More Progress on the Manitoba & Minnesota Sub.: Getting Close to Done

Things are moving along on the new section of the CP Rail M & M sub.

It's gone from this:

To this:

To This:

Over the past few weeks I've been adding "grass," ballasting and, finally, planting trees.

Of course, there's more to do--add ground cover and switch throws, and I could use about 20-30 more trees. But that will have to wait until after the snow leaves, and I can harvest more weeds for trees.

I still have a bit more ballasting to do, together with some ground cover. But the process of taking down the three-level section of the layout and replacing it with this one level scene is getting close to done. Which is a scary thought: When that happens, what will I have left to do on the layout?

I'll worry about that later. Meantime, below find a few more photos of the newly completed scenery.

For more about this rebuild and redesign process, including photos when it was just benchwork and Styrofoam, click here, click here and click here.

But first, what it looked like at the beginning.

What it looks like now.

And a few more photos.

Amtrak Writer's Residency: A Great Idea!

I’m a writer. I like trains. The new Amtrak writer’s residency program is made for me.

Unfortunately, it’s just available to Americans. But, still—what a great idea! 

It's similar to what VIA Rail does for musicians, offering them a free ride in return for playing music along the way.

The difference is that Amtrak's program focuses on helping the writer write—not just get from one city to another as cheaply as possible.

It all started when Jessica Gross tweeted about wishing Amtrak had a program for writers. She said it would be a great way for writers who want to get away for a time of uninterrupted creativity (and window gazing).

Amtrak loved the idea. The contacted Jessica, and sent her on a free trip from New York to Chicago.

When she got back home, they asked her what she liked about writing on a train.

“I think it’s a combination of the set deadline—the end of the train ride—the calming movement, and the company of stranger,” she said.

As for advice for other writers, she said: “Don’t be too ambitious with what you plan to get done: Allow for time spent gazing out the window, letting ideas work themselves out in your mind. 

"It’s that kind of deep thinking that the train is particularly good for, and that can be more difficult to achieve in the interstices of busy day-to-day life.”

Click here to find out more about the Amtrak writer’s residency program, and to fill out an application form.

Click here to read about Jessica’s Amtrak writing experience in the Paris Review.

Click here to read about a similar program on VIA Rail for musicians, which offers free rides for those who play music as they travel.

Great News: Pte. St. Charles Van (Finally) Coming Out in Plastic

Great news for those who model CN: The Pointe St. Charles van (caboose) is finally coming out in plastic in HO scale.

The announcement by True LineTrains will be welcome news for many after the roller coaster ride of the past few years that was caused by the company-that-cannot-be-named (CTCBN).

(For those who don’t know, the CTCBN was a Canadian business that promised to bring out this unique Canadian model in plastic, took deposits for pre-orders, then went out of business. The owner disappeared, as did all the pre-order money.)

Since that time, there have been fervent hopes that another manufacturer might pick up this project. Well, today those wishes have come true.

The most information about this project can be found on the Pacific Western Rail Systems website.  

According to PWRS, the van will be brought out in a variety of schemes: CN, Alaska, Central Manitoba, 
New Bunswick Southern, Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia—and even Greater Winnipeg Water District.

The Pte. St. Charles van is named after the CN shop that built them between 1970-77.

The vans were built from old 40-foot boxcars. The boxcars were stripped down to the frame and trucks, and then built back up from there. In addition to CN, they were acquired by various other railways.

The cost of the vans is advertised as $84.99.

Wye Not? Or, You Won't Believe Your Wyes, er, Eyes

Everyone knows what a railroad wye looks like. Right?

Well, you did--until you saw this unique effort in Carbonia, Sardinia.

Unlike a traditional wye, which is shaped like a triangle, this wye looks more like a star.

Altogether, it has five switches and four crossovers. 

It looks like they selected that arrangement due to space restrictions.

All I can say after seeing it is: Wye not?

Another view.

Credit Chris Webster on the Narrow Gauge Discussion Forum for bringing this to my attention. 

New Model Railroad Magazine: Trackside Model Railroading

A new model railroad magazine—there’s a sentence you don’t get to write much these days.

Called Trackside Model Railroading, the new monthly digital magazine aims to bring “the very best in layout coverage without cutting into your hobby funds.”

According to publishers Ross and Jennifer Waters, Trackside Model Railroading will feature at least two layouts each month, with a focus on photography.

Say the Waters: “The photographs will be dominant, as we believe they are vital to conveying the quality and feel of a layout.”

The magazine will also include how-to articles, current events in the world of railroading and new products.

As for cost, the Waters are charging $1.89 an issue, or $14.99 per year. They accept major credit cards and PayPal. 

Once purchased, the magazine can be read online or downloaded, and viewed on desktop computers, tablets or smartphones.

There is a bit of advertising; there were two advertisers in the first issue: Athearn and BLMA Models.

As for why they started a magazine at all, in the premier issue (available free online) the couple says that it grows out of their interest in trains and photography. 

I have to give the Waters credit for being brave enough to start this venture. Whether digital or print, publishing a magazine is not for the faint of heart.

As for the magazine itself, to me it resembles the old Rail Model Journal (in terms of production values and layout). The photography in the issue is first-rate.

But don’t take my word for it; check it out for yourself.