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Back when Bricklink allowed you to sell custom instructions, I bought some plans for a small 2-6-2 Prairie-type steam loco from @SavaTheAggie in January 2014. I devoured them, used the techniques shown to make me a better builder. Now, exactly ten years later, I've revisited the model: I built it in LDD, (with some stand-ins for BBB parts) then went to town making it into my style, and now it's done in the real world. You can see Sava's original MOC on his Flickr page here. I changed the boiler to be studs-up instead of SNOT, and removed the squeaky old tiny wheels from the model, and made space for XS Big Ben Bricks wheels instead. (this actually was easier than I thought it'd be!) I added a bigger headlight, and a different stack along with heavily revising the piston / side rod assembly. As for the tender, different wheels were added and a 'painted' box put on the sides. The engine is numbered 119 and lettered for BRS (Brick Railway Systems), my original LEGO railroad that I began when I was in late-stage elementary school nearly 20 years ago. (Man, how time flies!) I also gave it the original black-and-red paint scheme of my first train MOCs from the early 2010's, as a nod to my past. This loco was my third set of instructions I purchased from Sava back in the day, although I had never built this one until now. (I did build the 4-6-0 and Berkshire I bought in 2010 and 2012 respectively, but oddly not this one from 2014) The inside of the cab. Thoughts? (Updated with new 7 wide tender 1/29/24)

These buildings were inspired color scheme - wise by set 7222 and the steam locos of the 12v era, which later became Brick Railways Systems main colors. This model was originally built by my father around 2005 / 2006 for an old-style MOC steam engine we built together based off set 7722. It was three tracks long and one track wide at first, but recently I reworked it to be five tracks long and two tracks wide, and with a completely new removable roof. This model can hold any of my steam engines (okay, maybe not the western one, as it is pretty tall), although it is probably too short in length for my diesel units. The rear of the shed. The building is 5 tracks long, which is 80 studs in length. The maximum side clearance is good enough for a 10 stud wide model while the trains can be no more than 11 bricks tall. The original model's roof is permanently attached, while the remake features one large removable section. My father built his original old grey water tower way back in the 1990's back when 9V was king. When he built my first LEGO train (it was a set 7722 inspired steamer, which gave me the idea for my red & black color scheme) in 2006, he built me the water tower to go with it. It wasn't until 2014 when I built myself a long-awaited coaling tower using inspiration from the website called LGauge (link: http://lgauge.com/ ) Anyway, these models are built to be sat the correct height for most official engines, such as the My Own Train series, along with all my custom engines such as my 4-8-2 "Mountain", 2-8-2 "Mikado", 2-6-0 "Mogul", 4-4-0 "American", and so on. The coaling tower features a movable chute to load the (imaginary) coal into the engine's coal bunker or separate tender. The Forgotten Daylight 4460 is a oil burner, so it does not use this particular tower. The girders on the rear of the coal tower are supposed to represent real-world idea of housing a bucket-conveyor system to load the bin inside the tower. Here, in LEGO, it is just for looks. The water tower features a movable spout to fill up the engine's tanks / tender. Here are the LDD files for the buildings so far: LDD file for the double track shed: shed with doors ldd file LDD file for both refueling towers: refueling towers file NOTE: This thread is a W-I-P: the shed parts have been ordered as of 2/3/16, but the switch tower is a ways off into the future. I should have the shed built by this time next week or the week after! EDIT 2/22/16: The shed is finished, while the switch tower is pushed back some.. it won't be built for a while. EDITED 1/14/17: As of January 2017 the shed now has opening engine doors which are colored to match the red stripe on the walls. They will be added to the real life model as soon as funds allow, but there is a sneak peek in the latest post! (The LDD file has been updated as well with the doors.)

This building is inspired by 2011 Harry Potter set 10217 (Diagon Alley), specifically the Borgin and Burkes shop that is technically not on Diagon Alley in the HP universe. (it is instead of a neighboring street where evil wizards / witches dwell) Here is the front of the building. The number "1887" goes on the four studs above the middle second floor windows using printed number tiles. That year was the year the building was built, by the way. The new rear half of the building features a back door and a couple windows. This model will serve as my fictional railroad's headquarters on my town, and as such has a miniature model railroad inside. (just for the heck of it) The building also features a tower, two story fireplace, and staircase to the upper floor. The lack of other interior furnishings is intentional, as I haven't been able to think of a single piece of early to mid 1900's furniture for the offices of the railway president and the accompanying secretary. The building has hinges to allow for it to open up to 90 degrees, but no further due to the wall ornaments being in the way. As usual, the building is locked together by a friction-less Technic pin to allow for easy opening and shutting. The original building from set 10217 has 14 dark green windows I need for a updated train (seen here: http://www.eurobrick...howtopic=138020 ), so this building will be built sooner rather than later, probably next month, if possible. (I really don't know, as I'm juggling about five possible next-builds at the moment. All will be built eventually, but whatever's next I don't know for sure!) Comments, Questions, and Complaints are always welcome, plus the LDD file for the entire model is available here: http://www.moc-pages.com/user_images/80135/1471631763m.lxf Thanks for viewing! UPDATE 8/19/16: The buildings was an odd number of studs long, which was causing problems. I have since fixed that, and as such the LDD file and pictures have been updated.

This is for discussion of train storage systems (or lack thereof if you are unlucky). I'll start with my storage / transport solution: If anyone has wondered how I get my trains to and fro all over the place, here is my secret: cardboard paper boxes. Fourteen (14) of them from all different places and companies. I tried asking for the empty ones at the Office Max / Office Depot stores (They are all owned by the Staples company now, believe it or not!) but they can't sell or give them away due to some corporate policy. I had been getting them from my dad's work, and more recently, different offices I have been to / worked at. They are them cut-down by Xacto knife and hot glued back together with opening lid and section dividers, which allows for me to store trains a number of different combinations. Most of the passenger cars are 24 studs long, with 1 studs of overhang over each coupler. However, the Spirit of Legoredo is an older 28 stud long design, and most steam locos are longer than 30 studs. Nevertheless, I have maximized space whenever possible. Below you will see several variations on these boxes, and maybe they will help you with your train storage problems. Forgotten GS-6 Daylight 4-8-4 and Meramec river Runner passenger train Alco FA / FB (not shown) and Spirit of Legoredo passenger train Generic six car freight train (not shown - on display on my layout) Mikado 2-8-2 steam freight loco and EMD E-unit cab + booster units American 4-4-0 and early passenger train Now how do YOU store or transport your trains?!?

