This picture is a hold over from my last update.
This business is named after two of my regular crew members, Gregg & Ken MacQuarrie.

This is just another angled view of Chappell Produce, one of the busiest industries on the layout

I have recently decided to give my industries names.
This particular industry was simply named Produce. Now it is called Chappell Produce after my good friend Brian Chappell who also is a model railroader, he also is part of my regular operating crew.

This is the view of Main Street, Ashtown.
This is what you would see as you enter my Train Room.
It is still a work in progress as you can see since I still need some road graphics and weathering.

Sorry for taking so long between updates but finally here we are.
I have been spending my time wisely doing some scenery work.
We now have traffic in Ashtown, the only thing missing are the people and that will happen soon enough.

So I'll admit it, I've always wanted to have my own H0 model train collection and I've always wanted it to be Märklin--the kind that my Dad had as a kid. My Farfar (grandfather in Swedish) built a large detailed layout for my Dad as a kid, which got lots of use, both by my Dad and me.

I guess it's only natural that I would get into model trains again. First of all, I love trains and public transportation in general. I simply can't enough of it. I will often take the "longer" way just so I can enjoy a train ride. I'll always use the subway or metro in any city that has one. And I'm the only person I know that rides the train regularly in Southern California. Add to the mix my colleague who is into N-scale modeling, and you can see what kind of life I've lived without my own models.

So to the point: I created this blog to chronicle my journey into the world of H0. I expect it to be a pleasant one, and I'd like you along for the ride. I'll be posting pictures of recent purchases and progress.

So today I ordered:

• 29480 - Swiss freight digital starter set w/ C-track
  
• 60830 - k 83 Decoder
• 74490 - Electric turnout mechanism (2)
• 72710 - Control box

With these pieces I'll be able to control the 2 turnouts in the starter set digitally. The k 83 & the control box supports up to 4 turnouts, so I've given myself some room to grow. I'll post again when stuff starts arriving.

The grain season is just starting to get under way as you can see by the line of hopper cars at the Grain Elevator.
This is the largest building found on my layout, and is first thing you see when you look at the far end of my layout.

As you can see we have friendly crews here at Canadisle Rail.

Here we have a couple of switchers waiting for their daily orders.

Here we see a few reefers awaiting their next assignment.
They will be used to ship locally grown produce, mostly potatoes to market.
As a kid I remember seeing long trains of mostly potato reefers pass by my house in the fall of the year.
These cars are Intermountain Kits that I built and are exactly like the originals.

There is not much happening around Shellville as a railfan seeks shelter from the hot afternoon sun.
These trees as well as others found on my layout were made by my friend and fellow model railroader Scott Jay.

Canadisle Rail transports all kinds of freight, including Tractors to be bought by the local farmers in the outskirts of Ashtown.

An M&StL doodlebug downloaded from the Grinnell Railway Express model railroad club.

I graduated from Grinnll College in 1976. The old M&StL line ran right through the campus.

Check their webpage and you'll see a nicely done model of the Rock Island and M&StL depot. It now houses a restaurant. The old Railway Express building houses the club.

Photo's here. Great stuff! Inspirational....