Trains

Back in 1991 I started working on an HO train layout. A wife, 3 kids and 9 years later, I still haven't had alot of time to work on it. But I have had some trains running on it and below is a short history of the railroad. I have finally started doing some scenery but alot more needs to be done.

The theme for the railroad regarding the rolling stock and time period is the New York Central in upstate NY in the mid-sixties as I remember it growing up. The scenery is generic but everything else should be according to what actually happened during the sixties. For example, you won't see any freight cards that have a build date of the '70's or later nor will you see Conrail or BNSF.

Since I have limited room, the layout is relatively small, being an "L" shape, 8' x 9'.

Video taken with new train cam on blocks 5 and 6. See train running on other main line. Click here.
	Third video, a little bit longer, going around blocks 3,1,8,5,7. Click here.
Fourth video is shorter, a quick tour of the power plant area. Click here.
	Look what happens when you go too fast! Click here.
Train Cam To see how I made the train cam, click here.


The start, January 1991, in my basement.	The next day the plywood fountain is built.

Cork roadbed and track going down.	What a job raising that big heavy table by myself!

Dual mainline tracks running.	Pretty sparse yet.

Now, 4 years later, the custom made tunnel portals are glued in.	Looking at where the yard will go in.

Ballasting of the track is next.	Ballasting near the tunnels.

Cardboard is used to form the mountain.	My F7 pulling a passenger train.

Still another view.	Closer view of cardboard.

.My LifeLike Proto 2000 E7	Some buildings and trains. Not their permanent positions.

Now it is 1999 and the mountain is really taking shape with plaster cloth	Now it is 2001 and the mountain is really coming along nice now!

Retaining wall added, cardboard brickface being test fitted.	Closer view of one tunnel portal.

Closer view showing vegetation near rocks.	Another view of mountain with paints, glue etc.

Plywood was cut out where lake will be and plaster cloth is being used to form lake bed.	Tape is used on switch contacts to keep glue out.

This section is nearly done.	The NYC boxcar in the background is HO scale, the foreground is N scale.

Train Cam