This model was inspired by Scotnick1 and his Maithwaite Station model from "The Railway Series", also known as "Thomas and Friends". Here is a album of his with the original station in it: https://www.flickr.c...157639900227095 The station features a five track long platform, which can be retracted to a minimum of three tracks by removing the two side segments. More sections can be added to increase the length to whatever you need, with removable end-caps at either left / right side. All of these platforms are held together by Technic pins. Inside the station proper is a help / ticket desk with cash register, and off to the left side is a employees-only area with stairs to the second floor office. This office features a desk with chair and fireplace. The second floor roof, the second floor proper and first floor roof are removable. Also, the two clocks on the second floor roof are supposed to have this print: http://www.bricklink...asp?P=3960pb024 (This print is not currently available in LDD.) The street side features a short staircase to the front entryway. The studs above these doors and the same on the opposite side are supposed to spell out the station name. I haven't decided on a name for this one yet, but am leaning towards the name "Imperial". Here we see the individual components of the station. This includes: - first floor / main platform (1) - second floor (1) - roof of first floor (1) - roof of second floor / clock tower (1) - end-caps for platform (1 left and 1 right version) - identical platform extenders (2) Here is the LDD file: http://www.mocpages.com/user_images/80135/1430322575m.lxf This station will replace Barretts station on my layout (some parts of Barretts will be reused on this model), as this station is larger that the other, and has a street side, whereas Barretts does not. Comments are always welcome!

(Logo for Brick Railway Systems, or BRS for short. Railway rolling stock color scheme is black with a thin red base stripe) Background info on the Company: Brick Railway Systems (BRS) was constructed in the early 1870's from pieces of other roads. It began small, with only 120 miles of track laid as of 1873. (Note: Only 57 of those miles were actually constructed by BRS, not by the former component roads) By 1910, BRS had rose through the ranks of the other roads to become the top freight hauler in the country. However, In World War One, the railway was was run into the ground by government control via the Imperial Railroad Administration (IRA), which took over control of all railroads in 1914 and kept them until 1920. Upon return of the company to it's civilian owners, the railroad itself was in shambles The company responded by trimming the unnecessary trains that had been kept running during the war years even though they were practically useless. By 1928, the company had remade itself so much so that it had electrified most of it's main line between Glencoe, Ironwood, & Fort Legoredo. This cut back majorly on some of the costs of steam engine fuel and maintenance for the railroad. The benefit of this was not evident immediately, but later payed for itself when the Great Depression hit. By the the Second World War, BRS was even better off than had been projected in the depths of the depression The war traffic barely affected the system, as the 1920's upgrades had unexpectedly prepared the system for the surge in goods and soldiers. In the late 40's, while several other roads had started getting rid of their steam engines for diesels, BRS was resisting the flow by building more steam, and experimenting with more advanced designs such as duplexes, triplexes, & Garrett’s These efforts never payed off, but the they did give the BRS engineers valuable advice on what to do and what not to do with steam. Meanwhile, diesels were on the railroad from starting around 1936, but not in great numbers until the late '60's. 'The System' (as she is sometimes called) was doing fine at this time, while other roads were struggling. By the '70's, diesel fuel prices had put a stop to the diesel takeover, and optimism was high. This feeling continued right up until 1987. The main competitor, Federal Railways, had gone up for sale and Brick Railway Systems was getting a ring-side seat on what could happen if a road got out of hand. Before their eyes, the road was torn apart by lack of leadership, (not helped by the fact the Federal Railway / Brick Railway Systems merger was denied) lack of funds and working motive power. Then, in late 1992, the railway was finally gone, eaten up by hungry debtors and rival railroads alike. (some of it was eventually bought by BRS) The other half of the '90's & the early 2000's had Brick Railway Systems wondering if the same financial breakdown would happen to it. By 2010 the shock had worn off, and the optimism had returned, albeit with a little more caution. Background on the building: Built in 1977 - 77 after a tornado destroyed the vintage 1899 headquarters for Brick Railway Systems, this building has been modernized several times in it's long life. The first section or "Building A", as it's now known, is shown here and was finished in 1977. A copy was added in 1991 and another in 2010, forming the identical buildings B & C. The rear of the building. The first floor (top right) is the reception area, where visitors wait for the person whom them are visiting to come and get them. The second floor (bottom right) features an area of cube-less cubicles. In the 1970's, it was thought that an open floor plan would encourage free thinking and higher productivity. The idea never caught on outside of BRS, and has become a hallmark of the company. The third floor (bottom left) is the executive level. It contains a very large model railroad showing the humble beginnings of Brick Railway Systems back in 1869 through 1879, when the line ran from Glencoe to Barretts Station and on towards Washington, Missouri. Builder's notes: This model is based off of set 60047 (The 2014 Police Station) and has been modified to an extreme extent. The billboard is a modified and enlarged Grand Emporium sign, which is supposed to say the words BRICK RAILWAY SYSTEMS (in printed 1 x 1 tiles). The LDD file is avalible, and can be downloaded here: LDD file: http://www.mocpages.com/user_images/80135/1428872293m.lxf Comments, Questions, & complaints welcome!

