As a public company, the SP issued annual reports to its shareholders that are readily available today. These reports are very useful to modelers in that they contain information about RR operations, locomotives and rolling stock, facilities, paint schemes and various business dealings.

Perspective is often used to add realism to our two dimensional painted backdrops. Museum diorama builders extend perspective to their three dimensional models as well. Although this technique is rarely used in model railroads, Kermit will show you how it can enhance your railroad's visual appeal.



The clinic will include historical background and principles of both two and three dimensional perspective. True perspective modeling is more than just placing objects of different scales behind each other in a scene. Many computer based drafting programs include a perspective feature making it easier to produce suitable model drawings compared to older manual drafting methods.



Examples will be included to illustrate how three dimensional perspective modeling can make your layout seem much larger than it really is.

Under construction since 2002, the Housatonic has been no stranger to upheaval and renewal. Craig will talk about his reasons for modeling something very different from the pack, how it changed the way he models and what the pros and cons of it are. Begun with precious little information, the layout has experienced both subtle and dramatic changes made over a decade, thanks to more and better information than was available when it all got started. Craig also shares why sticking to a specific set of givens and druthers from the beginning made it possible to make changes, expand and even re-design parts of the layout on the fly when new things were learned.

Over the past 20 years, model railroading has moved into the electronic age, with the widespread use of DCC, computer control, and signaling. Learn the basics of electronic theory, what all the different components are and what they are used for. Some of the things that will be covered are the wire size for the layout, the different formulas that you will need (how to figure out what size resister to use for dropping the voltage to the headlight), and the tools that you will need to troubleshoot your railroad.

Pete Steinmetz and members of the Dead Rail Society will be discussing all aspects of operating trains with battery power and radio control. We are not scale specific, but will concentrate on O Scale down to N Scale. We will discuss locomotive conversions, sound or no sound, choice of equipment and components, companies that supply parts used in Dead Rail, companies that do conversions, batteries, charging, and safety concerns.

Everyone loves bridges on their layouts, but limited selection and unrealistic design of commercial kits mean many scenes are not as interesting as they could be. Craig Bisgeier, an avid scratchbuilder and modeler, believes that we can all do better modeling with basic tools and parts and a little information. Follow step by step as Craig explains the basics of truss bridges, basic bridge design, and what's available out of the box (and why most of it is awful) to the average modeler. Craig then goes through how to use commercial kits and parts to improve the looks of the off the shelf models, and how to make custom bridges that will stand out on your layout with just a little more effort. Emerging technologies like laser cutting and 3-D printing are also pushing the limits of what's now possible! The clinic ends with a humorous discussion of what NOT to do. Join Craig and see what you can do to improve your bridge modeling!

Join Greg Wright as he describes how to fit a model railroad into any space and make it
look and feel bigger. Greg will share his ideas, his favorite reference material, and
use his Consolidate Republic Mining Railroad to illustrate his points.

Wooden boxes were the only and preferred package for shipping produce from fields and most orchards to retail outlets from the 19th century until the 1960's. Nearly a third of all pine timber cut in our nation, excluding that for paper, was used in this manner. This clinic uses photographs from the presenter's collection and experience as a machine operator in a Califonia box factory for illustration.

See how I made the transition from BN 682 (ex GN 462D) in Tacoma to KCS #20 in my basement. I will show the project from scrapping to restoration of the F Unit Cab as a full scale "prop" in my basement. It makes for a fascinating and unusual story. Images and narration.

Modeling an HO scale 216' railroad bridge with abutments based on a Pegram Truss design using CAD drawings, Central Valley bridge parts, and scratchbuilt styrene and brass components. In progress photos will be presented as the construction steps are discussed.

Using inexpensive micro-controller development kits from some of the world's leading semiconductor manufactures (Freescale, Microchip, NXP, ST Microelectronics, and Texas Instruments); learn how to quickly build your very own LCC compatible node. In this class, each participant will create an LCC node, and then join that node to an LCC bus using CAN, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or USB. JMRI will be used in this class as a diagnostic tool.

The target audience is electronics hobbyists and manufacturers. Basic understanding of programming techniques in C, C++, and/or Java is recommended. Each participant is required to furnish their own PC running Apple OS X, Microsoft Windows, or Ubuntu Linux 12.04/14.04 operating system. Each participant will have the opportunity to take home a working LCC node and USB stick with the required tools and software.

Cost is $35 (a surcharge may apply depending on which hardware you chose). Limited to 20 participants.

Preregister at https://sites.google.com/site/openmrn/home to reserve a spot.

You will be contacted after signing up to verify your choices.

The clinic details modeling my fictional Oregon Coast Railroad to be believable as a prototype railroad.

The clinic shows how using a prototype's history as a reality check can bring life to a railroad that never was. Photos will show how water features and layers of textured scenery duplicate Oregon's forest landscape. Other topics will include building a region and era appropriate car roster and the good and bad of kits.

