Uncategorized – Red Dirt and Rails

Did we lose something along the way?

My generation seems to thrive on nostalgia. We love 80’s themed stuff like Stranger Things. We’re buying analog products like record players and Polaroid cameras. The minimalist gray aesthetic in home design is out, and a “Ralph Lauren Christmas” and busy, cozy home design is in. It makes me wonder where model railroad design mayContinue reading “Did we lose something along the way?”

Superliners, Surfliners, and Morning Runs

If you’re like me (a train enthusiast who builds models, not a modeler who likes trains), I think you’ll agree that HOW we view and interact with trains is a big influence on our choices in the hobby. While some folks have more constant interests, I’ve found that mine change as the ways I experienceContinue reading “Superliners, Surfliners, and Morning Runs”

Chasing Wheat Trains

Due to space considerations, most of my modeling efforts when it comes to Farmrail have focused on carload switching of oilfield-related commodities. Grain elevators and cuts of shuttle hoppers eat up space quick in HO scale. Furthermore, most of the trips I’ve made out to Farmrail to railfan focused on chasing those oilfield and rockContinue reading “Chasing Wheat Trains”

I Don’t Do it All (And That’s OK… I think…)

I will never hide the fact that I outsource some tasks when it comes to model railroading. Many people in this hobby are hardcore model builders first and foremost. I respect the heck out of them, but that’s not me, at least in this stage of my model railroading journey. I’m a train enthusiast first,Continue reading “I Don’t Do it All (And That’s OK… I think…)”

Welcome (Back) to Fransen

Farmrail isn’t an easy railroad to model faithfully, especially when you’re space starved and move often. The rolling hills and grain elevators are a challenge. Thankfully, there’s also plenty of industrial switching, especially around Clinton, OK. Sometimes, we have to put the layout we WANT to build on hold, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’tContinue reading “Welcome (Back) to Fransen”

I have a lot to catch y’all up on…

My hope is to get back to writing on here more often. For that matter, I hope to get back to more modeling as my demanding (but rewarding) time as an instructor comes to and end and we’ve gotten the littlest child through her first year successfully. For now, I have an update to theContinue reading “I have a lot to catch y’all up on…”

Still here, still running trains

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”

What’s Important?

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?”

Running Trains and Enjoying Life

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”

Telephone Poles and the Horizon

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”