This clinic will be a wide ranging look at the selection process of what can and will hold the modeler’s interest. Additional issues will include: space, time, and ability issues; what can realistically be modeled; the pitfalls of things too big and methods to address the problem; research; and integrating the prototype railroad into one’s layout. While the clinic will primarily focus on Andrew's modeling of two 19th century railroads, the issues raised are applicable to any prototype modeling activity.  (Suggestion:  You might want to bring along a notepad and a pen.)

It is a well-known axiom that model railroads expand to fill all available space. Bernie will describe how he used system analysis tools to design the optimal plan for his expanding O Scale USMRR Aquia Line railroad. If you’re not interested in the techy stuff, there will be plenty of pretty pictures, bad jokes, and dancing girls. There will even be a movie. Just kidding about the dancing girls, but come anyway.

3D printing and laser technologies provide modelers opportunities to make models and parts that have been historically difficult to reproduce. These tools also make it possible to mass produce those models with little additional work.  This clinic will explain the two basic technologies that are available to modelers for 3D printing. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) melts a plastic fiber and precisely guides it to produce the finished part while Stereolithography (SLA) uses ultraviolet laser light to cure liquid polymer and create solid parts.  Various brands and commercially available3D printers will be covered along with the materials used in these machines.  In addition, Bob will discuss the use of laser cutters and the availability of these machines to the average modeler Computer Aided Design programs are used to model the parts and provide the input instructions to 3D printer and laser devices.  Several of these programs will be discussed along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. Commercially available printing options will also be covered. The results from these processes can be impressive, making it is easy to produce highly detailed and unique structures and rail cars for your model railroad.  Samples of both 3D parts and laser cut parts will be available at the clinic so attendees can get a firsthand look at what can be accomplished.

Indeed, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway’s Greenbrier Hotel at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia and the C&O-served Homestead Resort at Hot Springs, Virginia were powerful magnets for the railroad’s passenger business. At White Sulphur Springs, regular and special passenger trains gathered with Pullman service from all points around the country. And on the C&O’s Hot Springs Branch, its famed mixed train of hoppers, Pullmans and a caboose ran right up to the end of passenger service in 1971. Using the archival resources of the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society, Bryan will describe how this fascinating operation is incorporated on his C&O Alleghany Subdivision layout.

The Lakeside Sub is a modern proto based layout housed in a 1200 square foot basement.  The presentation will discuss design, construction methods, and construction lessons learned.  Construction methods discussed are TGI beams for benchwork, and material for curved backdrop construction.  Also discussed are the different types of sub roadbed including Masonite spline.  The prototype extends from Pasco, WA to Spokane, WA on a single deck.  The layout will be fully signaled using Bruce Chubb’s CMRI system.   

Dave will cover adding Tortoises to an existing layout and actually reading the instructions in the manufacturer's package. He suggests ways to think outside of the box and build panels to make your layout controls easier to understand. The process encouraged Dave to step out of his comfort zone and once again embrace change.

Dave's New York Harbor Railroad models the urban environment in 1947 in New York City, from car floats to waybills.  Dave covers designing a layout for operations and switching, detailing the constant evolution of the layout over the 15 years of operations and what he has learned in the adaptation of the prototype to an HO Scale environment. What would have he done differently? What does he think he got wrong? And what the future hold for the layout.

Model railroading is rarely fun if trains do not operate flawlessly – stuttered locomotion and sound drop-outs are unacceptable. This class will cover what it takes to eradicate these demons, including solid track wiring, unquestionably powered turnouts from end to end, locomotive wheel cleaning, and electrically daisy-chaining consisted locomotives (just like the real thing) for bulletproof DCC rail/loco continuity. If you wish to never clean track again, attend this clinic. Warning: other layout building tips, photos, and videos may accompany this presentation.

John Armstrong is the father of modern track planning.  Learn where modern design came from and how it fits together. John was also a skilled modeler and thinker. Through this power point-based presentation, see how he applied his skills.  

