Author Archives: Alex Bogaski

It seems I always have to preface a post here with “I’ve been really busy…” However, while work on the layout has virtually stopped, I still do find the time to run trains and “railfan” the layout. Its nice having a clean, finished layout to enjoy. Often, I only make it halfway through an operatingContinue reading “Still here, still running trains”

Limited resources will really force you to be introspective and evaluate what matters in the hobby. You can either get bogged down by those resource constraints, or use them to focus in on greatness. In my case, time and space are the biggest limitations. Our home is small and my model railroad(s) must share theContinue reading “What’s Important?”

Hi y’all! I haven’t had much time for a blog update lately. Since my last post, I’ve completed another successful overseas tour and have been enjoying lots of quality time with my family. Its been good to be home, and it looks like it will continue to be home for another 2-3 years! I haven’tContinue reading “Running Trains and Enjoying Life”

One of the last details I wanted to add to the layout were some telephone poles along two of the roads. I think they turned out pretty decent: I would like to blend that horizon better with a photo backdrop, but that will have to wait until after my upcoming “work trip.” In the meantime,Continue reading “Telephone Poles and the Horizon”

2003. I was eleven years old. I’m not sure if the subscription to Model Railroader was a gift from my parents or a relative, but I was ecstatic when that January issue came in. I was organizing my old magazines when I realized how great a year 2003 was for Model Railroader and how thoseContinue reading “2003 – What a Time to be Alive!”

No model railroad is every truly finished. But to me, there’s a difference between adding small details and refinements and building entire sections of scenery and major structures. I think Frederick, OK is done, for all intents and purposes. There are several important details I’d like to add: A car puller at one of theContinue reading “Is it Done?”

We’ve got a couple of new hires out here on Farmrail in Frederick, OK! On Valentines Day, my wife joined me for a quick informal operating session on the layout. We had fun filming it and running some trains. She makes a great engineer, I think my friend Tom H. (a veteran engineer and GP10Continue reading “Additions to the Crew”

I’ve lived in Aberdeen, NC for nearly two years. I enjoy railfanning around town; its usually as easy as jumping in my truck when I hear a horn (especially when it comes to the two short lines). We live near downtown, and the community is small enough to easily get around. I have been meaningContinue reading “A Break From Our Regularly Scheduled Programming…”

Its a hot, windy day in southwest Oklahoma. Farmrail isn’t running into town today. The folks at Cassidy grain loaded the UP hopper this morning, and are probably sitting in the shade somewhere enjoying a sandwich and a Dr. Pepper. I don’t think I’ll win any awards for this scene, and sure, it could beContinue reading “Quiet Day”

I’m a dreamer. I enjoy designing model railroads, exploring new potential prototypes, and even creating freelance or proto-freelance model railroad concepts. I’d like to start slowly sharing some of those ideas here, over time. It would take multiple lifetimes to build all the model railroads that I’d like to build, but perhaps someone else canContinue reading “Hollis & Eastern”