As part of Sara Kelly’s documentary project she recently traveled to the NMRA Convention in Cleveland to take in local layouts and the National Train Show, and to interview some of the NMRA leadership. She also traveled to tour layouts in Pennsylvania and Baltimore and interviewed their owners.

Sara soon will be distributing the first Model Citizens newsletter, which will update subscribers on upcoming shoots and interviews, tours and other production details. If you are interested in getting this newsletter, sign up here:

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The project website is:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://modelcitizensmovie.com/">http://modelcitizensmovie.com/</a><!-- m -->

Bob Chaparro
Moderator
Model Railroads of Southern California
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Hi gang,

I might as well get a thread started on my layout - It's pretty much a mirrored version of the tried and tested Palmetto spur.

Instead of making the staging track a castte, I choose to make it part of the layout, and as such the total size ends up @ 10ft x 17".

The track is ME C70, with C55 used for flangeways in paved track sections.

PICTURES!
Overview:

Some switchwork:

first roadwork:

Working with spackle....

HI all,

I am contemplating trying out one of the new Tsunami Soundcar decoders (freight car noises).

Does anyone know of power pickup wipers for retrofitting to a freight car, in order to establish electrical power for the decoder, when retro fitting the average box car?
I am aware of the existence of replacement trucks such as this one: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://factorydirecttrains.com/ringengineeringpowerpickuptruck33wheelsmodelppt-33tho.aspx">http://factorydirecttrains.com/ringengi ... 33tho.aspx</a><!-- m --> but I was wondering if there are brass wiper sets you could add to any truck?

Many thanks,

Koos

Hi gang,

Here's my attempt at making flangeways for paved track / gradecrossings etc


The flangeway is a piece of C55 rail turned on the side and mounted into the web of the C70 track...

Martin

Hi Guys!

A bit about me:
I live in Denmark, I'm 37, I Work in the Royal Danish Navy, and currently I am attending petty officer school.
I have spent quite some time as an anonymous guest here, and I figured it was time to actually sign up.

Modelling wise... I am getting out of N scale and I have started Building a mirrored version of Mr. Mindheim's Palmetto spur - in Ho.

Martin

Long time lurker, first time poster...Quick background. Been in the MR hobby for 2.5 years, fascinated with trains since day one. I have built and dismantled 3 layouts to date. This will be my 4th layout. All have been in the same room, which is dedicated to the hobby. The first 3 were a mix of continuous run and switching, accessed by a duck under. The duck under was my bane and will not do another.

My latest revision is a walk in ISL with interchange, small yard and switching. The idea, look and design has culminated from many of your own designs on this forum (for which I'm grateful) and other outside influences. If you feel a need for credit, please post and I will most certainly acknowledge.

I don't have a prototypical location or story. This is my railroad operated by my own imagination. This is what I am working with. Norfolk and Southern power (SD40-2, GP40-2), modern day freight cars, short term leases with the current industrial tenants, pull and shove platform, DCC, atlas code 100, #4 and #6's, MS Excel switching program found on the internet. Would like to give credit, but can't remember where I found it.

The benchwork is 75% complete with 50% of the track laid (nothing permanent). Photos will be available soon.

Here is an XtrakCAD rendition.

   
Some questions I have been pondering. Are there too many industries? I know I said it's my railroad and my imagination, but does this "flow" ok? I envision interchange and branch traffic being left for local pick up and sorted for delivery. Most of the cut's will be shoved into the industrial siding and switch out one or two industries at a time. Cars will be brought back and sorted for interchange and branch line pick up.

Well, that's what I'm working with. Let me know if you have any questions or comments. I'll try and keep the momentum going after this post.

NSHO

A 13 minute video of watching trains and equipment roll by.....

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While I do enjoy trains I also have a 73 Nova SS with a 427 SBC paired to a TH350, 3.90:1 rear gear. I could bore you with all the engine components but let it suffice to say….it's pretty damn quick.

Here are a couple videos of before I started replacing the rear quarters. It has been out of commission for about 3 months now and I hope it is only about three more before I get her on the road again. I am repairing all the body work and replacing wiring harness, dash cluster and replacing the TH350 with a 700R4. The interior is gutted right now. I plan on painting it Metallic orange (I wanted burnt orange but the color I want is about $650 per gallon)

Note the license plate. The cops around here have a GREAT sense of humor. I've only had two try to race me.





Here are a couple videos. I have no idea how to embed them or if it is possible.


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<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGC0UnOSvi0&list=UUTaoqupCXCi2Pcm_ZfpxCuw&index=5">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGC0UnO ... uw&index=5</a><!-- m -->

This one is a blast. I flattened my buddies stomach with this one….


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And for the burnout fans:


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I think you can see where my real passion lies…..

A Conrail SW1200 sets out some empty gons on the carfloat track for Dock Street. The cars will be loaded onto the float by the Shore River RR.

Bruce

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Some of you might remember back in 2011, I decided I had to make some major changes in my railroad because of disabilities. That was in November of that year.



Now July / August of 2014 nearly 3 years later I finally got all of the bugs out. I think. It took over an hour to fix a track connector that was under the rail on one end this evening. It was hard to reach and only using one hand it was quite a challenge. But I got it. I now have both east and west access to hidden yards that are trouble free. Double track main running trouble free. And my J&M short line runs well from exchange with C&O to the end of the line which I haven't been able to do since 07. If you look at the pic the redbrown building on top of the mountain is the end of J&M. It begins just out of the pic where the mainline goes out and back into the pic.