It's always good to take a look at how far our model railroads have come. Happy model railroading, everyone!
Author: Dale Parsons
I love my wife, my family, and our dog, Gracie. I started blogging in 2018. A Coffee State of Mind covers a lot of topics. I hope you enjoy it.
How to Build a Grade Crossing on an HO Scale Model Railroad
Building a convincing grade crossing on my HO scale model railroad was something I really wasn't looking forward to. I debated whether to buy a crossing kit at the hobby shop and be done with it, but I decided they were too expensive. I turned to YouTube, the model railroader's best friend. Who am I …
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Growing Up Lapeer: Bud Guest and the Sunny Side of the Street Club
I have always liked elevator music. I remember my mom had easy listening music on in the house while she was doing her Leave It To Beaver kind of thing. She didn't wear a dress all day, but everything else followed a well-written script, right down to sprinkling clothes before ironing with water from a …
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Part Two: Mistakes on My First and Second HO Scale Model Railroads that Taught Me What Not To Do
I have to admit, my second model railroad was more of a "get a table built so I can run trains" kind of layout than a well-designed plan. I stayed with two mainlines, and allowed for a twenty-two inch radius on the outside. I again used Linn Westcott's book, How To Build Model Railroad Benchwork, …
Mistakes on My First and Second HO Scale Model Railroads that Taught Me What Not To Do
My purpose in sharing these thoughts and photos is to assist you in the development of your HO scale model railroad. If there is a set of rules for model railroaders, I haven't seen it. Rule number one should be, Do Not Hurry! No matter how bad you want to see trains rolling by at …
Memories of the Steam Train Festival in 2009 at the Steam Railroading Institute
I think I was born about fifteen years too late. I would have loved standing along the tracks watching huge steam locomotives roll by, pulling long lines of freight or passenger cars. Steam was almost completely replaced by diesel by the time I was born. There were still a few steam engines working in various …
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Grandchildren Watching the Maple Valley Short Line is the Reward of Model Railroading
Hours and hours invested in a model railroad often result in a few moments that make the entire effort worth every moment working. For a model railroader, the work is fun so it's not as though I don't love every minute with my layout. The Maple Valley Short Line Model Railroad is my third layout …
Married Forty-Nine Years to the Love of My Life
We were married on this date, forty-nine years ago. It was a Friday night, an ice and snow storm blew in during the day. The ceremony started late because my wife's brother, mother and step-father had not yet arrived, and her brother was giving her away. My mother-in-law was bringing the wedding cake. Mary and …
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Detail Scenes of the Maple Valley Short Line HO Scale Model Railroad
Maple Valley Manufacturing is a large facility just outside of town. Three Tower Bridge stands between the small town of Maple Valley and the factory. Close-up views of the inside of the factory provide detailed scenes on the HO scale model railroad. To create the illusion of depth and detail in the facade, I built …
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Scandal at Maple Valley – Episode 34: The Christmas Disaster
Someone, no one knows who, or where, or when, said, "If something bad is going to happen, it will happen first in Maple Valley." I take exception to that notion. There are lots of things that happen in other places first. What generally follows is that the good folks in Maple Valley claim they were …
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A Coffee State of Mind 