0-6-0 steam heavy-duty switcher This model is an Americanized version of Scotnick's Thomas & friends model "Stanley" (link to that engine on Flickr: https://www.flickr.c...N07/8732762280/ ) with some new running gear provided by Hunter Dobbs from his model of the Thomas & Friends engine "Lady". (link to that engine on Flickr: https://www.flickr.c...02/16562999581/ ) The engine features a new headlight on top of the smokebox and is a little longer than the last version by about four studs. The pistons (hopefully) will work in real life, as I messed with and extended Hunter Dobbs design to include a third axle. The engine is going to be numbered 4990, with the number going on the saddle tank and the letters BRS going on the rear of the locomotive, right between the two red stripes on the coal bunker. NOTE: This model requires custom Big Ben Bricks small steam engine drivers, as in 4 flanged and 2 blind. The gears seen here are placeholders and will NOT work on track! (Link to Big Ben Bricks: http://www.bigbenbricks.com/ ) The rear of the locomotive. Background: Built in 1922 by H.K. Porter, this steam locomotive is of a saddle tank design, (that means it carries the water over-the-top of the boiler in tanks, kinda like a saddle on a horse) as part of an order for 25 engines by Brick Railway Systems, numbered 4975 to 5000. The class was built for yard work, though some were sent out onto the main lines to haul commuter trains when the need arose. This engine class features red stripes on the sides and over the tanks on top of the boiler. I will be purchasing this engine after the parts for locomotive shed I posted on February 15th. LDD file: http://www.mocpages.com/user_images/80135/1428605637m.lxf 0-4-0 steam dockyard switcher This was originally set 3740, Small Locomotive from the My Own Train series. I revamped the 2001 set, adding Big Ben Brick medium wheels and working pistons courtesy of Hunter Dobbs. NOTE: All four of the wheels are removed from them LDD model. The proper parts are available at the Big Ben Bricks website, and are not in LDD. (You need four of the "Medium Flanged Drivers")The number of the engine (3007) goes on the side of the boiler, while the letters "BRS" go on the side of the cab. Fictional background: Built in 1923 by Baldwin Locomotive Works for Brick Railway Systems (BRS), engine 3007 was part of a 250 strong class of switchers made for the tight industrial & dockyard trackage of Brick Railway Systems. The class spread from number 3000 to 3250. They were painted in classic BRS black with a red stripe along the base. LDD file: http://www.mocpages.com/user_images/80135/1428604656m.lxf Thought, Comments, and questions are all welcome! (EDIT 9-15-2015: Fixed the LDD file and pictures, plus I added a another switcher to the first post.)

Fictional background: This 4-4-0 (also known as an American type) was built by Rodgers Locomotive & Machine Works for Brick Railway Systems (BRS) in 1870, and features a bright red-yellow-&-black paint scheme. Number 11 pulled passenger trains for 15 years before being reassigned to Freight duties in 1885. By 1890, the engine was worn out, and sent to a scrapper, who sold the engine to a museum for $100. Eventually, the museum was reorganized as the Imperial Rail Museum, where the engine rests today in non-operable condition. There were plans to get number 11 in working order for the US Bicentennial in 1976, but nothing ever came it, and the engine has remained cold and silent to this day. (This engine is the oldest surviving BRS loco in existence.) The model and color scheme was inspired by the steam engine from LEGO Toy Story set #7597 "Western Train Chase" (Link to Bricklink: http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=7597-1 ) Here is the original model from the stock set. I've tried three times to get this engine right (working pistons and can go around curves + switches) and, twice I've failed. Let's hope the third time's the charm! The rear of the locomotive. Here is a better view of the side rods and wheels. The letters BRS go on the sides of the tender while the number 11 should go on the cab sides. One of these goes on the firebox door in the cab (Bricklink link: http://www.bricklink...asp?P=4150pb086 ) Other than that those parts, everything is where it should be. Here are the car's it's going to pull: (As a side note, the chains on the car ends have a glitch and refused to bend. They are supposed to sit on the 1x1 clip plates, and not the handrail / bar itself.) I was inspired by HunterDobbs and his red train cars to build my own versions. I think he got the idea from set 10173, Holiday Train. (link: http://www.bricklink...m.asp?S=10173-1 ) but his red versions look so much better than the plain white originals. I intened on using these with my 4-4-0 steam engine... once I build I get around to building it! (Here is a link to HunterDobbs' Flickr photostream: https://www.flickr.c.../117260213@N02/ ) Here is the train with 4-4-0. I think it looks like a contrast to my dark green 2-6-0 and matching train. Here is the other train for comparison. The LDD file (for the 4-4-0 engine only) is here, if anyone wants it: http://www.mocpages....1428585286m.lxf The LDD file (for the 4-4-0 & it's train) is here, if anyone wants it: http://www.mocpages....1428593703m.lxf Comments, Questions, and complaints are always welcome!

