The Dog Days of August are upon us. Both the National Train show and the St. Louis RPM meet are in the books. Nothing really new to talk about as it relates to the layout featured here, however. The hobby continues to advance and the manufacturers are gearing up for Read more…
Summer has arrived. Likewise, I have resumed those trips down to Williamson County. I have been researching the area around the former mine locations that will be featured on the layout. It helps to have a general idea of what the grade crossings and roads looked like around the mines. Read more…
June has arrived. I have finally reached a decision on which section of the layout I will start on. In case you haven’t perused the site lately…the photos are now showcasing West Frankfort, IL, and the various places where the motive power was stored while not in use. The layout Read more…
May has arrived; and not a moment too soon, in my opinion. I got so tired of the crappy cold and rainy weather we’ve had this early Spring…that 80 degree temps in late April was just fine to me. Heck, I’ve already got the lawn mower out twice. Go figure! Read more…
April is here. Winter is still trying to hang on. My wife and I went to the Gulf Coast the last week of March…hoping to bring the 75 degree temperatures back with us. Needless to say; it DID NOT happen. We came back to 33 degree morning temperatures for late Read more…
The weather finally broke and gave us some days above 30 degrees. It was a relief. However, I received news that my older brother Garland had passed away suddenly on March 18. I have been in mourning ever since. We were very close and I grew up admiring and taking Read more…
Well…March has arrived. I put a question mark after it due to the extreme cold weather that we are experiencing with the arrival of March. I thought the groundhog didn’t see his shadow? What happened to the early Spring? For the record, it’s not unheard of to have a cold Read more…
The room remodeling construction is finished; the walls have been primed and painted. I am now awaiting new carpet and padding. The scope of the layout has been decided and I am busy working on the motive power fleet. That’s where we stand today as I write this. I am Read more…
February promises to be the month of many changing factors and events. The guys are just about to finish up the renovation of the third floor room. The room had to be demo’d with the removal of the plaster and wood paneling from the 1960’s. New electrical outlets were added; Read more…
January has flown by. The construction crew is just about finished with the entire 3rd floor remodeling. The house is certainly a lot lighter. Two dumpsters full of plaster and old wood paneling…have been replaced with drywall and some insulation. I am looking forward to getting back into the shop Read more…