Blog

Haunted By Waters

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." -Norman MacLean- While additional detail parts may eventually find a place, I'm ready to call the first significant rural scene on The Hills Line complete. The 10,000-foot view shows the relative placement of most of the elements. All the foliage and flora follow … Continue reading Haunted By Waters

The South 40

Up until now, progress on The Hills Line has focused on the more industrial Iowa City with its tight clearances and numerous grade crossings. I'm now working in the town of Hills, a stark contrast with its agrarian open spaces and features. One key feature of any rural area in the Upper Midwest is a … Continue reading The South 40

Crash Into Me

A few months back I came across Lance Mindheim's post on freight car coupling on his website. As with all of his writings, I found it informative and motivating. Since reading it, and more specifically watching the video linked within the post, I’ve tried to become more aware of the sudden and complete stop that … Continue reading Crash Into Me

Force of Nature

"Rivers flow not past, but through us" -John Muir- It took me some time before I was able to determine the name of the small creek just north of Hills, Iowa. But thanks to some first-hand information from local residents I discovered what could simultaneously be the best and worse possible name for a body … Continue reading Force of Nature