Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Keith Thompson

Adventures in Computer Layout Control

This article describes the various components needed to control train movement via a computer. It is not a detailed article, but it provides a nice overview, with a listing of addition research material.

An Easy Tortoise Soup Up

How to install a Tortoise switch machine by first installing a metal plate to it.

Building a Pennsylvania Railroad Tower Car

The author provides the history of the PRR's Doodlebug converted to a M.O.W. work car for repairing overhead electrical wires. He then continues with the story about how he wanted to scratchbuild the model, and the concludes with the actual construction process. Includes prototype and model photos, as well as a scaled drawing.

Building Believable Bridges

This basic article describes how to install a bridge into a layout that has plain plywood as a temporary placeholder. Diagrams describes the common bridge types.

Bull Session

In a small follow-up to Gil Freitag's article in the August issue, Keith talks about how Gil's wife, Virginia, has a Gn3 layout in the couple's backyard, with a scaled-down version of a common depot where the equipment is stored out of the weather.

Downe & Owite Division

A visit to Ben Pearlman's layout.

East Broad Top Underway

Some Sn3 track plan ideas.

Operating Scale Sergent Knuckle Coupler

Sergent Engineering has produced the S-scale coupler that has true-to-scale appearances. Includes photos and a parts diagram.

Pennsylvania RR's ACF 44-seat P85B coaches

This article describes this particular passenger. There is a paragraph at the end on how to model it in HO-scale. Includes one prototype photograph and scaled diagrams.

Pennsylvania RR's J Tower

The 110-year old Pennsylvania RR's J Tower was moved from Lemoyne, Pa.to the grounds of the Strasburg RR near Lancaster, Pa.

PRR's P5A Electric Motor in S-Scale

After a brief description of this prototype engine, the article describes how the author scratchbuilt this electric locomotive from various commercial parts and many castings he made himself. Includes prototype and many model photos.

S Scale EMD GP35

The author does a product review of the American Model GP35. Although the model uses springs to transmit the motor's rotation to the trucks, the author indicated that it seems to work very well for this particular model.

S Scale Empire with a Narrow Gauge Past

Photos by Bob Werre. Bob Christopherson changed from Sn3 to S standard gauge by simply moving the rail out to the correct gauge. This meant that some equipment couldn't run on the layout, but he solved that by moving the clock forward from the 1940s to 1957. Includes layout photos and a track plan of the Columbia Valley & Western, an 18'x19' "M"-shaped layout.

The Pennsylvania Railroad's B1

The author describes how he scratchbuilt this model. Includes a few prototype and model photos, and a brief prototype history of the engine.

Workshop

The author covers how to model brake gear, using a typical 40-foot box car as a guide in a diagram. Includes information about how the brake system changed over the years. Also includes a photo of a prototype tank car.

Workshop

Orientation of eccentric crank in Walschaerts valve gear.