My representation of the town of Mapleton PA is getting close to completion, and I am currently working on the western end of the town. It’s a small town about 45 minutes east of Altoona which has seen its better days.

The first two images are of two houses at the intersection of Main and Campbell Street as well as the prototypes they are meant to represent. The white one is a discontinued atypical Plasticville model and the other is a heavily kitbashed Model Power (now Lionel) kit. Note that with the help of my son, I’ve included a classic Pennsylvania star on the blue house. The prototype images are from Google Maps Street View.

Next, to the west is what is left of the tiny business district on Main Street, and further to the east are some frame houses in varying condition built into the slope along the eastern end of Main Street.

Finally, I had to include a train. Here’s an image of an NS train emerging from Jacks Narrows just to the east of Mapleton.

Hope to fully finish this part of the layout in the next 6-8 weeks.

That’s it for this week…enjoy!

A 2023 Christmas layout memory

I accidently used this video in another thread.  I say 'accidentally' because I saved it specifically for my last "memory" contribution for this year.  Oh well, still going to use it here.  Just as I said in that other thread, it's kind of long (2 minutes, 43 seconds) so I don't blame anyone for not watching it all.

- walt

2023 Christmas Layout

Back alley.

@walt rapp posted:

A 2023 Christmas layout memory

I accidently used this video in another thread.  I say 'accidentally' because I saved it specifically for my last "memory" contribution for this year.  Oh well, still going to use it here.  Just as I said in that other thread, it's kind of long (2 minutes, 43 seconds) so I don't blame anyone for not watching it all.

- walt

2023 Christmas Layout

Fantastic layout.......looking forward to this year's unveiling!

Peter

Fun trains at the modular set up this week......

This is the layout that is the first prize of this year's fund-raising raffle. One of my modular group colleagues was asked by a pre-schooler, "why does the water tower have hand sanitizer in it?".

Have a great and safe week, everyone......and, safe travels to all!

Peter

Some good PR  for the hobby........our modular group on local Richmond, VA television

https://www.12onyourside.com/2...reat-big-greenhouse/

Peter

Scott Smith

Getting the attic layout ready for a visit by my granddaughter........ 

A few quick videos......

Happy Holidays and safe travels to all!

Peter

Just thought I would post some photos of my VW track maintenence vehicle and some other odds and ends. Happy Holidays and safe travel everyone!

Miketg

Running with the Trackers at the Boys and Girls club of Manassas last weekend, the last Tracker show of 2024…

Since I'm in between layouts right now since the move to PA, I took my PRR Q2 to run on the Lower Susquehanna Valley Modular Railroaders layout.  Hope to start working on benchwork for the new one once the holidays are done.

@PRRMiddleDivision always great to see your work.  

Paper Boy selling a OGR magazine

NJ

@Carl Peduzzi posted:

@PRRMiddleDivision always great to see your work.  

Thanks Carl!

@Putnam Division posted:

Getting the attic layout ready for a visit by my granddaughter........  Peter

Way to make a GREAT Christmas layout @Putnam Division !!!!  What kid wouldn't love it?  BTW: I love that manger car

= walt

@walt rapp posted:

Way to make a GREAT Christmas layout @Putnam Division !!!!  What kid wouldn't love it?  BTW: I love that manger car

= walt

Thank you, Walt!

Peter

@Christopher2035 posted:

Since I'm in between layouts right now since the move to PA, I took my PRR Q2 to run on the Lower Susquehanna Valley Modular Railroaders layout.  Hope to start working on benchwork for the new one once the holidays are done.

Coal goes to war!

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www.youtube.com/trainbros89

@Trainbros89 posted:

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www.youtube.com/trainbros89

I just love those buildings!

Atlas O scale master series Chicago and NorthWestern 40' AIRSLIDE covered hoppers painted in the 'Safety Yellow' scheme.

Andrew

Falcon Service

The Blue Comet......

MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄

LIONEL SOO LINE PS-1 40' box car with grain restraining boards in the doors.

Andrew

@Sitka posted:

Paper Boy selling a OGR magazine

I also got one na dem paper boys;

Arnold

Santa apparently made a pit stop in Atlanta, Indiana to pick up an early Christmas present .  Had to open it now, these Berwick boxcars are too big for my stocking.

Let me take you back in time to 1916. At that time there was a great baseball player who loved the game more than anyone ever did. His nickname was Shoeless Joe and he is miraculously at bat in Iowa, of all places, in the photo below:

Arnold

I was running the Equestra Train Club yesterday. It’s takes us a month to put it up and get it running before our pancake breakfast the first weekend in December. We were very busy. I managed to take these at a lull.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Let me take you back in time to 1916. At that time there was a great baseball player who loved the game more than anyone ever did. His nickname was Shoeless Joe and he is miraculously at bat in Iowa, of all places, in the photo below:

Arnold

Arnold, that is a cool scene of times gone by, I don’t recall seeing it in your videos.

Gene

A couple from under the tree...

Those paper boys sure do get around

- walt

@NJCJOE posted:

The Blue Comet......

MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄

@NJCJOE - I think I'll join you running this beaut!

- walt

Having some fun with scale recently as @Mark Boyce reminded me how much fun N scale can be.  A few new acquisitions compared to their O scale counterparts.

This is a Bachmann NE caboose.  They have come a long way since the last one I bought in the 90's.

An earlier paint scheme on one of my Weaver NE cabooses, but that N scale one sure has some great detail!

Micro Trains single sheathed wood boxcar compared to its Atlas O counterpart. 

Jonathan, excellent !  I am amazed at the detail on today’s N scale engines and rolling stock!  Your CNJ caboose and boxcar are wonderful.  I bought an Atlas N scale Chessie SD9 and did a similar comparison with my MTH B&O SD9.  The details today look so great when I think back to 1980s models.

@mike.caruso posted:

Santa apparently made a pit stop in Atlanta, Indiana to pick up an early Christmas present .  Had to open it now, these Berwick boxcars are too big for my stocking.

These are the Gunderson 50' box cars.

There should be a tree with figures inside.

Andrew

I finally cleared some space to set up my Christmas village.  I recreated the last version I did in 2021.