It occurred to me recently that I shouldn’t keep this feedback to myself. I should share some of this feedback with the whole audience; this is, after all, supposed to be a community of model railroad enthusiasts.

Here is some of the feedback and comments I received during the fall of 2009. I’ll share more feedback in future postings.

Daniel B. wrote in and shared his experience with model railroading:

For myself I think it is a great hobby. I am 64 years old and have been building ho models since I was about 27. I build them for other people on the design they are looking for.  Some of them are cheap and others have gotten pretty expensive, but it was what they wanted. Over the years with all the good tips and advice I have learned how to save a lot of money thanks to you and others like you who love train modeling. Thanks again so much. –Daniel B.

Graham W. from Brisbane, Australia wrote in and shared this:

Thanks for the tips, can I start by telling the whole picture of my trains, at the moment my trains have been idle in a 22 ft caravan for many years due to a lot of issues, but in about three weeks my wife and I move to another state in Australia which is quite some shift and along with the move my train will also be moved, this means a whole complete new layout, so at this moment of time I am seeking ideas and plans that will fit into my new shed, my scale is HO, so can you please tell me what is the tightest radius for a track layout, I have enjoyed your emails and in particular coming from the US.  -Graham W.

I answered Graham’s radius question in a previous newsletter, but I’ll answer it again for those that missed it. I didn’t know so I looked it up on page 20 of my copy of Model Train Help by Robert Anderson. The minimum radius for HO scale track is 15″.

Rob M. in Australia wrote to tell me where he was at in modeling:

Rick, Have a Heap or rolling stock and Locos.

Also have Track. Designing a layout as we speak. Looking at double oval with turnouts to each oval in both directions. Also have 3 sidings on the layout as well. It will be approx 3 metres by 1.3 wide. The biggest problem I have is designing the wiring in DC.

All the locos are approx 20-30 years old (they were mine when I was 8 yrs old) so DCC is out. My father shipped them over from the UK to Oz [Australia] a few years ago. I have 3 controllers with enough grunt to run the layout.

Thanks for all the tips keep them coming. If you could do an idiots guide to wiring that would be a great help. Modeling etc isn’t the problem just trying to wire the layout up. Any tips on wiring would be of great assistance.

Attached is a pic of a circle nailed to an old door to test the trains. Cheers -Rob M.

From Chuck P., an armchair modeler:

OK HERE GOES, I’VE SPENT THE LAST 30YEARS AS AN ARMCHAIR MODELER. RAISING 5 CHILDREN AND NOW DEE SAYS I’M THE ONLY ONE LEFT TO RAISE.

I’M VERY INVOLVED IN SCOUTING IN WESTERN IL, NORTHEAST MO. SOUTHEAST IOWA. AM AN AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR AND PHOTOGRAPHER. TRAINED SEVER STORM SPOTTER.

MOST OF MY MODEL RAILROADING HAS BEEN DONE IN SMALL PLASTIC BOXES THAT I CAN SEE THE PROJECT IN ON MY SHELVES ABOVE THE WORK BENCH WHICH IS NORMALLY COVERED WITH ELECTRONICS AND RADIOS.

I WORK I ‘O’ SCALE AND AM BUILDING THE IOWA AND SAINT LOUIS RAILROAD.

IT SERVICED THE CHARITON RIVER VALLEY IN NORTH MISSOURI AND SOUTHERN IOWA.THIS WAS COAL MINE COUNTRY. IT IS AN OLD ROAD THAT WAS BORN IN 1900 AND GONE BY 1941THEN BOUGHT BY THE QUINCY, OMAHA AND KANSAS CITY, WHICH WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE C,B&Q. STEAM POWER AND DOODLEBUGS IN THE LATE 30′S AND 1940.

THERE WAS A UNION DEPOT IN THE LATE YEARS, THAT I WANT TO PUT IN A DIORAMA THIS WINTER. I LIKE SCRATCH BUILDING. COULD USE IN FORMATION ON THOSE TYPE SUPPLIES INCLUDING LOCOMOTIVE BUILDING SUPPLIES. I HAVE ACCESS TO PICTURES MANY PICTURES. WRECKS AND THE LIKE. ONLY 2 PICTURES OF THE DEPOT AND WATER TANK.

PRECUT WOOD, CARDSTOCK, LOCO BUILDING ITEM WHEELS AND AXELS DRIVE SYSTEMS. THOSE KIND OF THINGS WOULD BE OF GREAT HELP…… CHUCK P. O SCALE ARMCHAIR MODELER

I’ll bet many of you can relate to being an armchair modeler for several years until you could actively pursue the hobby.

Very good info. Newbie here….mid forties, had a 8′x16′ layout in my basement as a kid. Now I am trying to figure out how to do a 4×16 or 8×8 Pittsburgh 1910 era theme. Got a lot of info from your site, and just wanted to say thanks!

 p.s. wish I could 3 or 4 sheets of plywood, but it would fill my Florida room! Possibe I could do a T-shape and 3 sheets…. anyhoooo… thanks again! -Mike from Clermont, FL

Thanks for writing in Mike.

Hi Rick,absolute rank beginner,I have a Hornby 1955,all original,a bit worn,but I need to restore the tracks,and I am looking for the book or tips on doing that job,so perhaps your sit will help?? Regards, -David

Again, this is just some of the feedback and comments I received during the fall of 2009. I’ll share some more soon.

How about sharing your experiences in the comments area below?

Rick

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Here are the pictures I took at the event! Also, check out the videos I posted earlier for this event .

The event was held at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum’s home turf at Bandana Square in Saint Paul and was attended by other groups, including C & R Circus, a group that specializes in HO and O scale circus modeling.

I hope you enjoy these pictures:

Related Articles:

1. Videos from “The Circus Moves by Rail” show at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum
2. “The Circus Moves by Rail” show at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum
3. Twin City Model Railroad Museum

Well, I’m posting videos I took at the event! I’ll post pictures in another post.

The event was held at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum’s home turf at Bandana Square in Saint Paul and was attended by other groups, including C & R Circus, a group that specializes in HO and O scale circus modeling.

I hope you enjoy these videos.

Related Articles:

1. Pictures from “The Circus Moves by Rail” show at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum
2. “The Circus Moves by Rail” show at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum
3. Night Trains Event at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum