Chicago Crossing Model Railroad

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Chicago Crossing Model Railroad The layout focuses on last-mile freight service on main and industrial branch lines.

Chicago Crossing is a small 7x3' proto-freelance N scale model railroad layout based on the industrial near north and south sides of Chicago in the mid-late 1990s.

Late-night Metra service on Chicago Crossing.
08/18/2026

Late-night Metra service on Chicago Crossing.

The first half of a discussion on the use case for ATX (computer) power supplies for model railroads. Here we look at th...
08/18/2026

The first half of a discussion on the use case for ATX (computer) power supplies for model railroads. Here we look at the breakout boards. Next up, a deep dive into the power supplies themselves.

Need multiple voltage rails for your layout? CCMR does. I use a com...

Roofs are models, too. Treat them with the same care as every other scenic element. If you're modeling an urban environm...
08/18/2026

Roofs are models, too. Treat them with the same care as every other scenic element. If you're modeling an urban environment, they are THE scenic real estate you and your viewers will notice.

Rooftops are key part of the visual handshake between your eye and ...

The benefits of taking the time to mock up a building mass. After some careful research and consideration, the wall sect...
07/25/2026

The benefits of taking the time to mock up a building mass. After some careful research and consideration, the wall sections from a couple of old-school Atlas kits turn out to be perfectly scaled raw building stock that both represents the spirit of the prototype and plays nicely with the surrounding scene. Mocking up an (eventual) scenic backdrop shows how this elongated structure nicely hides the yard lead while also creating a compelling urban 'alleyway' with tons of modeling opportunities, including addition of a dead spur that once served this structure.

If you want to know how far you've progressed in this hobby, take a boring old model, unbuild it and apply all of the ne...
07/19/2026

If you want to know how far you've progressed in this hobby, take a boring old model, unbuild it and apply all of the new things you've learned since. Breathing new life into this mediocre 2020 build has been incredibly satisfying. Details, lit and finished interiors and much more yet to come.

Setting up the office furnishings for Ameropan Oil. 3D-printed desks and chairs. 1990s CRT monitor, stand, keyboard and ...
06/20/2026

Setting up the office furnishings for Ameropan Oil. 3D-printed desks and chairs. 1990s CRT monitor, stand, keyboard and mouse, and potted plant all handmade from polystyrene.

Some urban archaeology as I work to find options for the former tunnel sites on CCMR:
06/02/2026

Some urban archaeology as I work to find options for the former tunnel sites on CCMR:

What will replace the old tunnels that got scraped off of the layout in January? Let's take a look at some real Chicago prototype overpasses and pass-through...

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Denver, CO

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