Here is my Victorian-inspired train station and signal tower. If I made a topic about the station before, I am sorry. I'm reposting it as I couldn't find it. First up is the station: Background info: This station was built between the East & West Barrett's Tunnels in 1893 by the Missouri Pacific Railroad. It was used until 1944, when the war-time traffic became too much, and the two single track tunnels were bypassed by a double track cut-through built right next door. The Station and the West tunnel were preserved, while the East tunnel was covered up and buried under a road, which was eventually named Barrett's Station Road. The site of the station was turned into a museum known as the Museum of Transportation. Builder's notes: This station was originally the Toy Shop from the Winter Village series of LEGO sets. In real life, the story I just told you is 100% true. However, the Barret's station was not made in 1893, and looks nothing like the one seen here. The inspiration for the station came from the real-life Kirkwood Railroad Station which was built in 1893, is still used by Amtrak and is located a short distance up the track from the Museum of Transportation. Their are supposed to be printed 1x1 tiles spelling out BARRETTS on the sign on the front on the station. The other version I uploaded yesterday of this station will not work with my budget, so I went back to the drawing board and looked at my original station made from set 10199. I then combined the best of both stations into this model. This station is the fourth station I have made from 10199, and uses mostly parts from the second version from 2013. Here we see the station separated into it's modular components: - left platform - right platform - station building with access ramp (lower level) - station building and roof (upper floor) - station building tower roof The inside of the station features the following on the first floor: inside seating, stone fireplace, and a old-fashioned cash register for ticket sales. (This piece: http://www.bricklink....asp?P=3039pb26 ) The second floor (tower) is a employees-only area and houses some machinery. Here is the brand new street side of the station. This side includes an overhang that protects passengers from the rain.\ Next is the tower: Fictional History: This tower was built in 1893 at the same time as Barrett's Station, to control the single track mainline. The tower was updated in 1928 with modern controls and bypassed in 1944 by a double-track cutoff to avoid the bottleneck of the two single-track Barrett's Tunnels. The tower was preserved by the Museum of Transportation and has been recently turned into a public lookout point for the busy Brick Railway Systems mainline. Builder's Notes: This is a Signal tower that matches the color scheme and design features of my Barrett's Station model. This Victorian-era tower features a signal bridge, a spiral staircase to connect the two floors and a signal / switch computer from more modern times. The story on Barrett's Station is inspired by real life, but the real station was a one story affair and had no tower accompanying it. The Museum of Transportation does exist, however, and there is an elevated platform (at the way back of the property) to watch Union Pacific trains go by every fifteen minutes or so. The first floor features the spiral staircase. The signal arm disconnects from the first floor, and is attached to the second floor. The signal arm is a modified version of the one at the L Gauge website. (Link: http://lgauge.com/ ) The second floor features the control panel for the lights, and a desk for dispatching orders to the train crews, or in this case, holding a newspaper. The (updated) LDD file for the station is here: http://www.mocpages....1428338100m.lxf The LDD file for the tower is here: http://www.mocpages....1419790555m.lxf This model was inspired by set 10199, Winter Village toy Shop. The model is up for a remodel into a double sided version with a bigger interior, so I though I'd take some pictures while it's still together in this form. The platform splits off into three parts: left side (which is about three tracks in length) right side, (which is about one track long) and the building itself. (which is two tracks in length) The building is open backed, and features a desk on the top floor and ticket counter with cash register on the first floor. Comments welcome!

(Please note: I could not remember making a topic for this train. I looked through about 15 pages of train topics and couldn't find anything like this... sorry if I missed it or something.) This four car passenger train was inspired by LEGO sets 10015 (Passenger Wagon) and 79111. (Constitution Train chase) The color scheme is based upon the one seen in the movie "The Lone Ranger", although that film takes place in the 1870's and this train is from the 1910's. The locomotive is a 2-6-0 (two leading, six driving, and zero trailing wheels) steam locomotive. The piston design was taken from Benn Coifman and his instructions for adding pistons to set 79111's locomotive, while the tender was inspired by the one attached to Anthony Sava's 4-6-2 steam engine, with SNOT (Studs Not On Top) stripes from his 4-6-0 engine's tender. The rear of the engine features a ladder for access to the cab from the train along with a red tail lamp. The coaches were originally designed to look like set 10015, but the design evolved to it's current form through a combination of expensive parts shortages, guessing and inspiration. The rear of the train is supposed to have "BRS" (short for Brick Railway Systems) in black printed 1x1 tiles situated on the back railing. These letters also go on the sides of the tender, while the number 4613 go on the locomotive cab sides. The LDD file is here if anyone wants it: http://www.mocpages....1421791760m.lxf Here is the pictures of the train in real life: The locomotive is a 2-6-0 (two leading, six driving, and zero trailing wheels) steam locomotive. Engine number 4613 usually pulls the Emerald Express. Combination baggage and passenger car for the Emerald Express. Two identical passenger coaches for the Emerald Express. The observation car of the Emerald Express. The letters BRS stand for Brick Railway Systems, the owner of the train. Comments, questions, & complaints welcome!

Here are a bunch of my models in one post than in six different topics. First, here is my Western Railroad Tunnel - Version 2 I have revamped my Modular Western tunnel by combining it with my father's older stand-alone tunnel design. This design makes the interior walls more realistic, while still preserving the rough rock-work outside. The modular bit comes in when you disconnect the tunnel into it's three components, 2 identical end-caps and 1 middle section. This is for ease of transport and making the tunnel shorter or longer depending on your needs. As an added bonus, the flat roof lets you put a small Native American village or a small US Cavalry outpost. If you are not into Wild West models, the tunnel easily recolors with the Dark Tan to dark bluish gray and the regular tan to light bluish gray via the LDD file below. (It's not that hard to recolor it in the program, so only the tan version of the tunnel is included.) Two of these are missing from this model: http://www.bricklink...asp?P=14309pb01 The inside looks like this. It connects the the other sections via the four Technic pins. tunnel LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1412007044m.lxf Next up is two refueling towers: My father built the Water Tower way back in the 1990's, back when 9V was king. Fast forward 15+ years, and I realize that it needed a companion coaling tower. I made my first attempt at a much larger size than this using pictures from LGauge.com, a website of older Lego train models. Please note, some parts are of the tower have been modified in the digital realm, (such as the water spout) so it's not "entirely" accurate. The corner walls also are printed with the part seen here: http://www.bricklink....asp?P=2345pb06 Here is the rear view. LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1411953429m.lxf The next two models are locomotive sheds: First the Classic Brick Railway Systems shed, This model was built by my father around 2005 / 2006 for an old-style MOC steam engine we built together based off set 7722. Anyway, the years roll by, and my engines get bigger and bigger. I realized in late 2013 that I needed to enlarge the shed to fit more than just that one engine type. I haven't done it real life yet, but here is what it will look like. I have added one track's length of shed and one more smoke vent on the roof. Here are the statistics