yeah, well, kinda hard to see photos when they’re buried behind a paywall...
Went to an amazing model railroad somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania in 1998.
Way Kewel...
I’ve been a model railroader for 30 years. The best thing about it is I do what I want, when I want, how I want. I don’t have to answer to anybody and I don’t have to make anyone other than myself happy.
Greatest hobby in the world.
I’ve been into this for ages. Kind of miss it, not the right time in my life for it. Used to be a narrow gauge fanatic.
Back in the late 50’s in the middle of downtown Washington DC, 6 blocks or so from the White House there was a tiny shop hidden behind a parking garage devoted only to HO gauge trains.
About 12 ft wide and 6 or 7 feet deep. Customer aisle across the room, shallow counter and a wall of shelves just wide enough to show all the locomotives and cars. Most were unfinished white metal imported from Europe, with exquiste detailing. A model railroader’s paradise.
Used to stop in on my trips to Corr’s for model car and airplane kits and supplies. Owner was always gracious to me though I clearly couldn’t afford any of the engines. On hearing that I detailed my plastic cars with wiring, fab’d A-Arms and working steering using a jeweller’s tap and die set a gift from a Swiss watchmaker, he offered me a discount on miniature tools he stocked.
A rare gem of a very special shop. Amazing things.
In my late 40’s it became apparent how deficient scale model railroading is in representing the real-world. I watch real trains almost daily near a depot. I decided to see what kind of room I would need to model the depot and 1/8 mile on either side in HO. 15 feet! IMO HO scale has the most robust representation in miniature railroading accouterments.
These days I aspire to scratch build the local depot.
I spent a decade building/tweaking a 4x8 HO set & “village” for under the Christmas tree. A work of art and labor of love... until there were no kids in the house. I ended up selling it to a nice couple that had a few young children. I hope they still enjoy it.
The local hobby shop is full of RC cars, planes and choppers now. It makes me feel sad to visit there these days.
New Haven, Amtrak and a few shortlines - and in our world, Connecticut is very business friendly..
I think I saw an article on that club in Model railroader...
If I had a place to put one, I’d love spending my retirement days building a layout.
Tour Atlanta’s Great Model Railroads
This tour is six weekends long consisting of the layouts of the Piedmont Division of the National Model Railroad Association members.
All the layouts are worth seeing, many are extraordinary. These model railroaders open up their homes to complete strangers every year. We are always amazed. Even if we see some of the same layouts year after year, it never gets old. Some of the landscaping and buildings are museum quality presentations.