D & H "Colonie Main" layout
This blog will be a record of my personal journey in researching, building, operating, and finally sharing my HO scale layout based on the Delaware and Hudson Railway's "Colonie Main Line."
CP Executive train in Albany

Friday, March 28, 2025
Overnight caboose rental in Chester, Mass. (2024)
Monday, March 17, 2025
T-Trak Japan: Festival (part 2)
I worked on odds and ends in the weeks leading up to the show. Here is what the "finished" module looked like when I was done.
I wanted to add a perimeter fence along the tracks to protect the festival attendees, and the Atlas hairpin fence looked great. But it was delicate and would be prone to breaking on my module as I took it to shows. So, I instead used some white plastic fence pieces I had bought years ago on Ebay. They were oversize and came with giant light bulbs (which I didn't use), but it was certainly sturdy enough. I cut off the ornamental trim from the top and sprayed them black. Then, tacky glue and temporary toothpicks held them in place.
The tents and food stands were then glued down in a pattern that faced the layout's viewer, even though logically it might have made more sense to have some face away from active railroad tracks. I spent so much time painting them that I wanted people to see them! There is a large area in the front for perhaps a stage or dance area or something (which I haven't decided on yet).
Then, I added more N scale figures. I really like the Tomytec ones because they are only about $1 each, come painted, and are available in multiple time periods and styles which match my eclectic Japanese module. I need many more figures to make it a "Festival", but I ran out of time.
My road crossing needed gates. Japanese gates are yellow and black, in contrast to American style ones which are white and black. I first bought a Green Max brand kit (#2153) that came unpainted, but unfortunately the masking and painting of the yellow and black stripes put an end to the project. I now see they sell a painted kit (#2642), so maybe I should have bought that. I then discovered that Tomytec sells a painted kit (#114-2) for less than $20. They looked good so I ordered them.
Another cameo I wanted was an old Japanese trolley or tram or engine set up for public display on a plinth. What I didn't have was a junker Japanese trolley or engine that I could use, and I sure didn't want to buy a nice new Kato model just to have it sit there. So, I reached out to another American modeler with a Japanese N scale module named Brad (see his blog here) and it turns out he had acquired a pair of old trolleys for the exact same purpose. He graciously gave me one of them (THANK YOU!) and I incorporated it into my module.
Monday, March 10, 2025
Master Model Railroader #776
When I moved to a new city in my twenties I searched for local model railroaders and joined a live steam (7.25” gauge) club. A digital camera and a willingness to write led me to author a half-dozen or so articles on various aspects of the 1:8 scale trains including prototypical operation with car cards and the nuances of various steam locomotive designs. When I realized that I could use these towards my Model Railroad Author certificate I decided to try for my MMR. It was quickly earned but since I only had a tiny home layout which was still in the plywood stage my journey stalled for a while.
When we bought a new home years later I based my next HO layout based on the Delaware and Hudson in Albany, NY in 1984. I made sure to incorporate as many Model Railroad Engineer – Civil and Model Railroad Engineer – Electrical elements as I could so to earn both certificates at the same time. This included installing a turntable, super-elevating curves, and adding block control even though I didn’t really need them.
Scratchbuilding track scared me because everything seemed fiddly and small, but when I found a stash of LGB track buried away I decided to handlay a turnout using this large code 332 rail based on an article in a magazine. I had to learn some new skills along the way, like how to handle a blowtorch without burning down the house, but I managed. Spiking rail is fun when you can easily handle the spikes. A diamond crossing based on a Fast Tracks template and a gauntlet track soon followed and before I new it, I had my two certificates.
Around this time local modeler Bob Hamm (MMR #322) offered to teach classes at his house on how to develop modeling skills. I jumped at the opportunity and started scratchbuilding an O scale D&H bobber caboose. This was selected for its simplicity and larger size which would make it easier to form parts. It took a year or so to finish but it was my first scratchbuilt car. Bob taught me a lot along the way but stressed most of all making the parts yourself if possible. He was right. It was fun, it led to more merit points, and it allowed me to more closely replicate the prototype.
I decided that I wanted the challenge of scratchbuilding all eight cars instead of modifying commercial kits. But that would be a lot of work, so I searched for something that would be easy to build. I found the NMRA Lone Star Region’s website which has excellent tutorials scratchbuilding flatcars. I used those instructions to build a pair of cars with custom loads. With those done, I wanted to push myself so I took what I learned on how to build frames an made a Borden “butterdish” tank car with a styrene-over-wood-former body; a B&M steel milk express car complete with fabricated plug doors, corrugated ends, and paneled roof; and a shortline MOW boxcar/flatcar. Jumping scales again, I built a Great Western Railway cattle wagon in OO scale and a Maine two-foot gauge ice cream dairy reefer in On2. This dabbling in O scale would come back to haunt me later on.
