Today I'd like to focus the RB blog on the topic of railroad structures and scenery - key features in any model railroad layout.
I'd like to preface this entry by saying that I just got back from Brickworld in Chicago, where I was able to see massive, complicated, and SNOT-tastic LEGO models... and those were totally awesome. However, I also see a place for LEGO models that have an elegant simplicity and achieve a nice effect without requiring an enormous stockpile of exotic elements.
With that said, here are a couple of interesting finds off of Brickshelf.
DundS presents a very nice scene from the Wild West, the Eastbrick Heaven Freight Depot.
What catches my attention here - in addition to the good photography - is how this self-contained scene goes together like a production LEGO set. It has the balance of key elements of play value - a nice looking vehicle, some cargo to move, and some minifigs to do the job. There's just enough detail to avoid being bland without being greeble-tastic. The model exemplifies elegant simplicity.
I'd also like to point out a model by Dan42BR that echoes a simpler time... Remember how your LEGO bricks from 1967 (or whenever) are still compatible with modern production elements? (And please, no nitpicking about bley and grey or12V or whatever 
) This model of a cement mixer highlights this compatibility:
To me, it looks like what would happen if the modern LEGO City cement mixer collided with a pre-minifig era one. I like the slightly-chaotic blending of SNOT and not-SNOT, studless and studly, modern and antique. Check out the retro wheels - he's even managed to create "dually" wheels in back.
Oh, right, this is supposed to be a train blog. Well, consider this a MoW vehicle supporting the construction of concrete track ties...
-Jordan
