The Hills Line, both prototype and model, is primarily a daylight affair. While I have no doubt that there were times that crews either started their day at the crack of dawn or ended it just as the last rays were dipping below the horizon, as far as I'm concerned it's always sunny and warm … Continue reading A Light Approach
Author: James McNab
Where You Are
Several years ago, noted model railroader Bill Darnaby of Maumee Route fame coined the phrase macro vs micro operations. In a nutshell, macro model railroad operations focus on the movement of complete trains against each other, while micro model railroad operations focus on the movement of individual cars to either their next or possibly final … Continue reading Where You Are
Meetup Time
Yet another blatant promotional announcement... I'll be presenting for the Operations Special Interest Group (OpSIG) monthly virtual meetup this Sunday, August 8th at 4:00pm Eastern. My presentation is titled A Layout Built on Procedures, and will detail, appropriately, the concept, planning, and execution of the operating scheme used on The Hills Line. More information and … Continue reading Meetup Time
Going For Distance
Reconstruction of the Lafayette Street backdrop required a bit more work than just paint and glue. However, the overall effect is far stronger and cleaner than my first effort, and offers a vista unique to The Hills Line. I've come to understand the pros and cons of using rolled aluminum flashing for my backdrop. On … Continue reading Going For Distance

