenging. Sometimes it will have a name for an industry, but might be out dated, or might not tell what it's purpose is. If you know the phone number, give them a call and simple ask to speak to a representative. They will be glad to tell you what service they provide.

First Operating Session 7/22/10

Today's first operation session on the layout took place. In my opinion, it couldn't have been better. I had the privilege of my great friend Jason Herman by my side, throwing the turnouts and reading the work order while I maned the throttle. Following Norfolk Southern operating procedures, we were able to complete our work order withing the allotted time frame. The session took about 30 mins. and it was well worth it. Today was somewhat of an emotional day for me, in a sense of happiness and satisfaction. In the recent two years of moving around and never being able to finish my layout, today it was achieved. Everything was done right. The track, which is now soldered and glued into place is perfect. All the turnouts power terminals, etc. are working a-O.K. and in the next few weeks, I'll start completing the scenery for this section of the layout and start bench work construction on phase two of the layout.

Out goes the new, In comes the old.

While rail fanning around Pomona Yard, I decided to wonder around the yard a bit, a bright sunny day and no schedule meant anything was bound to happen. I walked over to the demolition site of the old Southern Roundhouse (rest in peace old friend) and I noticed an early L&N hopper. It was filled with destroyed chunks of the roundhouse and was labeled NSSX. I did some research and the name belongs to National Salvage and Service Corporation. Turns out that they salvage old rail cars, diesels, equipment and either resale it or use it themselves. Making their equipment look pretty is not their top priority so I quick coat of black paint over the road name and its ready for service.

I'm modeling the same car. This is it pre-weathering sitting on the tracks of Greater Greensboro Scrap.