Model Railroading and Trains – Helping you with turnouts/switches and tips for a better layout

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I was recently reminded that my website hasn’t been updated in forever so here is a quick update with more to follow, hopefully. I have been so so so so busy! The saying goes “Time flies when you are having fun” so I say I must being having so much […]

A Quick Update

November 6, 2023 in Trains by admin

UPDATE – December 2019 In addition to the National N Scale Convention, the NMRA National Convention that our division, the Northern Utah Division of the NMRA, hosted in 2019 has also come and gone. Many years of planning we did have fun and many, many people expressed the same enthusiastic […]

Custom Turnout Orders Update

December 18, 2019 in Layout Construction / Trains / Turnouts by admin

In an effort to organize, and get under control, some of my personal time, I cannot promise any new orders for track work to be worked on before July 1, 2018. I have a number of orders I am a little behind on which I will finish as soon as […]

Custom Turnout Orders

January 23, 2018 in Layout Construction / Turnouts tagged handlaid turnouts / Train Layout by admin

Newsletter Column Index December 2017 This time of year is full of traditions. Many model railroader’s stories begin with the memory of a train around the Christmas tree. I have a special Christmas train with Santa on it that we set up nearly every year. It doesn’t always run great […]

Newsletter 12/17

December 11, 2017 in Layout Construction / Promontory Post tagged christmas train / traditions by admin

Newsletter Column Index November 2017 I hope you were able to enjoy the Intermountain Train Expo this past weekend. I know I did! Two full days of trains and friends! It went by too quickly. The Rocky Mountain Region had their Board Meeting after the show on Saturday. It was […]

Newsletter 11/17

November 15, 2017 in Promontory Post tagged NMRA / train show by admin

Newsletter Column Index October 2017 What’s on your workbench? Sometimes it seems I have too many projects. I’ve said before that the AP Program has helped me focus to be able to get projects completed. I’m at the point where I need to do scenery on my HO layout. In […]

Newsletter 10/17

October 17, 2017 in Layout Construction / Promontory Post tagged live steam / Train Layout by admin

Newsletter Column Index September 2017 37th National Narrow Gauge Convention in Denver 2017 – Recap Let me first explain I have been to one NMRA National Convention and two National Narrow Gauge Conventions in the past – over 11 years ago since the last one. I am still amazed that […]

Newsletter 9/17

September 15, 2017 in Promontory Post / Trains by admin

Below is a “guest post” by my son. His last step to earn his Eagle Scout rank is doing his Eagle Scout Service Project. For my eagle project I am making track for a park in Saratoga Springs called Shay Park. Utah Live Steamers, a train group in Utah, currently […]

Eagle Service Project

September 9, 2017 in Layout Construction / Trains tagged boy scouts / Eagle Project / Train Layout / trains by admin

Newsletter Column Index August 2017 What draws you to model railroading? What makes you want to be a part of the NMRA? I have always liked building things. I remember as a kid building things with cardboard from cereal boxes while watching Saturday morning cartoons. As I have gotten older […]

Newsletter 8/17

August 8, 2017 in Deep Thoughts / Promontory Post / Trains by admin

Even though I was told it was official, received the number #585, saw my bio about it in the NMRA Magazine, saw my name listed in the NMRA emailed newsletter I was still uncertain about actually having it completed. Well, I finally received my Master Model Railroader Certificate! Here is […]

I Have My MMR Certificate!

July 12, 2017 in Deep Thoughts / Trains tagged AP / Master Model Railroader / MMR / NMRA by admin

Newsletter Column Index July 2017 When you go on vacation do you seek out opportunities to find trains? I don’t usually “seek them out” but when an opportunity presents itself I am happy! Recently I was at Disneyland with my family. On one day, most had gone back to the […]

Newsletter 7/17

July 7, 2017 in Deep Thoughts / Promontory Post / Trains by admin

Newsletter Column Index June 2017 What are you doing to have fun with model railroading? Chances are, as long as it isn’t armchair modeling, it might qualify for some aspect of the AP. You should all know by now, for years I had many projects “mostly done” and just needed […]

Newsletter 6/17

June 7, 2017 in Layout Construction / Promontory Post tagged AP / model railroad / model trains / Train Layout by admin

Newsletter Column Index May 2017 What is your favorite part of model railroading? Do you like wiring or do you prefer creating scenery? Do you like hand laying track or building freight cars? There are so many aspects of and different subjects in this hobby that it’s no wonder it’s called […]

Newsletter 5/17

May 7, 2017 in Promontory Post by admin

Don’t be afraid to try something new. In my case, I wasn’t afraid and it wasn’t something new. However, it was something I had wanted to do again for a very long time (maybe 25 years.) I know a lot of people (when I say a lot, I mean hobbyists) […]

Learn Something New Everyday

April 14, 2017 in Deep Thoughts / Tips tagged AP / Master Model Railroader / MMR by admin

Newsletter Column Index April 2017 What is on your workbench? If you are like me, you might have more projects started than you care to admit. Working on AP requirements helped me to focus and with setting some goals and personal deadlines I have now completed more projects than ever! Not […]

Newsletter 4/17

April 5, 2017 in Layout Construction / Promontory Post / Tips / Trains by admin

Here’s a copy of my bio that ran in the April 2017 NMRA Magazine.

