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TWP Magazine

by Yardmaster on April 2, 2010

As you may have read in previous posts, I’m a member of  The Whistle Post model railroad forums.  It’s a great place to meet fellow modelers to share and exchange ideas, and one of my favorite hobby-related websites.

Back in December of 09, I approached the owner of the site with an idea for an e-Mag, an electronic magazine that people could download and read at their leisure.  The content would be created by members of the forums and be available in Adobe Acrobat format.

The first edition of  TWP Magazine is finished and available!  Be sure to click the image below and check it out!

TWP Magazine - April

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A Tale of Two Roundhouses

by Yardmaster on January 27, 2010

Like most model railroaders, one of the things I most looked forward to was adding a roundhouse and turntable to my layout.  There’s just something cool about a roundhouse.

My grandfather had the Atlas roundhouse on his layout, and I have many fond memories of operating the turntable and changing out the engines when I was a kid.  Much to my dismay, there is very little selection on the market when it comes to these magnificent structures…especially in N scale.


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Going Granger

Post image for Going Granger

by Yardmaster on January 24, 2010

Railroads play a vital role in any region’s economy.  While the beating heart of the Erie & Southern Railroad will always be coal, it will also connect many rural towns and help farmers bring their products to market.

I have drawn inspiration from some of the most popular granger roads: the Chicago, Burlington & Quincey; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul; and Chicago & Northwestern.

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An Updated Paint Scheme

December 28, 2009

In reviewing locomotive paint schemes of the 1950′s, I found that many of them were fairly elaborate when compared to those of more modern times.  Still, when considering a paint scheme for the Erie & Southern, there had to be a balance between a prototypical branding for my railroad and what my skills and equipment [...]

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Model Railroading Operations – Crews

Railroad crew December 2, 2009

Real railroads operate under the very definition of teamwork.  There are many people involved in performing specific tasks that make the railroad run.  That said, it’s often not practical to model all of these different jobs.  Typically, the ones modeled involve those directly involved in moving and making trains. During a typical operating session, one [...]

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Model Railroad Operations – Types of Trains

Train December 2, 2009

Not all trains are created equal.  One of the main purposes behind model railroad operations is to emulate the real thing, and in order to do that we must look at the different types of trains. It’s important to note that with advancements in technology, we as modelers can simulate nearly all aspects of prototypical [...]

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Model Railroad Operations – Introduction

Model Railroad Operations December 1, 2009

Model railroading offers so much more than just model building for train fans.  Linn Westcott, former editor of Model Railroader magazine, once said that operation was “one of the world’s most magnificent board games” in an editorial during the 1960′s. When you think of operations that way, he’s right.  There is a game board (your [...]

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Model Railroading on the Decline?

Thumbnail image for Model Railroading on the Decline? September 7, 2009

There’s been a lot of speculation in recent years, both on internet forums and chat rooms, that the model railroading hobby is slowly slipping away.  They often cite disappearing modeling magazines as a sign of the times. This is simply not true, and here’s why: Generation Y has finally passed the Baby Boomers in population, [...]

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Erie & Southern to Purchase Two FM Train Masters

Thumbnail image for Erie & Southern to Purchase Two FM Train Masters September 5, 2009

The Fairbanks-Morse H-24-66 was a 6 axle hood unit road switcher, similar to other popular styles of early diesel locomotives.  One major difference was the 2,400 HP engine, which was the largest offering at the time. Self-described by FM as “the most useful locomotive ever built”, and designated as “Train Masters”, these engines had a [...]

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Union Pacific’s Joliet, IL State-of-the-Art Intermodal Terminal

Thumbnail image for Union Pacific’s Joliet, IL State-of-the-Art Intermodal Terminal September 3, 2009

Union Pacific has invested over $370 million in their new 785-acre intermodal complex located near Chicago, which is still the nation’s largest rail center. Construction began in August 2009, with the initial construction phase to be completed in June 2010. Intermodal traffic continues to expand, and this facility is part of the larger CenterPoint Intermodal [...]

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