Latest News

• Update On My Progress

  by geof on August 19, 2008

  I wanted to update everyone on the progress of the layout. There hasn’t been any! With summer in full swing, I have been busy traveling and being outside with the family. School is just around the corner and with it comes cooler weather. My oldest has been asking me if the layout would be ready to take to the upcoming Ft. Worth Train Show. I don’t think it will be ready this year. There is the Dallas Area Train Show the next month, but that might be cutting it close too. There is a lot to do. I remember how busy I was trying to get my last layout ready for a show, and I didn’t have 3 kids at the time.

  So I think we will take it slow and leisurely and watch the train grow a little at a time. The kids are still having a great time with it when we can get it out. And when we can’t, they enjoy their GeoTrax and Thomas the Tank Engine. Keep checking back. I hope to get more done in the fall.

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• Help StagingTracks Out

  by geof on July 15, 2008

  I have put off writing this for a while now, but finally decided that now is as good of time as any. I have been busy with a new job and haven’t as much time to finish off the features I wanted for StagingTracks. In addition to that, some of the new changes will mean increased in traffic and a need to move to new servers.

  While the StagingTracks Store has provided just enough income to keep its doors open, it isn’t going to be able to pay for the upgrades to the software and move to new servers. Do feel free to check it out, though, and find something to start a conversation about your model railroad.

  If you find StagingTracks useful for finding local model train shops, area model railroad clubs, and upcoming model train shows then you might consider making a small donation to help me out. Every little bit helps and you can decide how much or how little to give. I started StagingTracks two years ago with the hope of connecting model railraoders. It has come a long way since then and I look forward to keeping it going.

  If you don’t feel like contributing financially, feel free to leave a comment here and share a story about your favorite model train shop, local model train club, or local model train show or just a word of encouragement.

  As always, your support (financial or moral) is much appreciated.

  Donate Now

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• New Train Shows In Your Area

  by geof on June 06, 2008

  There are lots of train shows out there, but it can be really hard to find them. One of the features I am working on will let you signup for notifications of new train shows in your area. Of course, it won’t do anyone any good if there aren’t any new shows being added to StagingTracks.com

  So if you know of an upcoming train show that isn’t listed, add it. Go ahead, it isn’t hard.

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• Golden Spike?

  by geof on May 26, 2008

  

  The trackwork is finally in place. I settled on a slightly modified version of my original idea. I think it will make things easier in the long run.

  There are still a few things I would like to do, but for the most part this works nicely. I think I will look for the assortment of small Kato Unitrack pieces to see if I can fit in a little more track in the yard area. As it is, I do not think the sidings can hold the right number of cars to be used as an Inglenook Sidings puzzle. I think I can stretch the mainline out a little more and make it fit.

  As you can see from the looks on the kids faces, they were in quite a good mood this weekend. The oldest was right a few weeks ago. Things are a little bit calmer when there aren’t little hands to knock everything over. But at the same time, it is fun to have the whole family in on the project.

  Check out the other pictures, too.

  I also uploaded an XTrkCad version of the trackplan for you to play around with.

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• Has It Really Been Over A Year?

  by geof on May 20, 2008

  Wow! It has been over a year since I last updated you on the progress of the layout. That is mainly because I haven’t made much progress until recently. So here is a short post to let you know what I have done.

  I got some money for my birthday in February, so I bought some turnouts and curves (I’ll update the costs in an upcoming post). Unfortunately, I didn’t take any picture of the layout at that time. Due to my hectic schedule, I ended up ordering from Brooklyn Locomotive Works. It was a good experience overall. When you consider shipping in the total cost, I am not sure that it was any cheaper than going to my local train store. But my “local” shop is over an hour away and it is challenging to load up the kids and get over there.

  

  Recently, the oldest and I got to spend the weekend together while his mom and younger siblings went on a trip. When I asked what he wanted to do, he said he wanted to play with the trains when there wouldn’t be little hands to knock things over and mess it up. How could I say “no” to that? So we went down to Discount Model Trains in Addison, TX and had a great time.

  We decided that instead of getting more track, we would get some things to liven up the layout. We found Woodland Scenic ReadyGrass Sheets an easy way to add greenery to the layout. A little glue and some scissors and the grass was planted.

  

  We also built a temporary divider down the middle of the layout using some file folders taped together. This really helps to make the layout seem bigger, since the trains disappear for a while instead of just going in circles. Plus I get 2 distinct scenes to model! We are thinking that one side will be an urban scene and the other will be a small town. I really like the Realistic Backgrounds from Duquesne Litho Specifically, we were thinking the City B and Small Town (look in the online store for very small samples).

  Now we are working on getting the last of the Unitrack track pieces. Hopefully we can get all the trackwork finished and start working on the scenery. The oldest really wants to add a pond somewhere, so we’ll have to see what we can do.

  See all the photos here

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