1. Near their back door in Nevada, a railyard introduces viewers to the theme of Joe and Mary Schrock’s highly detailed railway, Bulldog Junction. This picture communicates the teamwork necessary on railroads. All parts support the main theme. The distant backdrop of pointed dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’, Zones 4-8) suggests the scale world […]
Photo 1 Standing on Scott Gould’s lawn, visitors look up at Ballachulish & Pitlochry Railway. Structural spruce trees contrast low native moss that Scott transplanted onto riverbanks and lawns. We’re able to peek under the bridge for the reflected view of the truck farmer’s home as he loads up for deliveries. The paired detail of […]
Visitors along the back of the garden have this view of Copper Gorge, the waterless water feature encased in recycled auto glass. The battery-powered Union Pacific MOW uses AirWire 900 and Soundtraxx Electronics. Both engines are powered (all 16 wheels drive) to pull full name train car sets. Nancy Norris The Southern Pacific ‘Red Car’ […]
The skeleton of a desert in progress at Scott Kennedy’s East Bay Union Railroad at one end of his dogbone trackplan. A flagstone plateau supports the track and retains soil while a dry creek provides drainage and a footpath. Nancy Norris In the fleshed-out desert, a dwarf, blue-green olive tree (Olea ‘Little Ollie’) flanks the […]
Photo 1 Sun has set but modeling continues in paradise—a building for building railway gear, rain or shine. In this caboose, the author keeps kits under construction, trains ready to run, parts drawers, a tiny fridge, and an electric kettle. A train runs through it. Garden tools hang just inside the end door. Rungs lead […]
Location scouting is a vital part of filmmaking. A movie-production company sends an advance team to review scenery, camera angles, lighting, weather, and more. We are one-person studios but we need to include location scouting, too, including scouting the rolling stock, the trains and their stories, structures, and environment; time and lighting conditions; camera locations; […]
Photo 1 If at first you don’t succeed, get better materials, says Stan Ames, whose previous viaduct lasted less than five years. This strong and graceful viaduct, a good fit in Massachusetts, is in its ninth year serving the SJR&P. Read how in Regional reports. Stan Ames Photo 2 A master of mechanical principles and […]
A “vignette” is a small portrait whose edges fade into the background without a definite border, or a brief episode. Vignette is my word for a video scene from a story that is unfinished or only partially told. Al Tillman’s railway was undergoing a major renovation on the day we visited but it had several […]
Photo 1 Mining means accessing Earth’s layers. Splitting slate exposes unusual fossil-faced stone. Taller flagstone hides structural elevated-roadbed posts. Shorter stone risers step up scenery to a higher mountain area. Slate cars wait to be winched up the 22% incline, held together by fines and concrete-bonding adhesive. The author’s Agriculture & Gravel Elevated also quarries […]
“Aria” wrote in, asking how to get sharply focused videos that reveal the road names on his rolling stock. His question appears here: http://cs.trains.com/grw/f/91/t/268387.aspx With some excellent comments by forum moderator Tom Trigg, and some research, we realized that sharper images of both prototype and model trains challenge our skills and our equipment. With professional […]
A mixed freight crosses the water-lily filled Lake Sarah Jane on its way to Bat Yard. While much of their SJR&P runs through their backyard forest, Deb and Stan Ames view this beautiful viaduct from their cedar deck (the crew lounge). Thelma Shoneman An oil train from Riley snakes down the railway on its way […]
Dave Adams shares what he’s learned in 20 years of operating sessions. Download the PDF to learn more! […]
