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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."

just 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...

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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.

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Lee, 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).

As 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!

Thanks 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.

As 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:

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FYI, I was advised that the writers will be getting a digital proof of their articles, but that hasn't happened yet. Normally, once I get a proof, that means they're essentially ready to print. At that point they're usually about a month away from getting copies in hands.

As far as coffee stirrers are concerned, I kept running short also, so I finally broke down and ordered some from Amazon (where else). I got a box of 1000 extra-long (about 7 inches) for around $10 US but that's been at least 3 years ago - who knows what they're going for now. These stirrers are a little wider and thicker than what I get with my coffee, so they work out really well for floors, roof eaves, etc. - basically any place where a little beefier lumber would normally be used. They make great platforms for stations (both freight and passenger) and I have also used them for exterior walls and been very pleased with the results.

I bought the same thing you did. I think most modelers would never run out of these suckers. They're the best hobby value out there for us O scale types!

Thanks, I thought this meant a whole different prototype was being modeled. That's a shame, as the molds are clearly in place, still.
I'd sure love it if they started cranking out some of the earlier locos. For example, the ten-wheelers are really tough to find now that the initial stocks have sold out.

I'd never heard of this. Are there any renderings or prototype ever made?

The new Annual has been announced! Sadly, it's gone up ten dollars for the cover price from previous years.
I haven't gotten the digital proof for my article yet.

I spoke with Chris, and he's a little behind due to finishing the K-28 book, which should be a beauty!

I had no idea he was editing that book, but it comes as no surprised to read this. I'm convinced the man probably also fixes the roof when it leaks and takes out the trash at White River, as he seems to do everything else.
As for the K28 book, I have the K36 one (bought at a ridiculously low price at a model train show last fall) and it's great (assuming you have interest in D&RGW 3-foot locos, that is). I assume the same from this new book.

Wow, we're looking June dead in the eye and no word on the Annual. I think this is the latest in the year it's ever been for one.
That said, David is up to his eyeballs with the Denver NG convention planning and God-knows-what-else White River Publications has him doing. I don't envy him for the things he has pending!

Do you know about the "www.westernbayrailroad.org" On30 club layout in Port Saint Lucie, FL. The owner (Al Sohl) of the club has had multiple articles in the On30 Annual. It is worth seeing the layout and he also has operation sessions.

I've seen his articles, it's great work.

I still haven't heard anything about the Annual. There's not even anything about pre-ordering them online yet.

The wives of model railroaders deserve all the recognition they can get for putting up with us.

Indeed. I thought about a photo with my wife in it, but that'd suggest she has anything to do with operating on my layout. She made the skirts for the layout, though.

Been married going on 51 years and my wife still ooohs and aaahs at the models I build (of course she also nit picks them to death - claims that's part of the fine print in the marriage contract).

Congrats! If I do anything with the layout and I bother to show it to her, she just stares with what I can only describe as ambivalence. If I ever go for my MMR with the NRHS, it won't mean a thing to her.
Nothing I've ever done has impressed her, in over 20 years of marriage. At one point I was seriously looking into putting in an application to be an astronaut, and I've often told people if I had made it, she probably wouldn't have even come to the launches.

I'm really looking forward to reading your article - never been disappointed in one of those either. Thanks for the hard work. 

Thanks, Fred. Chris asked me at the NG convention in Tacoma to write an article about operation sessions on a On30 layout, something he'd never had in the Annual before.
If he uses all the shots I sent, there'll be a photo of me running trains with a good friend of mine, my wife took that one. I really hope he uses that as it'll be funny to tell people that my wife is a legit published model train photographer!