As Ralph and I worked out, as it happens, there's a direct car float connection between the KP&W/PC at the Kingsport car float and the LF&NW at the West Egg car float. Up until very recently, the West Egg float was purely imaginary, with the float bridge leading to the end of the benchwork. This past summer, I've been working on a removable shelf between the benchwork and the wall that will hold a car float. The latest car float connection was an excuse to put this into operation. Here's Ralph's PC box car arriving at West Egg:

A couple more shots of the car float -- it's still unpainted, I have to fill some gaps and sand some dings, but at least it's functional now:




As it happens, the PC boxcar on its way to Woollett was caught by the camera with the XTRX covered hopper on its way to the KP&W behind it:

I am preparing a small article for our club newsletter and would like some general info from you O scale fellas. Can you please advise me of the average weight and cost of both a 4 axle diesel loco and 40' box car. Many thx.

Eric

I am preparing a small article for our club newsletter and would like the following info from you fellas in N. I would like to know the weight in ounces of an average 4 axle diesel and average cost plus the weight in ounces of an average 40' box car and cost.

Thanking you in advance
Eric

We're taking over the St Paul River Center on December 28-29, 2013.

Many dealers will be available to help make your own layout perfect. And many layouts in all scales to check out, fawn over, get ideas, and ask questions about!

Find more info at St Paul Train Show.

If you'd like to be a dealer, contact us through the website.

We are looking for more layouts, too. If you have a traveling layout and would like to be part of the show, contact me at showinfo at grvs.org

Walt

Will anyone ever make an SW1001!? I know island model works makes a shell but read it's far from satisfactory. If I went with a kitbash attempt, does an sw9 frame (for the lower walkways) and a sw1000 hood seem like a good start? Also would the sw9 cab be the same? The sw1001 cab seems a little longer than the sw9...

Hi guys

last weekend i was helping my mate Jon Grant operate his Sweethome Alabama layout at Hull exhibition thought i'd share a few photo's with you.

He's added extensions to either end, one is a lumber loading point the other is a propane unloading point.

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timber loading

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propane tank extension

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If you want to see anymore photo's let me know.

Ray

Model Railroading does not have to be an expensive hobby. I have been at it for more than 30 years and I have assembled a number of cars and locomotives. After having been exposed to model railroading, the allure may be the trains or the scenery or both. Finding or creating the true-to-life trees, mountains, rivers, tunnels, people, stations, etcetera, to surround a train track is irresistible. In addition to our model railroads at home, several of us are currently building model railroads at the Madison County History Center at 11th and Meridian in Anderson IN.

The History Center Model Railroad exhibit will open on Friday November 22 from Noon to 4 PM celebrating National Model Railroad Month. This will coincide with the day of the Anderson Indiana Christmas Parade in downtown Anderson.

So come out and take a look at what we have to offer. Perhaps you too will get the bug.


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Work is well under way on the Coast Rails 2014, the Pacific Coast Region/NMRA Convention. This event is coming to San Luis Obispo, CA, on April 30 through May 4, 2014.

I will be handling the layout tours and these self-guided tours will take place in San Luis Obispo County, lower Monterey County and Santa Barbara County.

Perhaps you may want to show your layout. You probably have put a lot of time and energy into your layout so why not show it to people who can appreciate your efforts?

If showing your layout is a possibility, please contact me at the e-mail address below. You do NOT have to be an NMRA member to show your layout. Should you have questions about the layout tour program, please contact me.

Lastly, we are looking for layout owners to host operating sessions during the Convention so if that is something you may be interested in doing, again, please let me know.

Thank you.

Website: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.pcrnmra.org/conv2014/">http://www.pcrnmra.org/conv2014/</a><!-- m -->

Bob Chaparro
Layout Tour Chairman
2014 Pacific Coast Region/NMRA Convention
<!-- e --><a href="mailto:chiefbobbb@Verizon.net">chiefbobbb@Verizon.net</a><!-- e -->

After a couple of years' studying all things trackplan, I submit for your critique my latest N scale trackplan.....

Scale: N (1/160)
Era/Locale: 1956-1976 along the route from Ft. Worth, Tx to Wilmington, NC
Prototype: Freelance based on Cotton Belt, KCS, SP, Southern, Santa Fe
Benchwork: 9'x12'x9' around the walls with expanded return loop peninsulas
Elevation: Track height 51" with max 3% grades to 57"; min turn radius - 13"
Track: Microengineering Code 55 weathered flex track; med turnouts
Control: Digitrax Zephyr w/throttle DCC

I have already had this plan operational with old, Atlas code 80 flex, so this plan fits the benchwork already contructed. Now I'm ready to make things permanent with the new Microengineering Code 55. But before I do, I just wanted to hear what you guys had to say as far as the operational aspect of this plan.

The west side of the layout is based on North Central Texas with the "Three C's" of Texas industry - cotton, crude and cattle...

The middle section is all full-service maintenance and double-ended classification yard. It also has a scenic block hiding the return trip around the layout....This is the focal point of the layout almost 11 N scale feet of yard with a/d track, east and west thru freight, east and west local, RIP maintenance and diesel service facility

The east side is patterned after North Carolina with lumber and coal as the main industries, and dramatic mountain scenery...

Looking to you all for comments and suggestions to improve.......

This plan is NOT to scale, just a drawing...
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