Building and operating the Atlantic Inland

 The movement of coal is the primary theme of my layout. I want every other operation to be performed in front of a backdrop of moving coal trains. Hopper car loads of “coal” originate at tipples, loaders, and mines around the layout. Mine runs bring these coal loads to Pettigrew Yard, the coal marshaling yard, on my layout. At Pettigrew the coal is classified into trains going to like destinations. These trains are then “dispatched” from Pettigrew and, as a rule, run into the various staging yards representing off-layout destinations. During staging these hoppers have their coal loads removed, waybills swapped, motive power and caboose swapped end for end, and they eventually depart staging, representing MTY coal trains returning to Pettigrew. In addition, MTY hoppers, spotted at the various tipples, loaders, and mines around the layout, get loads placed into their hoppers. Anyway,  once these MTY hopper trains arrive back at Pettigrew yard the MTY hoppers get made up into mi...

 I love Swap Meets. What I have found is that “out here” on the East coast swap meets and train shows are, as a rule, pretty good. On the West Coast these events were, at best, hit and miss. And to be honest, usually miss. Take Greenberg Shows. On the West Coast I found these events to be WORTHLESS. They had a high entry fee, and I was personally guaranteed of being completely disappointed EVERY time. On the East Coast I have found these shows to be treasure troves. Same with Timonium.  Now here’s my problem, Club Shows.  I want to go, let me repeat that, I WANT to go to these events. But what I have found, at least here in Winchester, is I never find out about them in time. I’m going to expand on this, out here it’s not just train events, but ANY event. What I have found is that around here, for what ever the reason, I am never made aware of these events. What ever medium organizers use to communicate with the public, seems to miss me entirely.  I have to say those ...

 I’ve been late with my review of Tulsa Rail because I’m upset that no one else post reviews. We all go to these events. If you’ve spent ANY time with me you know I expect a comprehensive review: travel, food, cocktails, and layouts. So here goes. I attended Tulsa Rail 2025 on the weekend of March 21st through March 23rd. I chose to drive. Over the past several years, every time I take a plane flight I get sick. I usually catch whatever I’m going to catch on the first day at the airport or on the flight, then by the third day of the ops event I’m exhibiting full blown symptoms. At So Cal Ops I had to leave the Sunday layout early. Additional I remained sick for the following TEN days. This has become intolerable. Our last trip to London was  the Bataan Death March for me. I will simply not fly if it can be avoided. My last two ops trips have been illness free, and I have to say these were both excellent trips. So I drove. Since my wife was not involved in these trips, I left o...