From the Editor By Hal Miller
8 http://www.ModelRailroader.comModel railroading is fun!
We’ve never been afraid of the dark
If there are two things that
have ever gone together, it’s
darkness and railroading. By
extension, also the night and
model railroading.
What’s more romantic
than a headlight in the dis-
tance, accompanied by the
far-off note of a horn or a
deep, mournful steam whis-
tle? Or the passing of brightlylit passenger-car windows,
whizzing by en route to some
exotic destination. Even the
simple glow of a lit block sig-
nal takes on deeper signifi-
cance in the dark.When you received your first
train set lo those many years
ago, what was one of the first
things you remember doingwith it? I’d bet a dollar to a
donut as soon as the sun went
down you were turning off
the lights and watching the
locomotive pass in the dark,
headlight beaming, just like
the smile on your face.
I remember doing this and
simultaneously wishing I had
at least a little light to see
everything else, too. Later
I learned buildings could be
lit, signals could be added,
and my wish for “moonlight”
could be fulfilled.Currently there are several
hobby companies that make
easy-to-install buildings and
other accessories featuring
plug-and-play lighting.
Room-lighting equipment
at your local home improve-
ment store and the develop-
ment of light-emitting diodes
(LEDs) in many forms can
help us turn light into night
on our railroads at any time
of day. Additionally, it canalso allow us, and others, to
operate the railroad effec-
tively and safely in low light.Just think, by adding night
operations to your railroad,
you could double the amount
of fun you’re having with
only “daytime” operations!
There’s nothing wrong with a
little railroading after dark.Contributing to Model Railroader
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[email protected]Founder A.C. Kalmbach 1910-
Editor Hal Miller
Managing Editor Jeff Reich
Senior Editor Dana Kawala
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Contributing Editors Tony Koester, Pelle Søeborg,
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Single Copy Specialist Kim RedmondSUBSCRIPTION RATE: Single copy: $6.99; U.S.: 1 year
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Title registered as trademark. All rights reserved.LEDs brought night to Tony Koester’s Nickel Plate layout in
this photo he took for a story in the October 2012 issue.