It's hard enough to find the time to do anything significant with my model trains. At times, most of my layout is more of a workbench than a layout.
It's even harder to find time to gather together modeling photos and then spend time curating some text to go along with them. Rest assured, I have much to share; just need to find some time to throw it all on here.
I spent some time helping 3rd Rail's expert with their GP30. I don't have a final say, but I did give a bit of input to make the Southern modelers happy. The overall model so far is looking good based on what I see. Glad to see Jay pick up the helm and keep that ship afloat. I know Scott had talked of retiring for awhile, so glad he's finally able to achieve that in the coming months.
I acquired a YMMW PRR X31f kit a few Strasburg's back from Tom Mapes. (looks like Pierre at YMMW is completely closing up shop.) At some point these cars were acquired (second-hand?) from the PRR and numbered into 2400-2408, in a lime green paint scheme, which my 1968 ORER still shows on their roster. Sometime between 1968 and 1972, these cars were repainted to a brown scheme and numbered to 1800-1807. I have a very nice photo from 1974, but with the doors open, it is lacking the reporting marks and such. I was browsing the internet for more photos and came back across George Losse's blog and reminded at how nice his blog is and its a different pace than the O-Scale Facebook page and groups.io groups.
I still try to keep a pulse on the hobby and the goings-on. With that said, I updated my links sidebar a little bit to clear out some dead links and link to more relevant content. George's blog has inspired me to list out some places I think that are worth visiting, some of where I mostly only lurk.
Blogs, etc.
- https://www.shamokindivision.com/
- George Losse's blog on P48 Reading Modeling, but its more than that. Lots of photos on meets.
- https://www.youtube.com/@normstrains
- If you don't know of Norm Charbonneau by now, you should. He slashed his blog in favor of video. Wonder if editing video takes longer than editing blog posts...hmmm.
- https://myp48.wordpress.com/
- Gene Diemling is a P48 OG and shares his and other's P48 modeling. Posts very frequently.
Forums/Gathering
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2railoscale/
- THE place IMHO for getting the latest beat on 2R Oscale. Lots of modeling using new techniques, etc. Account required, but just make a burner if you don't do FB.
- https://www.modeltrainjournal.com/phpBB3/
- Old school forum, but some great modelers in the 2R section. Had a bad rep, but its been cleaned up and lots of interesting discussion, especially on older 2R trains.
- https://groups.io/g/OScale2RailProto48Modelers
- Place to discuss or ask questions about O scale trains.
- https://o-gaugeforum.com/
- Interesting to see what's happening in the 3R world, as some of it has an effect on the 2R world as well.
Magazines
- https://oscaleresource.com/
- Free, Online O-Scale publication. The only one that published more than once a year.
- https://rrmodelcraftsman.com/
- Solid modeling magazine focused on prototype modeling and operations. Though mostly non-O, but that's okay.
- https://oscalemag.com/
- The old OST. They still publish an annual that is sort of interesting to read through.
- https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/
- MRH is another free, online publication. Mostly smaller scales as well. They also have a forum. I used to read this more often, but have tailed off and need to catch back up.
Southern Railway Modeling
- https://groups.io/g/southern-railway-system
- General SOU group that includes former employees, railfans, and modelers. Has more members than the SRHA group.
- https://southernrailway.groups.io/g/main
- SRHA's main group to ask questions, etc. when you don't live close enough to Chattanooga to visit the archives.
- https://southernrailway.groups.io/g/ModelingTheSouthern
- SRHA's modeling subgroup, but it has less participants and kind of overlaps with the main group.
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/sou.rr.modelers/
- Good (and seemingly different) set of SOU modelers and historians here. Often get different responses than the SRHA-managed groups when asked the same questions.
Other Resources
- https://oscalecentral.com/
- I admit, I don't go here too often, but great reference material for oldheads and newcomers.
- https://groups.io/g/OSCALEYARDSALE
- Way to buy/sell/trade O Scale trains. Account required.
- https://proto48.org/
- Looks like my blog and hasn't been updated much recently, but if you want to learn about P48, this is the place to do it.
- I'm also members of other oddball groups.io groups or FB groups that cover other roads I'm interested in, DCC, weathering, and/or prototype modeling, though my participation, including lurking, is very limited.
