Model Railroad Lessons Learned #1: Anyone Can Do It

A scene from my first layout, the CP Rail Grimm
Valley Subdivision.

Reading Tony Koester's new book The Allegheny Midland: Lessons Learned, made me wonder what lessons I have learned over my 22 years in the hobby.

Looking back, I can say I have learned a few things, although none of them are nearly as deep or thoughtful as Tony's. But I have picked up a few lessons and tips while building two layouts; over the course of the next few postings I'll share a few.

1. Anyone can do it.

Today my layout is almost done, and I am quite proud of it. But 22 years ago, when I was ready to build my first "real" layout, I was as uncertain as any model railroad newbie could be.

I had no carpentry skills to speak of, and knew almost nothing about wiring, scenery or any of the other things needed to build a layout. All I had ever built before was an HO scale 4 by 8 layout on a sheet of plywood as a kid, and a tiny (and not very successful) N scale layout on a small table as a teenager.

I still remember how I felt before building my first layout, the CP Rail Grimm Valley Subdivision. I recall looking at my empty basement room with a sense of anticipation and dread: Excited to get going, but deeply afraid I couldn't pull it off.

Yet I did pull it off—twice. With help from friends, how-to books and magazines, I learned how to build benchwork, lay track, do wiring, make scenery, weather rolling stock, scratchbuild structures and many other things.

Did I make mistakes? You bet—lots of them. (You can't mix oil-based paint and Styrofoam, for example; ask me how I know.) But they were temporary bumps in the road, and opportunities to learn new lessons.

Not everyone has the space to build a layout as big as the CP Rail Manitoba & Minnesota Subdivision. But I'm convinced that everyone—no matter their skill level—can learn to build a layout, no matter how large or small, if they want.

I'm proof of that.

Allegheny Midland: Lessons Learned

I just picked up a copy of Tony Koester's new book Allegheny Midland: Lessons Learned. I've just started reading it, and have enjoyed it immensely thus far.

One of the reasons I bought the book is because I sort of "grew up" in model railroading with the AM. When I came back to the hobby in 1987, it was one of the layouts I followed in the model railroad press (along with the Virginian & Ohio and the Ohio Southern, the latter which provided many helpful tips for building my double deck layout).

I knew I could never achieve what Tony achieved, but his layout inspired me to try my best to create a plausible and top-notch model railroad. My efforts were rewarded in 2000 when Tony was in Winnipeg for a model railroad convention. He stopped by to see my layout, offering compliments on my achievements to that point.

Now that this book is out, I can re-live my memories of reading about the AM.

Highly recommended!

Steam on the Prairies #3: The Assiniboine Valley Railway

A highlight of model railroad conventions in Winnipeg is a chance to ride the Assiniboine Valley Railway (AVR), a 1.6" scale 7.5" gauge “layout” located on a seven acre site at the home of Bill Taylor.

The AVR was started in 1995; it currently has 3 diesel locomotives, one box cab locomotive and several steamers, plus 39 cars. The tracks are aluminum rail on wood ties and ballast. The railway has 6,400 feet of track; the mainline is 3,700 feet long with seven sidings. A 24’ x 12.5’ station serves as a club room.



The railway winds through an aspen and hardwood forest; it takes over 25 minutes to travel over the entire line, including waiting for meets. In addition to being open on summer weekends, the AVR hosts an annual dinner train and is open during the Christmas season for the popular holiday light display.

In addition to riding the trains, visitors can also operate the AVR; during each convention Bill and the AVR gang hold an operating session, where you can throw switches and spot cars at "industries" along the line.

If you're ever in Winnipeg, check out the AVR!

Click here to “take a ride” on the AVR; Click here to visit the AVR home page.



(This is the last in the series of posts about Steam on the Prairies. Thanks goes out to Paul Ullrich and Ron Einarson of the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club for organizing such a great event.)

Steam on the Prairies, #2: Layouts of Winnipeg

Winnipeg is a great model railroad town for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the number of home and club layouts in the city.

Altogether, there were 20 layouts on display during Steam on the Prairies, the May 28-30 NMRA Thousand Lakes Region convention. (There are, of course, many other layouts in town, but not all were open for the convention.) The layouts ranged from N to O, and included a working display of 1930s-era Marx trains. A few are pictured here; more photos can be found on Flickr.

Click here to view a video of Ron Loewen’s beautiful O gauge fall in Pennsylvania layout.



Another reason why Winnipeg is such a great model railroad town is the number of hobby shops that sell trains; we have six, one of which is trains-only and another which is mostly trains (some plastic models). The others all have train sections. What other city of 650,000 can boast that many hobby shops? (Especially in this age, when so many people buy online?)

Then there’s the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club, which hosted the convention. At 55 years-old, it is one of the oldest model railroad clubs in Canada.



Of course, being a major railway town helps, too; Winnipeg is host to the transcontinental mainlines of CN and the CPR, and a BNSF branch. It is also 45 minutes east of Portage la Prairie, where the CN and CPR mainlines cross at grade. Being home to the Prairie Dog Central excursion railway, which utilizes one of the oldest operating steam locomotives in North America, is a bonus.

Steam On The Prairies, #1: The Prairie Dog Central

Prairie Dog Central #3, built 1882, ready for
its convention run.

The May 28-30 NMRA Thousand Lakes Region "Steam on the Prairies" convention in Winnipeg was a great success! 146 people registered; compared to other regional conventions, likely a small turnout, but large for the Thousand Lakes region.

In addition to the usual clinics and layout tours, "Steam on the Prairies" featured, well, steam on the prairies. The convention included a ride on the Prairie Dog Central (http://www.pdcrailway.com/), one of the oldest regularly scheduled operating steam-powered trains in North America.

The convention special was headed by 4-4-0 No. 3, built in 1882 in Scotland for the Canadian Pacific Railway. It pulled a combination car and three coaches; none of them were built before 1913.

The PDC also owns GP9 #4138, built in 1958 for the Grand Trunk Western.

The afternoon started out sunny, but later it poured buckets; after dropping convention participants off at the Hitch n' Post, a restaurant along the line, #3 went back to the station for water. But the coal in the tender turned to porridge; the crew could barely keep steam up. The GP9 was used to bring convention-goers home from a banquet.

Over the next few posts I'll share more about the convention. More Prairie Dog Central photos below and on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/21943269@N07/sets/72157624193232302/


GP9 #4138 brought convention-goers home.


Coach #104, built in 1906 by the Crossen Coach
Company for the Canadian Northern Railway.


It rained buckets during the trip! #3 is turning
on the wye during the downpour.