Great Layouts and builders

When I want Inspiration, these are the people I go to for it.

Join Ryan Andersen and Will Ayerst on the Model Rail Cast podcast as they discuss all kinds of modeling and prototype subjects.

Charlie Comstock's Bear Creek and South Jackson (BC&SJ)

The man is a artist with scenery, and a great modeler too.

Lee Nicholas' Utah, Colorado & Western

Lee has one of the best operating layouts in the country, be sure to check out his pages on scenery and Mole staging.

Rick Fortin's Sierra Western and Santa Fe

Rick's proto-freelance layout is a great operating railroad and features some very thoughtful and interesting design ideas, particularly about multi-level construction.

Tim is one of the most amazing people I know - he reminds me of what I would do if I I had a permanent caffeine drip and didn't have to sleep. His railroads are simply amazing, first the Port Kelsey (sadly, gone now) and now his Bronx Terminal. Tim is the inventor of the Fast Tracks turnout building jigs, and you can get an amazing idea of what's possible by looking over his sites. See Everything. Miss nothing. There will be a test!

The New York Harbor Railroad

Okay, so he's my friend and I work on his layout. That doesn't mean he's not doing some pretty spectacular things in the space he's got. Dave Ramos is a very innovative designer and is building a great operating railroad in a relatively tiny space.

Manufacturers and Suppliers

These are the good folks we do business with on the Housatonic. Without them we'd be pushing Brio trains along on sawdust grass and using lego buildings.

AmesvilleShops.com

Well Naturally this site is first - it's my own! Please visit and see the exciting early-period resn models you can buy in HO scale. Railcars, structures and more.

Fast Tracks -- Turnout building fixtures and supplies

Makers of some of the best tracklaying tools you can get. Go see their site and learn that you too can learn to hand-lay track as we did, and save a lot of money over buying commercially made turnouts.

Special offer -- click the link below to see how you can save 10% on every order you make from Fast Tracks!

Tam Valley Depot - Electronics solutions for model railroads

Visit this website to find cutting edge electronic gadgets for your model railroad at competitive prices. Tam Valley Depot makes the Octopus servo motor controllers used on the Housatonic Railroad for actuating switch machines, and other products. Check them out!

Scenic Express -- Serving all of your scenery needs

The best place to look for and buy all kinds of scenic materials, from ballast to ground foam.

Alkem Scale Models

Alkem makes laser-cut and photo-etched kits and details in many scales. They have recently introduced a line of HO scale early period freight cars and trucks which reall helps out those of us from the American Civil War and beyond. Great service and high-quality products.

B.T.S. (Better Than Scratch) Models

B.T.S. has a great line of structures and cars appropriate to the early railroad modeler. Please check out their wares!

Model Railroad Post Office (MRPO)

MRPO is a good hobby store with fair prices, and always comes through for me when I need supplies. They have a helpful staff and a good inventory of models, parts and supplies.

NCE -- Digital Command Control (DCC)

NCE makes the most user-friendly and trouble-free command control systems, and are known for their customer service. I recommend them very highly.

Tichy Train Group -- Kits, Detail Parts and Trucks

Tichy Train Group is a part of nearly every structure on the Housatonic layout and nearly every freight or passenger car. I simply could not get by without them. High quality products you need to have if you scratchbuild or kitbash anything.