I insisted the Bob Hamm and another mentor, Kevin Surman (MMR #528), conduct the merit judging on my cars. They are very skilled modelers but also very tough, and I knew if they passed my cars that I must have done something right. All eight earned merit awards and my Master Builder – Cars certificate was done.
That winter I told my friend Irwin Nathanson (another accomplished modeler) that I wouldn’t work on Master Builder – Structures because my current HO layout wasn’t the right place to put them. Then I realized I could build each structure on a cheap wooden base and set them in my display case. This gave me freedom to do lots of different things and I was off to the races. I made a list of things I wanted to try: full interior detailing; lighting effects; a farm scene to pay homage to my wife’s family; several wood structures (I prefer working in styrene); a model based on a local industry; a structure in N scale so that I could appreciate how much of a challenge it is to work in the smaller scale; a church to pay homage to my Christian faith; a structure based on plans by noted draftsman Harold Russell; etc. I also decided that all twelve would be scratchbuilt, but I wouldn’t superdetail them all. Then I combed through magazines for plans and drew up others myself.
I started with what I considered the hardest building first: a brick warehouse with multiple levels and angles and a huge billboard sign painted on one wall. It was based on a picture in a railroad book and still existed near my house. It took several years to build and it barely squeaked by merit judging (it was too modern and “simple”) but that was good to know for the future.
A wooden house on a hill; a rustic tar-paper shack; a milk station; a fully detailed gas station with interior; a wooden coal trestle; a church; an “uncovered” railroad bridge; a big red barn with full interior detail; an N scale maintenance of way station; a hobby shop complete with fiber optic and LED lighting effects; and a wood and steel sandhouse based on my favorite shortline followed.
Unfortunately, I only earned three merit awards but two more were very close and Bob and Kevin offered excellent suggestions on how to improve them. This was done to get me to five merit awards. But I knew I needed to build one more structure that would “wow” them and it was obvious they loved old wooden buildings. Hence, my decision that the Hamm & Surman Lumber Company needed a new wooden board-by-board engine house for its steam locomotive #13 (it was my 13th structure). It worked and I had my certificate.
My Chief Dispatcher certificate was possible thanks to the work of Doug Dederick, who organizes “OpTober” operating sessions on various local layouts every year. It took me five years to get enough credits, but they slowly added up. One stumbling block was that I didn’t have a home layout that I could serve as Dispatcher on, and you need those hours. Who would open up their layout to a complete newbie and let them Dispatch it for 10 hours? My friend John Valachovic did, and without his help I never would have earned it.
My last certificate was Association Volunteer and it was perhaps the most rewarding as it involved me assisting with my local Division, and at the National level, with train shows, open houses, and other events. I met a lot of great people and interacting with the public who wanted to learn more about model trains and the NMRA as an organization was very enjoyable. I never thought I would talk with NMRA President Gordy Robinson about British Railways and other such things (another interest of mine).
The MMR process was a lot of fun and it pushed me to learn new skills. Wiring, soldering (torching?), scratchbuilding craftsman style structures, researching and drawing scale plans, handlaying track… all of it was because of this program. One of the only good things about the pandemic was that I had a lot more free time to work on this.
I worked in multiple scales (N, HO, OO, On2, O, G, and 1:8) to accomplish the certificates. Most of my builds are online at my blog which serves as a diary of my efforts and may help someone in the future learn things to do (and not do). I also discovered a love for superdetailing and building larger models, and my new layout is O scale “hirail” with three-rail track because of this. My toddler son also loves my trains and is already becoming a model railroader himself. It is a really fun hobby!
Certificates Earned:
Model Railroad Author
Model Railroad Engineer – Civil
Model Railroad Engineer – Electrical
Master Builder – Cars
Master Builder – Structures
Chief Dispatcher
Association Volunteer
Sunday, February 9, 2025
My Little Helper
While Harrison has his own Lionel layout, he has really taken an interest in the O scale layout I am building. As such, I try and think of projects we can work on together. So far, he has helped me squeeze closed "suitcase" connectors during my wiring projects; he has squeezed the trigger on my cordless drill (while I hold it steady) to screw in wiring clamps; and he is always willing to test track clearances and such.
Monday, January 27, 2025
Springfield Train Show 2025
Here is a vendor selling laser cut wood kits of trains. He even has some Talyllyn Railway stuff, which I love. I don't know what I would ever do with them, but I thought that they were neat.
Monday, January 6, 2025
T-Trak Japan: Festival (part 1)
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful and blessed Christmas this year. Don't forget the reason for the season.
Luke 2, versus 1-20
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Friday, December 20, 2024
Micro Model Railway Dispatch online magazine
The Micro Model Railway Dispatch is great new magazine that carries on the grand tradition of micro layouts (layouts that generally take up less than 4 square feet). Published online for free by Ian Holmes, it is a fantastic resource layout planning and really helps the brain think in terms of maximizing layout space. It is a lot of fun to read and I highly recommend everyone at least take a look at it.