While the future is already set, it is also unknown.  I had all intentions of building an HO-Scale freelance model railroad based on the Alaska Railroad.  That has all changed.  With the inheritance of a substantial N-Scale layout and boxes of supplies, I will probably switch gears.  Amongst the stuff I inherited from my grandfather, were a couple N-Scale engines, a DCC switcher and 3 DC diesel engines.  In the few HO parts he had, were three DCC engines: a Steam Engine, a Diesel engine and a switcher.  He must have had an HO layout set up for DCC control at one time.  With the exception of a few odds and ends, everything was N-Scale.

Atlantic Coast Line HO

Maine Central (MEC) HO

L&N HO Switcher

After setting up Cy’s layout and extending the loop of track, I got his DCC equipment working.  He had his layout wired for DC so I converted it.  The switcher he had was DCC, but the diesel engine he had was DC.  I was able to locate a DCC chip for it and upgraded it.

Boston & Maine No. 1502 with New DCC Chip

Its been fun watching the ol Alco RS2 run around the tracks…but my mind keeps drifting.  I’m dreaming of watching a pair of ARR SD70MACs pulling a line of hoppers around the track.  There is something about them.  Their size, their power, their color scheme….

I just might have to make this new N-Scale layout a freelanced Alaska Railroad theme.

Today I received an email from the Alaska Railroad Corporation granting me permission to use their logos on my blog.  Thanks ARRC!

Well here I am, staring at an empty blog with full ambitions.  I’ve been scrambling around the web looking and logging information about the Alaskan Railroad.  While I’ve found a mountain of information out there, I’ve had difficulty keeping track of it.  I’m hoping this blog will help with that!  Here goes nothing…