for the shed when it's finished: Building type: single track locomotive shed Track length: 3 ½ tracks (60 studs) Maximum side clearance: 10 studs total Maximum height clearance: 12 bricks total The rear view of the shed. The trans light blue windows were some of the first things my father bought off BrickLink, and as such they are staying on there... even though trans-black might looks better. LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1411655710m.lxf The final model is this Modern Locomotive Shed This model (in red instead of black and white instead of tan) was originally designed back in the late 1990's by my Father for his 9V locomotives. After completion, It sat in the Basement alongside his other custom models including his tunnel, grain elevator, bridge, and water tower. Fast Forward a decade to 2006. I had played with his models all my childhood, using them for my own trains until he built me my own smaller single track version in black & red around 2006. I longed to figure out how to build my own, and in in 2005, I discovered Bricklink & LEGO Digital Designer. I didn't really use them together until 2010, when the first version of my dad's shed was built. It wasn't very good, but it led to this model back in 2012. (Link to that mess: http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/335344 ) From there I made the roof removable, and then I added newer windows, and a less expensive color scheme. By mid 2013, it was compete, at least in digital format. I remains to be seen if I will build it in real life. By the way,the roof is removable. A base-plate will need to be cut If I build this, as it's four studs longer than two XL base-plates. LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1411407373m.lxf Western Caboose This caboose was originally from set 79111, Constitution Train Chase, a part of The Lone Ranger theme. At first it was a prison car, but I turned it into a caboose. I added a regular door and roof top cupola for the conductor while retaining the side doors and exploding back wall. I don't know if there is any real world prototype with a design like this caboose. (minus the exploding wall of course!) Here we see the rear of the caboose, with two red lanterns and the exploding back wall with dynamite attached. This is the first MOC in a long time that I built in real life before building it in LDD. The only changes from real to digital are that I have a 1x4 Technic brick on the back wall with three printed 1x1 letters spelling out BRS. LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1412105087m.lxf The LDD file groups the 79111 stock parts together, with remaining bricks being extra ones not found in the set. Official-Style Freight cars (Part 1) The first car is an automobile carrier like the one in set 2126. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=2126-1 )It carries two modern re-imagined versions of the Classic cars from that set. The second and third cars are Boxcars, slightly modified from set 3677. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=3677-1 ) Next up is the fourth car is a water tanker, while the fifth is a tree carrier, and the sixth car is a rock gondola. They are all inspired by set 2126. (The link to that set is above) The seventh car is a modified version of set 3225's general freight car. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=3225-1 ) Finally, the eighth car is a caboose inspired by set 10014. ( http://www.bricklink...m.asp?S=10014-1 ) All of these cars are modifed to bring them almost 100% in line with modern parts and colors, the only exception being the yellow tipper parts on the gondola. (Those parts were last used in 2000.) LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1411686540m.lxf Notes: Personally, I have the original cars from set 2126, and made the two boxcars from my parts bins. The brown cargo car and caboose are not needed, as I already have a general flatcar and the Western Caboose from post #6 above. Official-Style Freight cars (Part 2) These train cars are inspired by official sets & techniques used by LEGO. The first car is a depressed center flatcar, and it carries a re-imagined and updated set 5920 Island Racer from the Adventurers "Dino Island" Theme. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=5920-1 ) The second car is a gondola carrying three huge boulders. It was inspired by set 4434, Tipper Truck. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=4434-1 ) The third car is a gasoline / oil tanker in OCTAN colors. The tanker was inspired by set 7939, Cargo Train. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=7939-1 ) This model also needs two printed 1x4 tile pieces like this: http://www.bricklink...m.asp?P=2431px9 LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1413560515m.lxf By the way, here is the front of the green automobile: Lego City Passenger Station This station was designed first by LEGO as set 2150, Train Station. It was recreated by someone on Eurobricks, but had an added "street side", that was almost identical as the track side. I downloaded and added: a expanded platform, made a clock with sign for both sides, and made the sections removable. (Yes, the roof for both levels come off.) I modernized the look of the station by adding a pizza oven with opening door like in set 7641, (City Corner) and adding a safe on the second floor for the station master. Street side of the station. The studs on the wall beside of the clock on both sides of the station are supposed to spell LEGO CITY in printed 1x1 tiles. The first floor features the ticket counter, pizzeria with bar seating and the oven taken from City Corner, while the second floor features the Station master's office, with three chairs, a desk, open-able safe, rotary telephone and several cabinets with drawers. This floor and the roof above it are held on by just a few studs, making them 100% removable, while the platform is a attached via Technic pins. LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1412010310m.lxf Grain Elevator Built originally by my father in 1999, this elevator was never completed. As my Dad did not discover Bricklink until 2006, it lacked several crucial parts, and remains uncompleted to this day... just another thing on the to-do list! I have faithfully recreated the elevator and added some parts that did not exist in '99, such as the red windscreens used a funnel, and a conveyor belt with handle. I also did some major goofs, such as making the building one stud too thin, (it should be 16 studs wide at the base), but I hope I compensated enough by making the funnel tall enough to let the tallest official train car I could think of go through without problems. This view shows the conveyor and handle. LDD file for the grain elevator: http://www.mocpages....1398708090m.lxf Modern Truss Bridge Designed using 24 of these parts, ( http://www.bricklink...tem.asp?P=15706 ) this bridge fits even my tallest trains. It can fit up to 10-stud-wide locomotives, leaving 1 stud on each side for clearance. It also can fit 12 2/3 bricks tall train cars, but only barely: the clearance is less that a third of a brick in difference. The tallest train car I own is this one: a caboose based on the prison car from the Lone Ranger "Constitution Train Chase". (set 79111). This car fits the bridge by a hair less than a third of a brick. LDD file (bridge only): http://www.mocpages....1414539136m.lxf Signal Tower 22 Inspired by Whoward69's signal tower, (link: https://www.flickr.c...s-55973205@N08/ ) this enlarged version features two removable sections (the roof and second floor) and a staircase to the second floor. There are studs on the front of the building to spell out TOWER 22 (Or whatever two digit number you want to.) using printed 1x1 tiles. The tower also has two computers on the second floor for train signal / switch direction control, while the first floor is empty. (except for the staircase) LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1417547843m.lxf Wide Vision Caboose This model was originally Model number 30 from the 2007 set "Hobby Train". I redid the whole model from the ground up, replacing old windows and updating the style. The caboose features removable cupola and cupola roof, along with the two regular roof sections. The Inside features a bed, stove, table and two chairs, while the cupola features two more chairs. I'm going to use this piece ( http://www.bricklink...sp?P=87079pb006 ) for the sides of the caboose, and one of these ( http://www.bricklink....asp?P=3039px20 ) for the bed for the conductor. Here is the LDD file:http://www.mocpages....1418063886m.lxf All comments are welcome, and more MOCs / MODs are coming!

