I have found myself slowly and inexorably drifting into prototype modeling.  Long ago, I decided to model my locomotives with prototype fidelity, and make sure my other rolling stock was generally correct.  But I hadn't extended this to the layout itself until recently.

With a move on the horizon, Penn Lake 8 is currently on hiatus, pending disassembly.

Nick

Being rather fond of organization, I started assembling Project Logs for my locomotives.

Nick Brodar

I run my layout using CVP's EasyDCC. While I like how it operates and especially the handheld throttles, the computer connection is royal pain, due to the serial RJ jack.  You had to custom build a 9 pin serial to RJ cable, and I was never able to make it work.

CVP now offers the serial to RJ adapter, but when's the last time anyone saw a computer with a serial port.  So now I would have to convert USB to SERIAL to RJ.  Just seems like a recipe for problems.

Author's note: This thread spawned many solutions.  I encourage you to peruse them all.  If want want to see the system I ultimately used, jump right to page 8.

I currently keep by rolling stock in thier kit boxes, which occationally causes issues because 50ft cars don't fit back in the most Athearn or MDC boxes with the couplers installed.

I'm playing with Sterilite plastic drawers from Target.

After seeing Elvin's cullet loads, I decided, I needed some. 

The Walthers hoppers I used as the basis came with plastic coal loads. Like most commercial loads, they sat very high in the cars, so I cut them down, so they would sit lower inside the car.  Then, I gave them a base coat of white paint, followed by a top coat of Folk Art glitter paint.  Rose Gold for the brown glass and Peridot for the green.  The photos really don't show how sparkly the loads actually are.

Updates:
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10/18/18 - Backdrop for Bridge
2/17/18 - Cross Yard Bridge
2/10/18 - Wiggins Progress + Beginnings of Brodar Millwork
8/25/17 - Wiggins Building Supply
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Let's explore Lampson Yard and Berg Service Center, the main yard and locomotive maintenance center for Bourbon River Sub.  I used a pinwheel ladder to maximize track length, and keep the turnouts close to the front edge.  It does create a LONG ladder, but the yard is more visible staging, than actual classification yard.

Penn Lake's Bourbon River Subdivision is the Main Line of the railroad.  The double track line connects the helix from Lampson Yard and the future helix to the Anthracite Subdivision. The modeled portion passes through two towns and three interlockings.

Sometimes rapid progress can be a bad (ish) thing.

Over the last two days, I've run out of wood glue, spackle, wire for feeders, and rail joiners!  Oh well looks like a couple of shopping trips are in order.

Nick

The Lehigh Branch is the primary switching center for the Bourbon River Sub.  Major customers include a gravel quarry, cement mill, a brewery, publishing facility, and maybe a millwork plant.  I plan on including some street running around the publisher and brewery.