Summer 2025

Published by Thomas Austin on June 28, 2025June 28, 2025

Ready for Summer Train season!

Getting ready for the summer train season…before the fall season…and then the winter season…

I’m starting to rebuild a small fleet of high quality engines and freight cars now that I am back in full stride with the hobby. The new Walthers NW-2s are in, and I have an undecorated unit coming to finally do the Zeigler Coal NW-2 on this website. I will (of course) consult William Brillinger at pdc.ca for new decals on this unit to and put it together…although the engine was used at Cora IL at the river dump, I am planning on using it on my layout as Zeigler 4 mine switcher…just south of West Frankfort. I have one of their new SW-1’s coming in the fall too, and will use that at Freeman 4. These engines will have Soundtraxx N18 decoders installed; for use in moving the hopper cars around those two large structures.

Since the mine buildings will be built closer to scale (and closer to prototype) I will use these switch engines to move the coal hoppers around the yard tracks. These mine tipples will have full yard trackage as originally wished and planned; and the new building that will eventually house them will allow for expansion as well; I am going to use the tried and trued method of David Barrow’s “Domino Theory” to build Layout Design Elements of the larger layout to eventually be put into their permanent place. I have been at this for a while now, and the changes are smoothing out (finally). I have a few more things to take care of with the divorce and such from a few years back and I will be good to go.

There is more new stuff on the horizon coming to HO scale; and they are nice things to look forward to. As for currently, I am very grateful to have what I do; for the opportunities I have been given. I consider myself very fortunate for some great friends and look forward now to the second chapter of life DRAMA FREE.

The MoPac Sedalia Caboose project is also a go, and we hope to have some drawings and maybe some test shots this fall or early winter. I am hoping to have them ready for the MPHS meet…but we will see. This will be a multi-media kit and will use top tier components. I eventually would like to see the entire 1949-1989 series of modifications; but for now we will use the late 1970s and early 1980s look of these cars.

Hoping to see another run of Athearn Genesis GP38-2’s with another number series not previously released. Time will tell. I am also anxious to see the new SD50’s and GP15AC’s this winter; and hopefully the Rapido C36-7s. All units will either have Soundtraxx Tsunami 2 or Blunami installed.

Speaking of Blunami, the more I use it, the more I love it. The programming is so simplified; and really allows the modeler to fine tune his/her locomotives and operate smoothly. I am going to offer my new Digitrax System for sale complete with Command Station; two boosters; servos; switch decoders; wiring; two throttles; and lots of extras. I am going to simplify the layout with the Blunami and eventually plan to experiment with a smaller DCC system as a backup; with Blunami taking the lead.

So, if you are interested in a large layout DCC system that is brand new; with the latest Digitrax Boosters and firmware, I have one that I will make a great deal on. It has the DT 602D throttle and the UT6D throttle; as well as a large power supply for the two boosters. All Digitrax. Shoot me an email if interested.