Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Quiet Streets of October 31st: Where Did Neighborhood Trick-or-Treating Go? Remember the magic of Halloween night when you were a kid? The sun would barely dip below the horizon before packs of ghosts, goblins, and superheroes would flood the sidewalks. Porch lights burned bright down every single block, inviting a steady stream of eagerContinue reading “Where Did Halloween Go?”

With all due respect to Mr. Gershwin, it is only easy if your trains are running well. Summer is prime time for garden railroading. There’s nothing quite like watching a G-scale locomotive weave through lush greenery, over miniature bridges, and past tiny outdoor scenes on a bright, sunny day. However, midsummer heat brings its ownContinue reading “Summertime and the Livin’ Is Easy…”

The Ultimate G Scale Portability Hack: Folding Beer Pong Tables as Layout Bases Every large-scale model railroader knows the double-edged sword of G Scale: the trains look absolutely magnificent, but setting up a temporary or traveling layout can be an absolute bear. Traditionally, you have two choices: pack around heavy, custom-built wooden modular tables thatContinue reading “G Scale Portability Hack”

Two Worlds of Model Railroading: G Scale in the Garden vs. Indoor Modular Layouts Model railroading is one of the few hobbies that can live comfortably both indoors and out, but the experience changes dramatically depending on where—and how—you run your trains. Nowhere is that contrast more apparent than between G scale trains running outdoorsContinue reading “Garden Trains versus Modular Layouts”

What did we do in November? We did nothing at all – at least not train related. November is sort of the lull before the storm that is the period from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day. For many of us, it is the time to start looking at our stash of Christmas decorations and judgingContinue reading “November”

Sigh. So many projects and so little desire to get out in the cold and the muck to work on them. One thing about living in coastal North Carolina is that we do not really get a “Winter”. Years ago I lived in New England and the Engineer was raised in Michigan. You knew itContinue reading “Winter Doldrums”

Nobody puts on a parade like a small Southern town, such as the one for the 50th Annual Selma Railroad Days Festival. Their golden anniversary celebration was the largest in its history, and the crowds were there to help this small town (population ~7000) show its appreciation for its railroad heritage. On May 1, 1867,Continue reading “Selma Railroad Days”

The Tidewater Big Train Operators returned to the Happy Daisy Garden Center in Elizabeth City for another spectacular train show, bringing with them an impressive array of models and displays that captivated visitors of all ages. Setup was done early on Friday, October 17th, as the dedicated team meticulously arranged the tracks and ensured eachContinue reading “Happy Daisy Train Show”