I’ve been a model railroader for over 70 years now. Until recently I was a free lance modeler with a collection of whatever locomotives I thought looked good. I began collecting brass while in Utah and Texas with the Air Force so most of my collection was western roads. My current layout started out as a free lance design, but will into construction I found myself being attracted to C&O motive power. I decided to follow the C&O prototype, which resulted in a pretty massive rebuild that continues today to model (with some artistic license) the western Allegheny grade from Ronceverte to Allegheny Summit.
I scratch build or heavily kitbash just about everything. I made many business trips to Manchester, UK and became friends with John Yates who at the time was the chief signal officer for the East Lancashire Railway. Operating the signal box (the British term for a signal tower) at Ramsbottom got me hooked on signaling. I’m installing operating interlocking cabins (the C&O term) on my layout. A portion of that project provides the examples for this clinic.