Here are my American -style trains, in real bricks (NOTE: lots of pictures!:) ENGINES 2-6-0 Mogul #4613: Built 2014 2-10-4 Texas #6297: Built (as 2-8-4 Berkshire #6221) 2012, finished 2014 FA (diesel A-unit) #7996: built 2013 FB (diesel B-unit) #7996: built 2013 GG1 electric: Built 2012 TRAIN CARS (PASSENGER) Legoredo Limited - streamline combine: built 2011 (yes, it's missing a magnet, but I fixed it after this shot!) Legoredo Limited - streamline coaches: built 2011 Legoredo Limited - streamline observation: built 2011 999 Limited - heavyweight combine: Built 2012, finished 2014 999 Limited - heavyweight coaches: Built 2012, finished 2014 999 Limited - heavyweight observation: Built 2012, finished 2014 TRAIN CARS (FREIGHT) Generic Boxcars: Built 2011 Depressed Center flatcar: Built 2014 Drop-side Gondola: Built 2013 Water Tanker: Built 2013 Rock hopper: Built 2013 Branch-line Caboose: Built 2014 I have more, but they are a mix of UK & US trains, plus I have my streetcars. I am getting 4 more passenger cars (they are dark green vintage ones for engine #4613), plus a 2-6-2 steamer engine for Christmas. Railroad Buildings will be posted here, but the non-train buildings will be posted in the Town forum sometime.

Background info:Brick Railway Systems (BRS) was constructed in the early 1870's from pieces of other roads. It began small, with only 120 miles of track laid as of 1873. (Note: Only 57 of those miles were actually constructed by BRS, not by the former component roads) By 1910, BRS had rose through the ranks of the other roads to become the top freight hauler in the country. However, In World War One, the railway was was run into the ground by government control via the Imperial Railroad Administration (IRA), which took over control of all railroads in 1914 and kept them until 1920. Upon return of the company to it's civilian owners, the railroad itself was in shambles The company responded by trimming the unnecessary trains that had been kept running during the war years even though they were practically useless. By 1928, the company had remade itself so much so that it had electrified most of it's main line between Glencoe, Ironwood, & Fort Legoredo. This cut back majorly on some of the costs of steam engine fuel and maintenance for the railroad. The benefit of this was not evident immediately, but later payed for itself when the Great Depression hit. By the the Second World War, BRS was even better off than had been projected in the depths of the depression The war traffic barely affected the system, as the 1920's upgrades had unexpectedly prepared the system for the surge in goods and soldiers. In the late 40's, while several other roads had started getting rid of their steam engines for diesels, BRS was resisting the flow by building more steam, and experimenting with more advanced designs such as duplexes, triplexes, & Garrett’s These efforts never payed off, but the they did give the BRS engineers valuable advice on what to do and what not to do with steam. Meanwhile, diesels were on the railroad from starting around 1936, but not in great numbers until the late '60's. 'The System' (as she is sometimes called) was doing fine at this time, while other roads were struggling. By the '70's, diesel fuel prices had put a stop to the diesel takeover, and optimism was high. This feeling continued right up until 1987. The main competitor, Federal Railways, had gone up for sale and Brick Railway Systems was getting a ring-side seat on what could happen if a road got out of hand. Before their eyes, the road was torn apart by lack of leadership, (not helped by the fact the Federal Railway / Brick Railway Systems merger was denied) lack of funds and working motive power. Then, in late 1992, the railway was finally gone, eaten up by hungry debtors and rival railroads alike. (some of it was eventually bought by BRS) The other half of the '90's & the early 2000's had Brick Railway Systems wondering if the same financial breakdown would happen to it. By 2010 the shock had worn off, and the optimism had returned, albeit with a little more caution.Present Locomotives:2-6-0 "Mogul" Steam locomotive Built in 1917 by Zephyr Locomotive Works for Brick Railway Systems (BRS for short), engine #4613 was one of a class of 44 locomotives numbered 4610 to 4654. They were the last class of BRS engines painted in dark green & black with gold highlights. They were also the first class to feature modern tenders with increased water & fuel storage capacity. These two traits created a oddity in the BRS loco department, as it was both old and new. They have all since been repainted except for 4613, which proudly still wears in “Green and Gold” as a testament to the first 50 years of the railroads existence. 2-6-2 "Prairie" steam locomotive Built in 1919 by Baldwin Locomotive Works for Brick Railway Systems (BRS for short), engine 4754 was one of a class of 110 engines ranging from number 4749 4859. They were built at the time when the Imperial Railroad Administration was running BRS due to World War I. These engines proved themselves good freight haulers, but the a severe side-to-side swaying motion kept them from passenger service. They are all painted black with the usual red box on the tender 0-4-0 "Yard Switcher" steam locomotive Built in 1923 by Baldwin Locomotive Works for Brick Railway Systems (BRS), engine #4990 was part of a 250 strong class of switchers made for the tight industrial & dockyard trackage of Brick Railway Systems. The class spread from number 4860 to 5110. They were painted in classic BRS black with a red stripe with a little red ring surrounding the funnel. 2-8-0 "Consolidation" steam locomotive Built in 1926 by Lima Locomotive Works for Brick Railway Systems, engine #5775 was the second to last engine in an order of 30 engines. The engines were numbered 5746 – 5776 and were painted in the traditional black and red paint scheme. This consists of a red box on the tender surrounding the letters BRS, which stand for Brick Railway Systems. 0-6-0 "Mixed Traffic" steam locomotive Built in 1929 by Baldwin Locomotive Works for Brick Railway Systems (BRS), engine #5972 was supposed to be part of a 75-strong engine order, but the Great Depression startted, causing BRS to cancel the last eight engines, leaving 5972 the last of it's class. The type has been painted in standard black with a red stripe with a small ring of red around the funnel. 