MR just ran a toy train article

[FJ and G]

Listen up CTT and OGR, MR has invaded your turf with a nice toy train article in the January 05 MR. The operating layout is in Palos Altos or Las Altos or something like that in California inside their history museum.

Features a dedicated trolley line, steam train and hand car in a hi-rail setting that's wowy. Track is Atlas 3-rail.

Why did they go with 3-rail.

Well, they wanted to do 2-rail O but fact was, there just wasn't enough space for the turnaround loops at either end!!!! (Sounds like some of our own excuses).

Anyway, I did a double take when I saw the article, not having seen a toy train layout in MR for several decades (with some minor exceptions like the sidebar on the Chicago Industry Museum 3-rail layout that was dismantled in favor of ugggggh, HO).

Better keep your eye out on MR, OGR and CTT, MR may try again to sneak in a toy train article. :-)

[Big_Boy_4005]

Dave, remember me? They do that when model trains are in high profile locations. I don't think any layout has been featured in both MR and CTT since enterTRAINment. I still feel a little guilty about having to close the doors after being published, but I had no choice. That was eleven years ago.

[FJ and G]

Hey, Elliott,

Nice to see you around too :-)

[Big_Boy_4005]

Oh, I'm always here Dave. You must have been busy over the long weekend, thinking up all these new topics. [swg]

Any progress on the layout? I'm actually moving again on mine.

[FJ and G]

That's great, Elliott, looking VERy forward to hearing your progress. I'm sure you'll jin up some neat stuff.

I've been laying track all weekend and my daughter and I have been playing on the backdrop with the new airbrush setup.

We've got a 25 foot long sunset developing and pictures will eventually be supplied. Lit the backdrop from behind the mountains and it was wowy.

The sponge and brush work best for clouds but for the sun's rays, you can't beat the airbrush! It rocks!!

I'm laying track on the undulating scenery, having violated the RULE of laying track first. But it's a fun way to do it. Since there are curves and grades, I'm bending the rail vertically as well as sideways. It's loads of fun.

[Bob Keller]

MR has finally figured out that the only fun in model railroading is in O and S gauges....(okay, okay, and Standard gauge and a wee bit of OO and some Garden Railway sizes...)

Oh, if one looks at the masthead of MR, *** Christianson, Terry Thompson, and Carl Swanson are all CTT alumni, and Kent Johnson is a former CTT columnist. If I was an HO or N scale guy, I might start to wonder....[:D]

[FJ and G]

Bob,

I think the HO, N etc guys are a bit envious of toy trains and the fun articles in CTT. Nice to see a serious magazine like MR bend their strict rules just a wee bit.

CTT and MR and yin-yang.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Now now Bob, fun with trains is where ever you look, though it really depends on your taste.

I used to be more into the TOY aspect of 3 rail, but when the manufacturers started doing the scale stuff, I switched gears. I have always liked the element of realistic operation, moving freight and going places. The "circles" of the toy world are nice, but after a while, well.

This is why I just renewed my subscriptions to MR and CTT (and Trains too) today. I also bought Great Model Railroads 2005, and Model Railroad Planning 2005.

Please say hi to *** and Kent for me. Kent may not remember me, but 3 of his previously owned engines will be on my layout as soon as I get things running. They have beautiful custom paint and weathering.[8D]

[overall]

This is not unprecendented. The December 1992 issue of MR had an article about a Lionel layout built by a gentleman named Jay Cain. It was very well done by anybody's measure. Maybe Mr Cain is still active in the hobby and reading this forum?

George

[Anonymous]

Half-O and N gauge are going out anyway.... they're all slowly switching to O Gauge!

O Gauge will soon be King of the Model Railroading world and dominate MR.

[bogaziddy]

Hello FJ&G from way out West in Ole' Californy. The towns involved would be Palo Alto or Los Altos. Use to live nearby before moving up here to Mount Shasta ( Yes, God's country! ). What good river runs are nearby? Are you far from the Gauley? I'm just a stone's throw from the Box Canyon of the Sacramento - a nice little class IV flu***hat we run daily during run-off.
Happy Holidays,
The High Bogaziddy Mahesh Maserati - Top Ramen

[FJ and G]

Bogaziddy,

I'm from Virginia (the Old Dominion as opposed to the Virginia & Truckee).

Wish I were up in Mt Shasta. I'd let my beagle run wild chasing all the mountain rabbits.

[Anonymous]

Before CCT coming in 1987, MR had lots of three rail and O gauge. OGR was an O Scale magazine then. The older CCT were heavy on layouts and collecting and not much on building. CCT is now better on building and repairing than OGR.

C

[FJ and G]

Charlie,

I have to agree with you that CTT has improved dramatically on"How To" stuff. That and hi-rail layouts featured have hooked me, despite having very little interest in PW history and stuff. I think they were smart to broaden the appeal.