Introducing Thunder Mesa Studio

Howdy folks! It's been quite some time since I last updated this blog but I'm here today to share some exciting news. Over the last several months, the Thunder Mesa Mining Company layout has been disassembled, moved, and completely reassembled at my new studio in Jerome, AZ. Thunder Mesa Studio now brings all of my creative endeavors together into a single workshop and showcase that guests can actually visit!

Some readers may be familiar with the historic mining town of Jerome, AZ. Known as Arizona's "Ghost City," the charming old town has gone from wild west mining boomtown, to ghost town, and now to artist colony and tourist destination. Just across the valley from the famous red rock spires of Sedona, Jerome served as inspiration for John Olson's landmark how-to series in Model Railroader Magazine on "Building an HO Model Railroad with Personality." John's fictional Jerome & Southwestern layout was a huge inspiration for me, and now things have come full circle with the TMMC finding a new home to Jerome.

Thunder Mesa Studio is located in the Old Jerome High School Art Center, a complex of historic structures that is now home to many art studios, galleries and workshops. The studio and model railroad are open to guests on the first Saturday if each month, or by appointment (my schedule permitting).

This new chapter means that I will no longer be updating this blog. However, I've launched a new website and blog for Thunder Mesa Studio where I will continue to post articles, news, and how-to's about the railroad. This blog will remain online as an archive for the foreseeable future. I hope that the many friends who have patiently followed the railroad's progress here will continue the journey with me at the new site.

Thunder Mesa Studio

Adios for now!

N Scale Track Plans

A Little Side Tracked

Please forgive the off-topic post. My recent computer crash has had me going through lots of old files lately, and looking through my collection of old N scale track plans got me thinking that others might enjoy seeing them too. Drawing track plans is one of my favorite parts of this hobby, and though I no longer model in N scale, I offer them up here to the world, free of charge, to anyone who might enjoy them. They're all build-able and would probably be a lot of fun. Just be sure to let me know if you decide to build one of them! (Edit: I've recently returned to N scale modeling with a small side project, the Pagosa & Southern. Check it out here.)

Tonto & Sudinero

A 3'x9' layout with a western mining theme. This one is loosely based on the Verde Canyon Railroad near Jerome Arizona. Minimum radius is 12". Track is Atlas code 55. By the way, in spanish, tonto y su dinero means "a fool and his money." A good name for any model railroad in my wife's opinion.

The Wye Knot & Western

One of my favorites. A lot of layout in a small space. Deep canyons, tall bridges and room for expansion in just 3'x6'. Themed as a mining layout here but might be even better as a logger. Track is Atlas code 55. The hidden track at lower right can connect to staging. Unmarked turnouts are #6s.

Small, simple and scenic in just 2'x4'. 10" radius curves, Atlas code 55. I built this one and almost finished it before moving on to other interests. Fun little display layout.

Yup, it's an N scale version of John Olson's famed MR project railroad, the Jerome & Southwestern, adapted for a 30" wide hollow core door (HCD).  Atlas code 55. Note that I never got around to drawing the bridges, but those are all elevated crossings.

This one is an adaptation of the famed Gumstump and Snowshoe switching layout with a little more operating fun built in. Track is Atlas code 80.

Rocky Gap & Western

And last but not least we have the RG&W, based in part on John Allen's original Gorre & Daphetid. I built this one long ago and had a lot of fun with it. 3'x9' with Atlas code 80 as marked.

I hope everyone has enjoyed this little side trip into N scale plans and if anyone chooses to build one of them I'd love to see it. I'd be happy to answer any questions in the comments section below. 

Happy trails!

Edit: 10/17/14
Here is the plan for an N scale switching layout currently under construction on a shelf in my studio:

The Pagosa & Southern is just 12" x 72" and uses Kato Unitrack.