October 2025

Published by Thomas Austin on October 23, 2025October 23, 2025

Well, October is finally here. We’ve seen this entire year fly by at what seemed to break-neck speed. Things at work are going really well and I am settling into Colorado life. I started working on re-assembling my benchwork from the layout in Centralia IL. I plan to build the model of the Zeigler coal company mine number four, which was just south of West Frankfort and north of Johnston City Illinois. This will allow me to run some Trains and find tune my rolling stock that has been in storage for so many years. I am nearing completion on my first modeling article in years as well. I am learning new techniques for photographing my models as I present them in the upcoming articles. It is a very exciting time on the modeling front.

I have begun doing side work as well for modelers that want decoder installations, and some custom painting. I was not able to attend both the Greeley, Colorado Railroad prototype modelers meet, or the Missouri Pacific Railroad historical Society meet. It was unfortunate to have to miss both shows, however I was working and this last week from Wednesday to Friday I was sick. I think I had a case of the stomach flu, so it wouldn’t have been a pleasant trip for me to Marion and back anyway. Well, whatever that bug was, it’s gone and this past weekend (as I documented on my Facebook page) I began assembling the L-Girder benchwork for a 20 foot module set up of the Zeigler Coal # 4 Mine.

I brought this benchwork with me from Illinois when I moved this past June. So it was a matter of simply measuring and then reassembling what had been set up for my layout in Illinois. At some point, I’ll go back and revise the layout plan as currently displayed on the website. The idea would be to have the coal mines straightened out as well as the city of West Frankfort, IL yard configuration as depicted in the current plan, which is published on the website.

I am using research and photos to construct scale models of both the Zeigler tipple and the Freeman Orient number four tipple for a very accurate version of both mines. The track will be Walthers Code 70 branch line flextrack and turnouts. I plan to use my SoundTraxx Blunami-equipped engines on these modules for both operations and testing of the new models. I am looking forward to this test, as it will be my first operating railroad equipment in probably 10 years. I’m finally getting to use the stuff I have saved for so long, and will now be able to display it and operate it to my enjoyment. I am so grateful. And, I will use SoundTraxx Blunami and 12 volts regulated DC power (for the first time in 25 years). I am looking to switch to battery power at some point, but am perfecting that assembly as I write this today.

The mines will have their full ladder track configurations depicted. I hope at some point to be able to get them closer to “scale”. However, that would be a very large undertaking and will require lots of modeling real estate of which I do not have right now. This not a big issue, because I’ll simply be able to fine tune the models and the buildings; as well as the scenes; while I await the opportunity to get a larger space. The layout will be designed in such a way that I can expand it inside of the ladders of the respective yards to increase capacity.

These modules will be built where they can be disassembled and taken with me when I moved to my new home in a couple of years. In the meantime, I’ll be purchasing new equipment and restocking old equipment that I had to sell off during the past three years (to get by) while I navigated the divorce era of my life. It’s nice to be purchasing items once again and for that I am again very grateful.

To close out this month, I will be attending Trainfest in Milwaukee WI on Nov 1st and 2nd and will work the SoundTraxx Booth; being my first time attending Trainfest as a representative of a Major Model Railroading Manufacturer. I am very honored and excited.

See you at Trainfest!