2-8-4 "Berkshire" steam locomotive Engines 7221 – 7235 were built in 1933 by Lima Locomotive Works for Brick Railway Systems. These fourteen 2-8-4 (2 leading, 8 drivers, and 4 trailing wheels) locomotives were intended for heavy freight service on the mountainous 'Southern Division' of Brick Railway Systems. (BRS) However, it was discovered that these engines could pull long passenger trains better than the usual locomotives assigned to that route. The engines were given control over crack express trains such as the '909 Limited'. (known for going 900 miles in 9 hours, at about 100 miles per hour) These engines performed wonderfully for over 25 years. However, the cost of running these fleet-footed engine became so great in the early 1970's that BRS seriously considered getting diesels to do the steam engines work. Thankfully, the oil embargo of 1974 put a stop to that by restricting diesel fuel consumption by just enough to put the steam engines in a more favorable position. Safe from the threat of a diesel takeover, the locomotives run like clockwork to this very day. 2-10-4 "Texas" steam locomotive These twenty four 2-10-4 (2 leading, 10 drivers, and 4 trailing wheels) locomotives numbered 6394 – 6418 were built in 1939 – 1940 by Lima locomotive Works. They were based off the very successful 2-8-4 Berkshire type Lima had sold to Brick Railway Systems (BRS) in 1933. One of these engines was 6398, which was painted in the BRS standard black with a red box on the tender and red stripe on the funnel. Number 6398 served well on the heavy freight duties it was designed for, though, as with the Berkshires, the engines proved equally adapt at handling the passenger trains as well as the heavy freights. GG-1 electric locomotive This GG-1 electric locomotive was built in 1943 by Altoona Works as unit 4939 for the Pennsylvania Railroad. When that railroad merged with New York Central in 1968, the ensuring legal nightmare concerned with the merger (& the subsequent bankruptcy of Penn Central) caused the engine to be "lost" in the paperwork. After being stored for 20 years in a shed on a branch line in New York, the engine was located by a local railroad club, and restored to working order. As the engine was owned by a defunct railroad, it was sold at auction by the club to Brick Railway Systems, who had bought 12 other GG-1's from Altoona in 1943. The engine was taken apart into 3 sections and shipped to Brick Railway. It started work in 1989, was repainted into the classic Brick Railway black / red color scheme, and was renumbered 8620, to better fit with the other GG-1 locomotives. FA (A Unit) & FB (B unit) diesel locomotives In 1947, Brick Railway Systems (BRS) bought seven PB-1 & seven PA-1 series locomotives from the American Locomotive Company (ALCO). They were numbered 8666 - 8673. Both units carried the same numbers and were semi-permanently coupled. The fourteen engines were delivered to Brick Railway but were slightly modified when they arrived. They were then painted in a variant of the famous BRS black-with-red-stripe paint scheme and had the front coupler removed. The engines were used on the non - electrified sections of main line to pull many named trains that couldn't be pulled by steam. This started in 1948 and continued until 1963, when the whole main-line system of Brick Railway Systems was electrified. Regulated to freight traffic & branch line work, the engines worked until 1982 when the engines were finally pushed back to "reserve" status. As such, they are not run often, but are kept in operating condition to this very day MRS-1 (Military Road Switcher -1) diesel locomotive In the early 1950's the United States Army Transportation Corps (USATC) was considering what would happen to an enemy railroad if another European war broke out. If the native locomotives in said enemy country were destroyed or rendered inoperable (as they likely would have been) what would pull the US military trains on their soil? The answer was not easy, as many countries have different gauges, loading clearances and couplers. The USATC decided on specific set of guidelines for it's Military Road Switcher (MRS) and waited to see which companies would offer the best design. American Locomotive Company (ALCO) beat out Electro-Motive Division (EMD), and won the contact. Engine #8945 was built by ALCO in 1954 and stored until 1970, awaiting a European war that never came. It was sold, unused, to Brick Railway Systems in 1971. It was immediately put to work along with another MRS-1 unit (#8946) on slow freight trains, though #8945 did pull a passenger train in an emergency in 1988. The engine remains in operable condition to this day and has been painted in the Black & red paint scheme. SW-1500 switcher Built in 1966 by Electro-Motive Division for Brick Railway Systems, engine #6715 was the first engine in an order of 15 engines. The engines were numbered 6715 – 6730 and were painted in the traditional black and red paint scheme. This consists of a stripe near the bottom of the loco and letters on the cab sides which say BRS. RS-2 Road switcher This RS-2 road switcher was ordered from the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in January 1949 for Brick Railway Systems (BRS). It was delivered in July 1949 with 19 others of its type, and was given the number 6505. (The other RS-2's are numbered 6500 - 6520) This type wears the famous “Black with red stripe” that most BRS engines wear. 4-4-0 "American" steam locomotive This 4-4-0 (also known as an American type) was built by Rodgers Locomotive & Machine Works for Brick Railway Systems (BRS) in 1876, and features a bright red-yellow-&-black paint scheme. Number 210 pulled passenger trains for 10 years before being reassigned to Freight duties in 1888. By 1900, the engine was worn out, and sent to a scrapper, who sold the engine to a museum for $100. Eventually, the museum was reorganized as the Imperial Rail Museum, where the engine rests today in non-operable condition. There were plans to get #210 in working order for the US Bicentennial in 1976, but nothing ever came of it, and the engine has remained cold and silent to this day. This is the oldest surviving BRS loco in existence. 