Given the detail and mass of OS2R and the RPM focus on prototype fidelity, OS2R is RPM’s natural scale. Find out what is available and how to find and use it.  David will give an introduction and guide.  A minimum of six OS2R kits will be given away so modelers can try their hand in this fantastic scale.

In the January through April 2020 issues of Model Railroader, Tony Koester presented an OS2R project layout in the form of a sectional, single-town design element. He modeled Wingate, Indiana, along the route of his own Nickel Plate home layout. David purchased the layout, then worked with other modelers to rebuild and extend it.  To facilitate the operation of through trains, we added a second main line track, a runaround track and hand-operated turntables at each end of the layout to be able to create “a day at Wingate”, with passenger trains 9 and 10, Frankfort-St. Louis through freights and a local to provide operational switching interest. The changes increased the length of the layout to 36 feet. The layout will be on display throughout MARPM, and David and Nick will give informal clinics on the project layout, research and construction and operational history and operations, including switching. 

Between 1905 and 1953, the Ralston Steel Car Company of Columbus, Ohio manufactured nearly 100,000 freight cars for more than 50 American railroads and 40 private and foreign entities. This presentation will provide a brief history of the Ralston Company and identify the freight cars it constructed for several mid-Atlantic railroads – B&O, C&O, N&W, and PRR, plus several private operators. Anyone modeling US railroads between 1905 and 1975 should have some Ralston-built cars operating on their layout.

TrainCrew is a web app that allows us to replicate many of the functions performed in real railroading that our models don't allow us to. These functions can help us get more out of our layouts by slowing down the pace of operations and can increase our engagement by incorporating more of the things that real railroads do into what we do with our models. In this session Ed will talk about the features of the TrainCrew app, how you can apply them to your operations, and a little behind-the-curtain info about how to adapt the app for your own uses.

A summary of the rise and fall of the ventilated boxcar fleet on US railroads. These were important vehicles for the fruit industry and could perform double-duty as a regular service boxcar. This is a prototype to consider adding to any pre-1960 model freight car fleet.

A presentation on the planning and design, operating philosophy, and progress of the PRR Middle Division in HO Scale. 

An   exploration of the glory days of transporting the POTUS (President of the   United States) by rail. Discussion includes the Ferdinand Magellan, an   armored rail car modified just for the task. A deep dive will focus on one   specific trip over the Pennsylvania and the Bellefonte Central   railroads.

In 1978, Jesse sailed aboard C&O’s railroad car ferries across Lake Michigan – all three ships on all three routes.  They were coal-fired, steam-powered, included dining, lounge and staterooms, and at that time, still operated by Chessie System.  By 1982 he had decided to try and scratch-build one of those ships in HO scale, and by the next year finished its hull and superstructure.  He built a box for its storage, and for the next 35 years his SS Spartan resided in the garage.  Grounded by the pandemic last year, Jesse got it out and resumed work… 37 years after its building.  Improved modeling tools, new materials and 3-D printing all helped finish the model, which was finally sailed on a lake in Ohio in 2021.  This is the story of the real ships, and the model.

John will be discussing the history of rail transportation in York, PA focusing on the Pennsylvania Railroad and its operations. Also discussed will be how the PRR interchanged and co-operated with the Western Maryland and the Maryland & Pennsylvania railroads throughout the years.

The Bethlehem Car Works has modified Branchline Pullman and coach bodies so that we can manufacture kits using 3D printed car sides for railroad specific diners, coaches, combines, 70 foot baggage cars and horse cars.  We, also do kits for 60 foot cars using 3D roofs, ends, sides and floors.  If a particular part is not available to enhance the prototypical look of a car we 3D print it.

To do complete kits we use our stock of Branchline parts as well as The Bethlehem Car Works parts and for diners we use Tom Madden wide clerestory roofs and ends.

