Welcome!

This site is dedicated to my model railroad, the HO scale Virginia Midland Railroad. This layout comprises a 12X9 room with two levels. The upper level is complete and the lower level scenery has just begun.

I do a handful of train shows in the Virginia/Maryland region with Makin Tracks.
I also can help you find that freight car/locomotive or other hard to find item.

Email: virginiamidlandshops@gmail.com
You tube videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/Virginiamidlandrr/

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Update video on the new track: Trains are running again

Here's the video of my updated trackage.  Got trains running again on the lower level.  Still a ways to go.


Monday, January 23, 2017

Monday evening track work

Not a whole lot happens on the Virginia Midland on the weekdays, but I've been trying to get better during the week to get a few things done if possible.  Thirty minutes to an hour is what I try to squeeze in if possible, per day.  Tonight, I continued to get the new trackage down to at least get trains running again.  Trying to get the best possible plan is always fun.  I have not changed much, but the tedious work continued.
Nothing new here just upgrading roadbed and adding a longer Tortoise wire.

Had to move the desk out to get to what I was working on.  It's nice to be sitting down to work!

This is my main work area right now.  Many tools are a necessity for track laying.  




The boxcars are on the continuous run track and a leg of the wye.  The straight track towards the wall will lead to the helix.  That track leading to the helix will also have a passing siding.  

Overall view of the area I'm working on.  The turnout on thr bottom of the pic goes to an industry spur.  I had to move the bridge too.  The background on the right will be replaced also.  

Sunday, January 1, 2017

New trackage is well underway!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas holiday and good start to the New Year!
Spent the last week I'm off completing a freight car project for a client and getting started on my new trackage.  The last couple of days I decided to start on the hardest part of the project, the removable section across the aisle.  This is not an easy straight piece of track that is on a square piece of wood, but an angled piece of wood with curved track.  So, definitely not easy.  I went down to the Home Depot to get a quality piece of wood, cut in a 2' X 4'.  Knowing I would need only a small piece of it.  Turns out, I need all of it because of cutting mistakes and redoing it.  Definitely the third time is the charm.  I also did an adjustment on the track plan.  A passing siding will be added to the trackage which will enhance the operational state of the layout.
The passing siding will end here at the canal.  

Trackage will extend through the wall towards the helix.  This area will be renamed Parker, where there was a passing siding was in the 1920's.

Here is my outline for the removable bridge. It will be more narrow.

The outline in place.  

Testing out with track.  The track will be easy compare to getting the removable bridge correct.

Here is my 3rd try at the removable section.   It's a nice snug fit.  



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The removable section "holder".  These will be painted black to match the fascia.  

Holder on the other side.  The right bracket is really not needed but would look better.  Have I told you how much I hate angles?  Glad I have a nice saw to do all this cutting,  Equipment for the woodworking in MR is a big plus!