A few decently noted modelers have passed recently.
Let's face facts; this is still an 'old man's hobby'.
I was born in 1969 and when I go to model train events, I'm usually the youngest there by many years.

Here's the only other ten year apart shot on the layout, of the first run of the mainline. The turntables weren't in at that time.
This is the same locomotive and cars.

Quote from: Fred Klein on August 15, 2024, 12:21:58 AMLee, your layout ranks among my top favorite layouts, right along-side with David Popp's Olympia, Dave Meek's Thunder Mesa and Garry Beatty's Puerto Borracho. I always enjoy seeing pictures of your layout and it continues to inspire me even after 10 years. Looking forward to seeing more articles.

Thank you very much, Fred. That means a great deal to me.

Maybe I'm risking a jinx, but oh well...
On August 12, 2014, I ran the very first movement of a locomotive on my layout, using ET&WNC # 12 on a small section of the layout with a spur in place. My friend Robert Scott and I started laying track from one end to the other and had maybe gotten 4 feet of mainline in at this point, on plywood bench work. I didn't have a lot of confidence in my modeling ability at the time, having been out of the hobby for many years. I didn't think much would come from this other than a way to have fun running my own trains instead of waiting for op session on other layouts.
Within two years of this photo, scenery was in place and I've been improving stuff ever since.

Ten years later exactly, here's the same locomotive. This area is more of staging area with scenery. But had someone told me the layout would be in almost two dozen magazine articles, three commercial videos (including a Blu-Ray) and many dozens of visitors over the years, I'd have told that person they were nuts!

It's been an amazing journey to get to where it is today. I am continually surprised at how well my work has been received over the years.

I made my own number plates as one of the few things Bachmann never got right about their On30 locos were the builder and number plates. The builder plates were black lettering on a bronze background, the opposite of how they should be. I made my own and printed them onto decal paper.
Did the same for number plates, and printed them onto cardstock or photo paper.

I finally got mine this afternoon. It was well worth the wait!

Just a few that come to mind:

• EBT 2-8-2 (with blind center drivers for the tighter curve types)
• Baldwin S118-class 2-8-2. That Army took those things all over the world and a few still run here and there
• Re-release of the Baldwin ten-wheelers, to include White Pass & Yukon 10 and 14 (formerly ET&WNC locomotives, the very same prototype Bachmann has already made)
• Release of current On30 cars for the ET&WNC road name applied to match the same 10-wheelers. They tank car is a darned good representation of their tank cars 600 and 604 as they are, just with different lettering

The On30 Conspiracy IO Group has people posting since yesterday that they're getting their copies in the mail this week.
Can't wait to get mine. I hope I don't traumatize too many people as I should be in one shot, as my article is about running ops on a On30 layout (Something Chis asked me to write, at last year's narrow-gauge convention).
I do hope that shot made the cut not because I'm in it, but my wife took that and I so badly want to be able to tell people she's a published model railroad photographer!

I heard the recent Denver Narrow Gauge convention had some manner of outbreak of COVID and I emailed Chris last night with wishes that he hadn't caught it.
He hadn't, thank goodness. But even though I didn't ask (but I'm sure he knew I was wondering anyway), he mentioned the Annual "should be out any day."

Quote from: Ken Clark on September 04, 2023, 11:32:51 PMjust visited White River site, On30 annual due out Oct 1st, hopefully by Xmas

I wouldn't bet an appreciable amount on that. The Narrow-Gauge convention just ended and Chris Lane was one of the movers and shakers for that, so I bet he hasn't had any time for the annual over last month.
I still haven't seen the proof of my article, which I usually get long before publication.
No slam on Chris because he's a great guy and does an excellent job with everything, but he's a one-man band and was dealing with the convention which just ended.

I've seen one and I agree they look great. Sadly, the RR I model (the ET&WNC) never had anything like that, so I can't use one.
But I'm glad you love yours!

I get the point, John, but a lot of modelers don't like a forum from a manufacturer. There are also an almost infinite number of forums and you just can't be on them all...

Thanks again Fred. If you're ever going to be in the Pacific NW, drop me a line and I'll have the layout open for you!
As for the On30 Annual itself, the Narrow-Gauge Convention in Denver is coming up in 3 weeks and Chris Lane is the main guy for that. I have a feeling that's going to seriously hinder his work on the Annual and I wouldn't expect to hear anything from him until it's over with.
I talked with Chris when he came over to my place in September for the Tacoma NG convention and he said he's essentially the white river guy for all the annuals. I didn't ask him if that was by his choice or white river was making him do them all.

Quote from: Fred Klein on August 04, 2023, 01:05:24 AMLee, I've always admired your layout. I rank it right at the top of my favorite layouts along with Joseph Kreiss' Mosquito Creek Lumber, Model Railroader's Olympia and Dave Meek's Thunder Mesa.

Thanks very much, Fred.
The funny thing is among the visitors I got for the National NG Convention in September and the few for the Pac NW NMRA convention in May, several were very familiar with my layout via my articles and online presence. Several said they didn't realize the overall layout was much smaller than they'd envisioned (though none thought of it as bait-and-switch as I usually note how small the room is).

Quote from: Fred Klein on August 04, 2023, 01:05:24 AMAs a matter of fact, I was inspired to develop the "alternate universe" for my layout after reading what you created for the Stoney Creek. Thanks for sharing all of your hard work.

I've gotten a few people over the past few years emailing me with the same sentiments.
I have always considered all layouts to be an alternate reality as nobody can model something in exact scale proportion or have the details 100% accurate. So, if that is so, then it's just a matter of how far you're going to go into your alternate universe.
Most people give generalities to their layout, saying where it takes place and a general era ("transition era" being the most popular as an excuse to essentially run any kind of rolling stock or locos they want and darn the era), and that's usually the furthest they go, if then.
Among the better layouts out there, almost all have a detailed concept and the owner adhered to it. I'm a massive stickler for historical details; that's my thing.
My layout is two things to me:
1. The best representation of ET&WNC country I could make in a small space
2. The WW2 era, namely late summer of '43
But again, thanks, Fred!

Quote from: Fred Klein on August 03, 2023, 12:50:48 AMThanks for the update, Lee. I've been checking the WRP website every so often but have found nothing new. Oh well, they say patience is a virtue.

It is indeed. When you write for magazines, you get used to the waiting.

Quote from: Fred Klein on August 03, 2023, 12:50:48 AMAs far as the coffee stirrers go, this is definitely a lifetime supply. I usually just stain them with an India-ink and alcohol wash and at the end of the project I give everything a light coat of flat finish to blend things together and cover up any glue spots. So far, I've been very pleased with the results.

I essentially did the same on the front that is the biggest part of the back wall backdrop on my On30 layout: