Current Projects

Model Railroading

Description

I have been interested in model railroading for as far back as I can recall. I remember going on a variety of trips, or just hanging out, with either my father, grandfather, my grandfather's friend Ernie (who, like my grandfather, worked for the railroad) or childhood friend Chad to observe "actual trains". Those trips and hangouts were motivation to model trains on a smaller scale. When I was a child, the only "toys" that I would ask for at Christmastime were model trains. I grew up in a family of modest means; so, I cherished those trains whenever my mom, nana or Santa Claus were fortunate enough to gift me one (or maybe even a whole set if I was a really good boy, I thought)! Having had my first job at 14 years old at a greenhouse also helped with this later on! I recall going to many area yard sales looking for model trains, track and scenery back then that people were looking to get rid of for cheap.

Also relevant to my interest in modeling railroading and railroads at large (scale) are scanners. I bought my first scanner at about the age of 12 from lawn mowing and snow/debris removal money which enabled me to listen in on railroad operations. The channels on this scanner had to be manually programmed so that each channel mapped to the frequency of a particular railroad's operations. So, for example, a railroad might use one frequency for operations along a section of mainline but a different frequency for yard operations. To figure out what frequency was used for a given type of operation, I used the scanner "seek" function. I used the seek function over the 160-161.99 MegaHertz (MHz) range (Incrementing by .01 MHz.) This incrementing allowed me to listen for clues to figure out what radio chatter mapped to what railroad and railroad operation. This was often quite a challenge and involved a considerable amount of cataloging of trackside features, like mileposts or control points, which were often referenced by train crews over the radio to dispatchers; which was motivation for me to carry around a pocket-sized notebook and writing utensil. Later on, I discovered a manual (I cannot recall the name of the book now, unfortunately) at local library that listed this information, which circumvented the need for this sort of research. Nevertheless, the seek function, and subsequent cataloging early on allowed me to learn a considerable amount about railroad operations (and at least some, electronics) at an age when I probably should have been playing with toys. Interestingly, I was able to do something similar to satisfy some of my aviation and emergency management interests, but that is another story.

What I like most about model trains is what I refer to as "realism to scale". For me as a child, those trains and trackside scenery just had to be in proportion to what one might actually observe at a grade crossing. If my trains were 87 times (i.e., HO scale) smaller than a passing train, everything on my (crude) layout had to be that scale. As my childhood friend Michael and I discovered, one could not simply put a (large) Matchbox semi truck alongside an HO scale model train and expect it to "match up". How outrageous, we thought; the Matchbox semi truck was out of scale in relation to the train.

Nowadays, I have an HO scale model railroad layout in my office/workshop at home (the office/workshop is a partition I made within our living room). The layout measures 2 x 10 feet, with the track level approximately 60 inches above the floor. Set along the former Rock Island’s Choctaw/Sunbelt Route in the southern Plains, the layout represents a busy railroad terminal where train operations, crew changes, and locomotive servicing come together. Operations are centered on a crew base and locomotive terminal situated adjacent to a classification yard. Although the classification yard itself lies beyond the modeled portion of the railroad, its presence helps define the purpose and activity of the terminal. Here, train crews report for and end their assignments, while locomotives are fueled, sanded, lubricated, inspected, serviced, and otherwise prepared for their next assignments. Not every train passing through the area stops at the terminal, but many do for crew changes, locomotive servicing, or other operational needs. The modeled terminal includes a turntable, locomotive shop building, locomotive fuel, lubrication, and sanding facilities, several storage and service tracks, and the various tanks and other equipment associated with maintaining locomotives. A crew base building serves train crews and other railroad personnel working at the terminal. The layout also includes a staging area representing the railroad beyond the modeled scene, allowing trains to arrive from and depart for destinations elsewhere along the Choctaw/Sunbelt Route and its connections.

When planning the layout, I debated whether to set it farther east in “Amish Country,” with its farms, small towns, and rural railroad atmosphere, or perhaps to model a port with its waterfront and industrial operations. Ultimately, though, I chose the former Rock Island through the southern Plains. I was drawn to the route by its striking red-dirt country, hogbacks, and mesas, as well as by the climate and distinctive character of the southern Plains. Together with the history and operating possibilities of the Rock Island, these elements provided the setting I wanted for the layout. Prior to building this layout, I had another HO scale layout set in the mountains, which is featured in my Trains photo album. Between that layout and my current one, I built and operated two N scale layouts. After careful consideration, I decided to return to my childhood roots in HO scale for a variety of reasons that I may detail sometime later. One of the things I particularly enjoy about building model railroads is the combination of hands-on and technical work involved, especially the carpentry, electrical work, and computer programming. For me, those aspects of the hobby are every bit as enjoyable as designing, operating, and maintaining the finished railroad. Designing, building, operating, and maintaining my current layout—as well as the layouts that preceded it—has been a great deal of fun.

As anyone who has seriously pursued model railroading probably realizes, the hobby has the potential to teach you and others to think about a wide variety of subjects that one might not otherwise have bothered to learn, which is why I consider it to be an excellent all-around STEAM activity. I will continue to post, on occasion, photos of my model railroading activities to my Trains photo album.

This brings me to what I might be able to offer those interested in the hobby. Since I have been doing model railroading for quite a while, surely I must have learned a thing or two about model train maintenance, eh? And of course I am STILL learning! Anyways, in my labor, I follow NMRA standards and recommended practices when performing maintenance. So, if you have a locomotive (or rolling stock) and are interested in upgrading and/or repairing it I might be able to help you out for a modest fee. If that is something that might be of interest to you, feel free to send me message or give me a call. I will probably post more content here as time goes on, so stay tuned.