In part one and two, we covered Washington Union Station and its support facilities, let’s now turn around and head for the Potomac Yard. First, we must cross the Potomac River railroad bridge. This swing bridge crosses the river at one of its narrowest points. However, the Potomac River is no long a navigable waterway above this point so the...

Over the years, the DC area has played a major roll for US railroads, both in freight and passenger operations.  Because of this importance, Washington DC has had and still does have some very interesting railroad facilities.

February is still winter in the Northeast, but it does mean that spring is one month closer. Here in Florida the first sign of spring does not come from the first buds appearing on the trees but the words, “pitchers and catchers report!” Yes, believe it or not spring training is only days away, and that means Opening Day up north will follow...

Over the last two years we have talked a lot about model trains/railroading and prototype railroads and trains. In some of our articles, both in our blog and on our newsletter, we touched on the subject of types of trains, i.e. mail trains, milk trains, etc. I think it’s time to take a more detailed look into the types of trains that have run,...

Just after midnight 30 July, 1945, Japanese submarine I-58 sighted a United States Navy Portland-class heavy cruiser in its periscope. The ship, the USS Indianapolis, was torpedoed and sank within 12 minutes. 300 of her crew went down with the ship; another 880 were left in the water to survive on their own. They had no lifeboats, no food or...

The railroad map of the Northeast has changed drastically over the past 50 years, with not one of the original railroads surviving today. Of all those railroads, it was the D&H that would become the last holdout of both the Northeast and the Anthracite railroads. The D&H would eventually succumb to today’s reality of the mega railroad,...

Let’s now take a look at the trains, locomotives, and rolling stock themselves, and see what level of fine art they have attained. The models are a little different, because in most cases they are mass produced, however, this facet of the hobby has always had its collectables and the collectors who in turn will pay top dollar for them. Be it an...

Now that you’ve successfully lit up your building, there are still more things you can do with light to make your structure special. Not every light has to be within the structure. Roof signage can be lit by mini-spotlights like those from Miniatronics...

Well made model buildings add interest to any layout. Without structures, it’s all just countryside, isn’t it? But once you’ve got detailed structures, the next logical step is to bring them to life by lighting them. The array of lighting products available on the market is staggering in its variety, but like many building projects, good...