Bio MMR #585

April 4, 2017 in Deep Thoughts / Trains tagged AP / Master Model Railroader / MMR / model railroad / trains by admin

Newsletter Column Index March 2017 What have you done lately to promote your hobby of Model Railroading? Notice I didn’t say the hobby I said your hobby. When I have done a clinic for the Railroading merit badge there are maybe 1 or 2 out of 20 in a class that […]

Newsletter 3/17

March 4, 2017 in Promontory Post tagged 2019 / model railroad / model trains by admin

I am pleased to announce that as of February 1, 2017 I am now Master Model Railroader #585. What does that mean? Well, for me, I have set some personal goals to have certain criteria finished by certain dates. Does it make me a better modeler? I hope so, only […]

Master Model Railroader

February 8, 2017 in Deep Thoughts / Trains tagged AP / Master Model Railroader / MMR / model railroad / trains by admin

Newsletter Column Index February 2017 I’ve got some great news this month: It’s official that I am Master Model Railroader #585 and the third currently living in Utah! What does that mean? Well, for me it means I’ve accomplished a goal I’ve had for awhile. I first heard about the AP […]

Newsletter 2/17

February 4, 2017 in Trains tagged AP / Master Model Railroader / MMR / NMRA by admin

Newsletter Column Index January 2017 It’s that time of year again where people make New Years Resolutions. How about looking at it with a different spin? Is there a particular model you have been putting off getting done? I know I have a few that have been “nearly done for […]

Newsletter 1/17

January 15, 2017 in Promontory Post / Trains tagged AP / Master Model Railroader / Motive Power / NMRA by admin

Newsletter Column Index December 2016 Many people are reflective this time of the year. We just had Thanksgiving where sharing what you are thankful for is a big part of the holiday. Christmas is coming up fast and that’s also a time for sharing. One thing I have found with […]

Newsletter 12/16

December 5, 2016 in Promontory Post / Trains tagged AP / model railroad / Newsletter by admin

Newsletter Column Index October 2016 I don’t know how many of you get the NMRA Magazine. I know it is an optional “upgrade” to your membership. If you don’t, you should think about it for next year because I plan to have a series of articles. 🙂 Joking aside, I […]

Newsletter 10/16

October 10, 2016 in Promontory Post tagged AP / boxcar races / Master Model Railroader / NMRA / social media by admin

Newsletter Column Index September 2016 There are two main types of contests that I have entered in the past. I may have mentioned this before but my first contest I ever entered was an NMRA National Convention Contest. Although the judges were very nice and explained their reasons, I was […]

Newsletter 9/16

September 10, 2016 in Promontory Post tagged AP / contest / model trains by admin

Newsletter Column Index February 2016 Great news! The Northern Utah Division led the entire Rocky Mountain Region with the most AP Awards in 2015! Let’s keep it up in 2016! Congratulations to Jack and Rick for getting their Golden Spike. Now let’s work on getting certificates guys. J I earned […]

Newsletter 2/16

February 10, 2016 in Promontory Post tagged handmade track / Newsletter / social media by admin

I have run my “Haunted Halloween Train Ride” every year except 2 for the past 11 years. One of those 2 it was actually raining and super windy. It can be a lot of work to prepare and run it. Sometimes the track needs adjusting so it doesn’t derail, the […]

Haunted Halloween Train 2015

November 12, 2015 in Deep Thoughts / Layout Tour by admin

Newsletter Column Index November 2015 We all enjoy this hobby called Model Railroading. Some of us have been blessed with time and space to have a large layout and others not so much but we still have fun when we can. I’ve talked about how to share the hobby with our […]

Newsletter 11/15

November 11, 2015 in Promontory Post / Trains tagged AP / boy scouts / merit badge / Newsletter / train show by admin

Newsletter Column Index August 2015 How many of you have built a building for your model railroad? I’ve built a few. Some more detailed than others. A couple even have interior details! If you have built a building and done a little more than just assembled a basic kit, then […]

Newsletter 8/15

August 23, 2015 in Promontory Post tagged AP / Newsletter / Train Layout by admin

Newsletter Column Index July 2015 Last month I talked a little about narrow gauge but also mentioned my 1.5” backyard ride-on. Officially it’s called “Live Steam” even though I don’t have any steam to speak of. I usually open it up to the neighborhood once a year and the kids […]

Newsletter 7/15

July 15, 2015 in Promontory Post tagged AP / handmade track / model railroad / Newsletter / Train Layout by admin

Newsletter Column Index June 2015 Most of us have a preferred scale and gauge we like working in but how many of us actually have multiple scales and/or gauges that we like? Most know I have 1.5” ride-on in the backyard but my main scale is HO with HOn3 mixed […]

Newsletter 6/15

June 13, 2015 in Promontory Post / Trains tagged AP / model trains / narrow gauge / Newsletter by admin