I am a model railroader. I have always found being a modeler is fun and always will be into model railroading in one form or another. This photograph tour along the hand laid right-of-way contains photos of some of the structures (scale model kits, kit-bash and scratch), scenery (including trees, trestles an even some 'Burma Shave' signs).  There are also trains (including the engine facilities, steam engines and operating equipment). The word 'diesel' is considered profanity on the NR with the only one found being a 1920-era a wooden doodle bug used for light traffic branch line service. There is a picture or two of my favorite engines, Plenty of track-side photos and modeling of all types.

Operation on the NR is essentially point to point. Two local train crews handle most of the traffic in two city areas with two to three peddler freights handling the remainder work to be done. Part of the layout depicts a logging operation complete with logging gantries, flume and a small sawmill. The remaining layout is an assortment of coal, cattle and hardware goods along with the typical non-descript loads that are concealed in any box car. Pictures of the buildings in two large cities and two smaller ones along with a host of tiny industries represent a sparsely populated mid-western area.

Train operation is under computer control to handle the signals, turntable operation and block selection while The electronics are home built from component level and is capable of running three trains simultaneously but more can be added later. 

    Also featured at this site are views of the model railroads from Charles Bettinger and George Reitze along with a few pictures of the Tzu Hang, an R/C boat I have recently modeled, and the Warhammer Imperial War Wagon Train.

COMPLETED

PROJECTS

The following projects are in one or more of the following formats

I have several related projects in process.  One is to build a number of heavy flat cars weighted to NMRA recommended practices.  Their construction led two other projects.  One was the construction of a couple of odometer cars used to track the distance a train travels in a day, week, or month.  Another was to detail a number of important tips relating to trucks couplers and other factors to make for smooth operation of any car. 

See page for SMALL PROJECTS for other projects

See SITE MAP for other new pages added to site

How far do your trains go in an evening?  Measure this and the length of your right-of-way with this nifty odometer car.   See the construction of two different cars and the electronics that make them work.  Modern components make them easy to build.

Click NEW PAGE for Flat cars

PDF VERSION        WEB PAGE       PP SHOW

Click NEW PAGE for Odometer car

Click NEW PAGE for Wireless Throttle

Click NEW PAGE for making Decals

This is the hand-held portion of a full-featured wireless throttle.  It is NOT a DCC throttle but it has many of the advantages without the disadvantages.   It has a range of well over 300’ inside and contains the same sort of smooth-starting pulses but also prevents reversing while running at elevated speeds. 

Use your own printer to make your own Decals, windows as well as construction and building papers quickly, inexpensively and exactly the way you want them.  See the difference between water-slide and rub-on decals and a few tips on their application.

View a presentation representing the early development of steam engines up to and including the first locomotives.

EARLY STEAM ENGINES

PDF VERSION        WEB PAGE       PP SHOW

Build any number of simple, removable trackside signals quickly and easily using mass production techniques.

BUILDING A SIGNAL

PDF VERSION        WEB PAGE       PP SHOW

Build this unusual combine based on the oldest US passenger car in existence today.

BUILDING AN EARLY COMBINE

PDF VERSION        WEB PAGE       PP SHOW

Here is a checklist of many simple ways to insure smooth, trouble-free operation

BETTER OPERATION 

PDF VERSION        WEB PAGE       PP SHOW

Stall motor switch machine installation and control. This clinic shows one way to install and control stall motors.  It includes a solid state control circuit plus both push-buttons and operational trackside

switch-stands.  Switches can be operated from control panel, trackside or computer. 

STALL MOTORS INSTALATION and CONTROL

PDF VERSION        WEB PAGE       PP SHOW

Build a photographic backdrop using pictures of structures from around the layout. Build a photographic or 3-D background.  Also connect to a database to share and exchange photos.

BUILD A BACKDROP   

PDF VERSION        WEB PAGE       PP SHOW 

Collect PASSES and other COLLECTABLES

This clinic presents a short history as to how the various types of passes for model railroads Came into existence.  It then goes on to show some other collectables that may be of interest to model railroaders

PDF VERSION        WEB PAGE       PP SHOW 

Go to the SITE MAP page to see more clinics

INCOMPLETED

And/or

FUTURE

PROJECTS

These presentations are in various stages of development and are incomplete.

Build an Automatic Turntable

Add an automatic optical indexing and positioning system to your turntable.  Use (2) buttons to position table within an accuracy of +/- .010".  Power is applied only to the track selected.   Plans and Schematics

BUILDING AN AUTOMATIC TURNTABLE

CLINICS:    PDF VERSION     WEB PAGE     PP SHOW

WEBSITE:  http://www.trainturntable.net

WAYBILLS

What is a waybill and how are they actually used?  A short history and a few ideas for creating switch lists.

BILLOARD SIGNS ETC

.

Using a sign cutting machine to make signs for a model railroad.

POWER SUPPLIES

How to build a power supply

For a model railroad

SOUND MULTIPLEXER

Build this sound system that randomly plays any of 120 sound clips over any of six speakers.

WATER TANKS

A brief history and construction of a rooftop water tank

TRAIN DETECTION

Build a dual unit optical train detector for under $6.00.

This highly sensitive infra red device can detect trains in both daytime and night time lighting at a distance of more than 6".

OTHER

PROJECTS

The following is a collection of projects not meant as presentations.

QUILL PENS

Making an old-fashioned quill pen.

Also, working with seals and chops

BONSAI

I few notes on growing miniature trees.

No, These are not practical for a model railroad!

The NORTH RIVER TECHNICAL MANUAL

This is not a clinic but rather a way for this old forgetful modeler to remember how everything is put together.  It contains notes, schematics and other information contained in clinics both past and planned for future as well as a few interesting concepts of a computer controlled model railroad.  Please let me know if you see something interesting and want more information

PDF VERSION