turnout. Presently, I use a train order system that dispatches trains in se- quence from the major rail traffic cen- ters with a built-in switch list and other relevant instructions. Before each oper- ating session I hold a briefing, then I give the crews their paperwork. Gener- ally I have two-person train crews, engi- neer and conductor teams, and I assign a dispatcher and then yard masters. My role when I have enough folks is to trou- bleshoot and be the superintendent. I try not to be too serious so that running the layout is fun for all participants; yet we have structure.
The future The layout is far from complete, as I am continuing to add scenery, details and test new ideas. On my Camden Yards, Mountainside, Pittsburgh and East Pittsburgh layout sections, though I have all the structures in place there is much to do so that it is on par with other locations that are 99 percent done. I hope to be working on the railroad for years to come in one way or the other. In addition, I believe in promoting the hobby and I have been active in the National Model Rail- road Association. Since 2005 I have hosted open hous- es in conjunction with the Piedmont Division of Southeast Region of the NMRA. This has been a great opportu- nity for me to share the L&K Railroad with members of the NMRA and the community. In 2013 the NMRA Nation- al Convention will be held in Atlanta, Georgia. The L&K Railroad is sched- uled to be on tour, and I encourage you to stop by if you are in the area for the convention and visit with us. If you would like to see my model railroad in advance please go to our
RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN
website:
NMRA2013.org, for some still photographs and a link to YouTube. My layout is listed as PTE 2013Track 3
and is one of twelve selections that can be found on YouTube with video clips of trains in action.
A pair of Geeps lead a westbound freight past Columbia’s busy commercial district (top). Besides the heavy urban industrial scenes found along the L&K, many local Main St. businesses such as this Esso gas station (above) allow visitors to capture a view of the recent past. This provides a nice background for the mainline trains (below) passing by.
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