Modeling the Pacific Electric in N Scale

Details

I was looking at Google Maps and I found a simple group of tracks. They appear to be a mix of a pair of popular model railroad switching puzzles. If you look closely, it is the three sidings of an Inglenook and the switchback of a Timesaver. This could be […]

Found a possible prototype for the extension

December 1, 2013 in Details / local / Track Plans tagged prototype by John

So, currently, I have 5 Micro-Trains cars, 2 Fox Valley boxcars, an Intermountain reefer and a BLMA hopper. Looks wise, the BLMA hopper is an 11 out of 10. When I finally get around to weathering my cars, this might be one that I can’t touch. It looks perfect. When […]

freight car musings….

July 10, 2013 in Details / operations by John

Lance Mindheim has built many great layouts. One of his tricks is to paint finely detailed track in lighter colors to highlight the details, and if you are using track with big, over-sized details (like i am with Atlas Code 80), to use darker paint. Well, as you might […]

Track is painted…

March 24, 2013 in Details by John

In the last year, I have picked up a group of 4 Atlas ACF hoppers, a Micro-Trains PS2 3-Bay “High Side” and a BLMA PS2CD 4000. The Atlas hoppers are now on their Train Man line, but the4 that I have are all US built and came with Rapido couplers. […]

a study of three covered hoppers

October 20, 2012 in Details / Uncategorized by John

I have stepped over this many times and never really thought about it. On the Industrial spur near VIP and Main, there is a simple grade crossing. Since the nearest road is a vacant lot, there is no need for even a crossbuck. It looks like it is only there […]

This SHOULD be easy to model…

August 19, 2012 in Details / Industries / local by John

The wife and I did some long distance railfanning today (she called it hiking). We drove till the pavement ended and started to walk up the access road. The 2 mile hike up the mountain with the “CG” gave us a unique perspective of the Casa Grande Valley. It also […]

Sometimes, we just need to step back and look at ...

May 5, 2012 in Details / operations / Track Plans by John