The Violet Hill Railway in N Scale

The Violet Hill Railway in N Scale My fictional 1970s-based railroad, the Violet Hill Railway. Connecting Lower Michigan with the Upper Peninsula via the ex-GR&I from Grand Rapids north.

Amtrak 330 has received some weathering, and the decoder was soldered on for better contact. This locomotive was deliver...
08/17/2026

Amtrak 330 has received some weathering, and the decoder was soldered on for better contact. This locomotive was delivered in 1980 (right around my modeled era), but I didn’t want it to stick out in shiny silver! Look for it pulling Shenandoahs across the B&O, and equally diminutive Peninsulas across the Violet Hill!

In late 1975, Violet Hill RS-2 26 was repainted into a simple red, white and blue scheme to celebrate the coming bicente...
07/05/2026

In late 1975, Violet Hill RS-2 26 was repainted into a simple red, white and blue scheme to celebrate the coming bicentennial. Around the same time, 40' boxcar 176 was rebuilt and emerged wearing similar festivity. Five years later, both are looking a little worse for wear, but still keep going, the American spirit these days! Happy Independence Day.

Front End Friday: F3 802A has been out of service for about six years, but I recently found a donor chassis and got it r...
05/29/2026

Front End Friday: F3 802A has been out of service for about six years, but I recently found a donor chassis and got it running again. I decided to modify it so only the bottom headlight lights up, and here is the finished product!

I've been wanting to add some Southern to my roster for a while, so earlier this month when I found the 2815 for $50, it...
05/26/2026

I've been wanting to add some Southern to my roster for a while, so earlier this month when I found the 2815 for $50, it was an easy choice. I've relocated the bell to the long hood as well as adding a horn next to it, and I gave it a light weathering. Except for a decoder and maybe fixing a couple whitish areas (caused by the dullcoat), it's done!

Dove Lake now has a market! Julie's Grocery, named for my daughter, is situated right next to the Violet Hill branch in ...
05/15/2026

Dove Lake now has a market! Julie's Grocery, named for my daughter, is situated right next to the Violet Hill branch in town. Here a local led by Baldwin 8048 brings a couple loads off the Feldhak Gravel spur, blocking traffic. Seeing views like this really makes me think I ought to finish scenery through here...

A forty-foot trifecta! VH 193, wearing the large 'Split Keystone' logo, is sandwiched between two Ann Arbor boxcars in A...
05/14/2026

A forty-foot trifecta! VH 193, wearing the large 'Split Keystone' logo, is sandwiched between two Ann Arbor boxcars in AA's Boat Landing yard. Behind them is the Betsie Bay, with Frankfort in the distance.

Two more coal hoppers finished up. WM was factory painted, I just added updated data and weathered. B&O was a full repai...
05/13/2026

Two more coal hoppers finished up. WM was factory painted, I just added updated data and weathered. B&O was a full repaint. At this point I’ve got enough Chessie-family cars…but it’s a hard habit to break, so there will likely be more in the future.

Western Maryland 7157 is running out its last miles before traded in on new Chessie GP40-2s, passing B Tower at Ben Junc...
05/09/2026

Western Maryland 7157 is running out its last miles before traded in on new Chessie GP40-2s, passing B Tower at Ben Junction. This module was a lot of fun, but at the end of the day, it filled my entire car to transport. Hoping to have a good Appalachian scene again in the future!

“All that glitters is not gold”…or, in this case, how I got gold to stop glittering. GM50 was one of the first GP40-2s d...
05/04/2026

“All that glitters is not gold”…or, in this case, how I got gold to stop glittering.

GM50 was one of the first GP40-2s delivered to Chessie, in special gold paint to celebrate 50 years of Electro-Motive. While it was washed and occasionally repainted to keep its shine, it also often looked just as dirty as any other locomotive, so that’s what I wanted to replicate! Here it is, once shiny, now showing off the grime that accompanies railroading.

I finished up a few Virginian and Ohio projects this week. The V&O was and remains a huge influence on my modeling, as I...
04/24/2026

I finished up a few Virginian and Ohio projects this week. The V&O was and remains a huge influence on my modeling, as I’m sure many can relate, so I love diving into projects for the road as if they were prototypical.

First up is GP40 729, which has been in project drawer limbo for over a year now. It’s running great, and aside from maybe redoing the class lights, I’m happy with it!

Next is Allegheny Midland 426. This caboose was inspired by prototypical NKP versions which, after building up lots of dirt and grime, had their road numbers either cleaned off or repainted to remain legible.

Finally, V&O 2731 is a drop-bottom 40’ gondola, which here is hauling a load of scrap.

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Cadillac, MI

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