Have you ever been stuck while trying to describe what power is at the head of the train? Are you lost when foamers start to argue which loco is far superior than others? Do you think all diesel locomotives are the same? If the answer is yes to any of those questions, then you, have come to the right place. This clinic will offer a crash course on how to identify those darn diesel locomotives, as well as give a basic overview of how they operate. The clinic will mainly focus on second generation diesels and onwards. By the end of the clinic, you will have bleeding ears from a surprise musical number by the presenter, but also know what key areas to look at, when trying to identify that loco.

You can frequently model a prototype railroad without needing to scratchbuild locomotives and rolling stock but you almost always will find you need to scratchbuild structures. This clinic presents a variety of methods to research, plan, construct and finish structure models for your layout that capture the look of the real thing. Full of tips, tricks, and techniques that will help you build and finish any structure model - freelance or prototype. 

Mat Thompson has converted his based-sized Oregon Coast Railroad from a TT&TO layout to a switching layout. He will explain what he did, the changes needed to the layout and the operations documents, and the pros and cons of this new configuration.His railroad was featured in the 2014 Great Model Railroads special issue from Kalmbach Publishing.

On March 31, 1954, the Huntingdon and Broad Top Railroad ceased to exist. Years of hauling coal, mineral traffic, iron, lumber products, and bridge traffic are all in the past, but it does still exist in some ways... Travel back in time with Matthew to rediscover this short line using vintage and modern photos, retracing the route with maps of the right of way, and see how busy this little railroad was with vintage operational documents. In addition to the history of this line, Matthew will discuss how to model this rather unique railroad using scratchbuilding, kit bashing and even some contemporary models. 

Mike is making great progress on his proto-freelanced road in Upstate NY. Mike will discuss his scenery techniques along with the experience gained from the first operating sessions on his Mohawk & Hudson.

There’s a model railroad saying, “You can’t have too much staging!” The guy that often repeated that phrase as he built the layout is now operating. And he will be the first to tell you now that’s he’s got way too much staging. In this presentation Paul looks at staging concepts that minimize the impact on your layout space and presents some alternative approaches.

On February 14, 2020 the East Broad Top Foundation purchased the East Broad Top Railroad, the only surviving three-foot gauge common carrier railroad east of the Rocky Mountains. Much restoration and expansion work has been done by the Foundation with the support of the Friends of the East Broad Top Railroad, and excitement is building as steam engine #16 nears completion. This clinic will cover the railroad and preservation efforts with a particular focus on the museum at the station and old post office in Robertsdale.

This clinic will be a discussion on the prototype operations, facilities, and equipment used for transporting milk on the famous Rutland RR milk train and how Mike Sparks and Randy Laframboise model and operate it on their 1950’s era prototype Rutland Railroad Mainline Subdivision layout. We will follow the production, processing,  and transportation of milk from the farms in the Rutland milkshed to the Boston and NYC markets.

This clinic will focus on the history of the Hershey Chocolate Company, the factory in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and associated industries in the town of Hershey. It will start with a discussion of the life of Milton Hershey, history of the Hershey Chocolate Company, and the factory construction and expansions. Next will be a discussion of the chocolate making process, details on raw material shipments, and the handling finished products and other byproducts from the process. Example photos of various railcars and ideas on modeling the cars and the factory will be shown. Although focused on modeling the plant during the Reading Railroad years, the clinic will also discuss later plant operations.

This clinic will cover basic setup of JMRI Operations Pro with locations, cars, locomotives, routes, and trains. Participants will use a fictitious small railroad to setup operations and generate switch lists. Advanced features will be introduced.

This clinic will look at the cabooses that frequented the rail crossroads of Catasauqua, PA in the 1940s and 50s. In the post-war years, virtually every type of caboose on the Lehigh & New England's roster visited the branch; and they often worked alongside a variety of hacks from the other lines that also served the area: the Ironton, Lehigh Valley, Reading, and CNJ. Todd will look at some approaches to modeling them, with special attention paid to techniques for kit-bashing the Lehigh & New England’s 560-series—the 36-foot-long, Magor-built wood cabooses that were regulars on the branch in its final years. Along the way, Todd will also share some updates on his HO scale L&NE Catasauqua Branch layout.