Gallery

An overall view of Natural Flats, showing the extensive industrial spur

Here, a Western Maryland freight pulls through the flats.

Natural Pass, showing the two tracks passing out of sight.  Note the live moss foliage!

CSX 8204 pulls a long consist across the front of the pass...

by Dale Rinker

As far back as I can remember, my father put trains up under the Christmas tree. Originally the trains were the old Lionel trains, then he bought HO scale and finally he purchased a Pennsylvania Railroad N scale set. Other that the old standby Lionel, they never stayed on the track. Thirty-one years ago, I got married. My father-in-law gave my wife the Lionel train he bought for her the year she was married. For reasons known to all of you who are married, I have no intention of revealing the year. A year later, I bought a Santa Fe Passenger train for my daughter. I still have the rolling stock, however I have replaced the motive power with new Kato engines.

Several years ago after attending numerous train shows at Chantilly, Upper Marlboro, and NVNtraks' layout at Landmark Mall, I said to myself, " I can do that." I embarked on a plan to build my own layout. I began the project in my basement as everyone else did at one time or another. I eventually took a small layout to Baltimore where I ran into John Cook. John appeared to be impressed with my will, probably more than my layout. He suggested that I join NVNtrak. 

Although I was flattered, I was not ready to give up my freedom. I added more "modules" then did another show in Lancaster, PA. After several more modules, I had a 15' by 20' layout that for the most part met N track standards with the exception of wiring and height. My layout was only 32" off the floor, because I wanted children to be able to see it without having to be picked up by their parents. That of course had some drawbacks of its own, but I did it for the kids anyway. I was ready to go to Upper Marlboro and Chantilly, which I did several times. 

I then read about the uNCoNveNtioN in Richmond. I wanted to be part of that event, so I built two new modules, which I took to Chantilly with no scenery, to be tested by an NVNtrak electrical specialist. I failed. However with the help of Steve Jackson and Dave Greenacre, my wiring was made compliant and my two modules were accepted for use in the uNCoNveNtioN as part of the big layout. I also joined NVNtrak at that time. I had already committed to take my own layout to Richmond for that weekend, so with the help of a friend of mine and a rented trailer, we loaded 12 modules and headed for Richmond.

So many members have really neat modules; I wanted to do something different. My answer was to use live moss to cover my modules, which was something no one else had done. Therefore, I covered most of my modules with floral moss I purchased from a craft store. Hence the names "Natural Pass" which has the fake tunnels off the back, and "Natural Flats", which is mostly flat. 

Editor's Note:  Look for more description of Dale's unique scenicking method soon!