2-6-2 "Prairie" steam locomotive This is locomotive #263, of the 2-6-2 Prairie type. This one was built by Sava Locomotives Incorporated in 1883 and was designed for slow freight trains. (It has smaller diameter wheels than faster passenger engines) It served until 1902, when the engine suffered a boiler explosion near Golden Gulch in Legoredo County. The engineer and fireman died in the explosion, but the engine was salvaged and repaired. Loco #263 was retired in 1925 when it was bought by a Hollywood film company for use in a Western movie. After filming ended, the engine was donated to the Imperial Rail Museum in the city of Legoredo, where it rests today in operable condition 2-6-0 "Mogul" steam locomotive The locomotive is engine #272, a 2-6-0 Mogul type. It was built by Zephyr Locomotive Works in 1885 and was a passenger engine, usually only in fast, named-train passenger service. (Thus the large driving wheels for greater speed) It was last used on the faster passenger trains in 1909, when it was painted in the new black & red paint scheme and sent into regular freight / local passenger service. It was supposed to have been scrapped in 1921, but was saved along with late 1800's passenger stock and a caboose. It was sent to the Imperial Rail Museum where it is stored in it's original dark green & black paint scheme. Engine #272 is operational, but is only steamed on special occasions. Present Rolling Stock:1930's streamline coaches These are not really based on any one prototype, but I was going for a Anthony Sava (Tequila Sunrise) meets Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Super Chief look. It looks more like a early 1930's consist to me, like something Pennsylvania Railroad would have done in brown or dark red. 1920's Heavyweight Passenger Cars Again, these are not really based on any one prototype, but I was going for a Anthony Sava (Polar Express coaches) look. It looks more like a early 1920's consist to me, though. 1950's Blue & White passenger consist I based this one off of two sources: the Wabash Frisco & Pacific Railroad (a 12 inch gauge ride-on steam line in Glencoe Missouri, near St. Louis) and the coaches formerly owned by the Museum of Transportation (also in St. Louis) before they were sold in 2012. Express passenger cars (2003-style) In reality, these cars are modeled after set 4511 (2003's High Speed Train) and the Carolina Train Builders passenger coach instructions available at the Railbricks website.-Express Coach (x3)-Cargo / Express Coach (x1)There is one part missing from this picture: http://www.bricklink...sp?P=44572pb005It is not in LDD as a decoration but the basic part is. 1950's Freight Cars In the real world, the modified tank cars are originally from set #7939, (Cargo Train), while the boxcars are from set #3677 (Red Cargo Train). The rock gondola was my own idea and the caboose is a mashed up Toy Story Caboose #7597 (Western Train Chase) and the vintage 10014 (Caboose) from 2001. Wide Vision / Bay Window Caboose I made this model about a year ago from instructions for an Bay Window caboose mixed with instructions for a Wide Vision caboose. I recently rediscovered the photo I posted to Flickr at that time and I wanted to make the model better. I removed some expensive parts (the red train base-plate, for one!) and replaced them with other, cheaper parts. 1920's Commuter Cars These cars consist of 1 baggage / mail car, while the other 3 cars are coaches 1910 Dark Green clerestory passenger train This wonderful train comes with one steam locomotive, one baggage car, two passenger coaches and one observation car. Comments & Critics welcome! I currently own (in real life) the PA / PB set, the 2-8-4, the 1920's heavyweight train, the GG-1, the streamline consist, some of the freight train, the 1920's commuter cars, and the 2-6-2 & the 2-6-0 Western trains.Most of these are modified versions of Anthony Sava's wonderful designs. He has a a Bricklink store from which I purchased everything but the two far left models. (Here is his store: http://www.bricklink...asp?p=AggieSava ) The LDD files or copies of the models I made from his instructions are NOT for sale... so please don't ask. The GG-1 was inspired by this builder from Brickshelf: http://www.brickshel...ry.cgi?f=301802 The FA / FB models were inspired by Flickr user valgarise & his train called the "Invencible": http://www.flickr.co...ise/6238331351/ The SW-1500 is from LGauge, a LEGO train MOC site. (Link: http://www.lgauge.com/ ) The Alco RS-2 was inspired by memories of a diesel creation my Father & me made when I was 7. The LDD file for the GG-1: http://www.mocpages....1395173382m.lxf The LDD file for the RS-2 & SW-1500: http://www.mocpages....1395678142m.lxf The LDD file for the ALCO PA & PB units: http://www.mocpages....1395680308m.lxf The LDD file for the 0-6-0 steamer: http://www.mocpages....1398707791m.lxf The LDD file for the 0-4-0 switcher: http://www.mocpages....1398707178m.lxf The LDD file for the 2-6-0 Mogul steamer: http://www.mocpages....1401200779m.lxf The LDD file for Black & red 30's stream train: http://www.mocpages....1395862145m.lxf The LDD file for the brown 20's heavyweight cars: http://www.mocpages....1395861942m.lxf The LDD file for the white and blue 50's train: http://www.mocpages....1395862516m.lxf The LDD file for the modern white & green train: http://www.mocpages....1395860545m.lxf The LDD file for the Freight train: http://www.mocpages....1395860725m.lxf The LDD file for the Wide vision / bay window caboose http://www.mocpages....1395936808m.lxf The LDD file for the black and red commuter train: http://www.mocpages....1398787896m.lxf The LDD file for the 2-6-2 Prairie (black and red, large): http://www.mocpages....1406727379m.lxf The LDD file for VERSION 2 of the 2-6-2 Prairie (black and red, large): http://www.mocpages....1412537572m.lxf The LDD file for the 1910 Passenger train & Updated 2-6-0 Mogul: http://www.mocpages....1407852914m.lxf The LDD file for the 2-10-4 Texas steam locomotive: http://www.mocpages.com/user_images/80135/1413678781m.lxf