The layout appeared in Great Model Railroads 2014.

This clinic is an introduction to the Computer Automated Traffic System (CATS). CATS is open source software built upon JMRI for creating and operating a modern looking CTC panel. The clinic will open with creating a CTC panel for John Armstrong's "minimum-size loop-to-loop" layout, and operated as a magnet board. It will progress to demonstrating how to add occupancy detection, turnout feedback, turnout control, and signal control, in a simulation mode. The clinic will demonstrate other features built into CATS, including train tracking, session recording, train status display, crew management, and rapid CTC panel development for module groups. For a preview, see the August 2010 NMRA Magazine or http://home.comcast.net/~kb0oys.

We go to train shows to run trains and to have fun. Our visitors come to see the trains run and, if the opportunity presents itself, to learn something about model railroading as a hobby. How to impart that awareness in the short time window available has always been a problem. Jack is going to take you through three 'Make-and-take clinics' that lend themselves to public events, are inexpensive, have low manpower requirements, and turn out to be big draws for the visitors. Two of the clinics have been featured with good success at various PNR events while the third is imported from 'down under'. You will see what you need to put on the clinic, learn how it works, see the actual clinic set up, and leave with the list of materials and procedures so you can make of go of it at your next event. Learning how to prepare for and actually hold a public event clinic is critical to our NMRA recruiting effort and the continued success of the hobby.

Once you have an engine with a Soundtraxx Tsunami decoder, what do you do with it? This clinic will describe the Configuration Variables (CV) that control momentum and braking characteristics of Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders for both diesels and steam engines. Subjects include deciding how much momentum and braking to use, helping engineers to learn momentum and braking and how to choose settings that will work with engines that don't have Tsunami decoders. A complete configuration for movement control and sound will be presented with suggestions for change to meet particular layout situations.



Layout owners will learn how they help operators get used to brakes to include providing an 'Engine Card' so operators know the performance characteristics of the engines they are running. Another subject will be remapping throttle functions so operators do not need to look at their throttles constantly. Different programming actions for Digitrax, NCE and EasyDCC systems are explained as needed.



The clinic will conclude with an explanation of Tsunami consisting settings.

This clinic presents one solution to controlling a large amount of turnouts and crossovers using mounted servos. The servos are controlled using pushbuttons located on fascia mounted panels. The electronics needed to drive the servos and to provide led lighted track routing on the panels will be clearly explained and demonstrated. There will be a step by step procedure that shows how to map the turnouts from a sample branch line track plan to the panel push button controls and to all the electronics and logic needed for successful operation.

Model Railroader contributing editor Tony Koester recently added a large number of structures, many of them kitbashed, to his 1954-era HO railroad in preparation for the December 2014 MR feature on his railroad and a follow-up MR Video Plus shoot. He'll discuss disguising a kit's heritage, Americanizing European buildings, using a new roof to change a kit's appearance, making stores more realistic by doubling their length, and other ways to save time while enhancing realism.

This clinic talks about the advantages of DCC over DC in operating and wiring your layout. It also covers the basic components used in DCC systems plus some basic notes on both decoder & layout wiring including mixing DC and DCC. Finally, a discussion about what you should think about in selecting a DCC system plus information showing pictures of various systems being offered. If you know nothing about DCC, this is the clinic to start with.

This clinic talks about the DCC decoder which is a device that must be installed in every locomotive for the DCC system to work. With the hardware installation done, now comes the most computer like part of the installation, programming the decoder. Programming the decoder correctly is critical to its success but it is easier than you think. However since decoders come with so many options to set, this clinic will help you sort all this out and get you going.

Chuck and Seth will describe their experiences designing and implementing Model Railroad Signaling Systems and how they have used the cpNode system they developed, to streamline the process.
They will discuss power distribution and detection topologies, setting up signal locations, dividing the layout into blocks, cabling, cost optimization strategies and much more.

The clinic describes the research, design decisions and construction techniques used in building my N scale railroad. Research elements include the use of Sanborn maps, photographic references, site visits and railroad timetables and artifacts. Construction techniques discussed include the unique use of Gatorfoam for all bench top construction. The layout was featured in Model Railroad Planning 2015 and N Scale Railroading Magazine in 2013.

A.J. and Zana Ireland from Digitrax host their annual User Forum for Digitrax users. A brief presentation of new products for the past year is followed by an extended question and answer period.

This is a hands on make and take clinic where James will demonstrate making flat car and gondola loads from readily available everyday items. Supplies will be provided so that each participate will be able to make and take their own lumber, pipe or railroad tie load.

The use of silicone molds and urethane plastic to cast parts can be a boon to your hobby enjoyment. In many cases, when you have a need for duplicate parts, urethane castings will save you hours of effort. Clinician Jeff Johnston explains and demonstrates the step-by-step process in a fun and easy to understand manner.