The Iron Belt

This website is a collection of images relating to my way of practicing HO scale model railroading. Most of it still consists of my previous layout, the Monocacy Valley Branch, based on a ficticious subdivision of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad that ran between Frederick, MD and Gettysburg, PA. The centerpiece of this layout was a model steel mill based on a collection of Walthers Cornerstone^TM series building kits and some scratchbuilt structures.

Since I moved into my new house, time has been quite scarce so I have not gotten past the erecting of the benchwork. I've rediscovered my Michigan roots and developed a yearning to build a lakeside steel mill like those found around Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland. With a two-car garage at my disposal, I now have just enough space. In addition to the B&O, it will be served by my own private pike, the Iron Belt Route (a-k-a the Chicago and Lake Erie) which runs from Chicago, IL to Buffalo, NY and all points in between.

Below is a diagram of what my new layout will look like. It was created using Abracadata^® 3D-Railroad Concept & Design^TM software. I opted not to show any of the turf-level scenery so the track and structures would be easier to see.