AlpenThyme Home

I've been to Talkeetna many times while visiting my mother and father-in-law in Alaska. Most visits have been in the early wintertime (late November/late December), but I've also visited in early May, early June, and September. Talkeetna has alot of interest for modelers with the rustic downtown buildings, the confluence of the Susitna and Talkeetna rivers, the airport, and it's close proximity to the Alaska Range.

From the topo map you can see some of the main features I want to incorporate in my prototype/freelance N-Scale model: the river and RR bridge, the historic old downtown buildings, the airport, and for a back drop to the NW I will use one of my photos of the Alaska Range with Mt Foraker, Mt Hunter, and Denali all looming above from their lofty perch.

Since I'm new to modeling I've been collecting magazines and books on the various parts of the puzzle. Just like software engineering, the majority of the work is done in the design and planning. I recently picked up a copy of N Scale Railroading Magazine Issue # 052 Mar / Apr 2009 issue and was floored by Mike Danneman's layout featuring the Flatirons of Boulder, Colorado. Wow! Really nice work. Seeing art work like that makes me want to jump right into scenery modeling, but first things first.

My brother-in-law, Todd, is an avid modeler and gave me a copy of Kalmbach's N Scale Model Railroading for an early birthday present. He's also been very helpful by introducing me to the XTrkCad planning program, as well as giving me a copy of the Atlas Complete Wiring book. We were able to attend the United Northwest Modelers Show this January in Monroe. Very cool!

So I've been researching the ARR I've come to the conclusion that with the locomotives that are currently available in N-Scale my layout will take place during the late 1970's. For more interest I am going to have a freight train pulled by my GP-40 and the McKinley Explorer passenger train pulled by two EMD F9's. Last week I ordered the Bachman McKinley Explorer set from Roundhouse Hobbies.

New cars! I ordered four DIFCO Dump cars last week from Roundhouse Hobbies! They should arrive this week. Now I have a nice small freight train: GP-40 engine, 2-bay centerflow hopper, four dump cars, and a caboose. For the size of my layout, I think this will be an appropriately sized train and compliment the two engine three passenger car train nicely.

October 7, 2009 - New track! I recently picked up some EZ Trak for my new layout. It is a basic oval with three sidings and a crossing. I'm hoping to have it ready to bring to the Maple Valley show later this month that Todd invited me to.

March, 2010 - New locos! While riding the Verde Canyon RR, I learned that their two FP7a's (road nos: 1510 and 1512) were purchased from the Alaska RR! Once back home, I did some more research and learned that these two locomotives are available from Intermountain in N-Scale in their Bicentennial paint jobs! Lucky for me, Roundhouse Hobby's had one pair left so I picked up these up!

May, 2010 - New rolling stock! The local train shop, Seattle's Train Center, was having a Memorial Day sale, so I picked up a Micro-Trains, 40' box car with the State of Alaska on it!