Featured Post
May 3, 2026
Printing Car Cards and Two‑Position Waybills for Zones 1–3
Car cards and two‑position waybills for 94 car spots across Zones 1–3, creating realistic freight cycles for smooth, prototype‑inspired operations.
Blog
Latest updates and stories. Browse categories.
March 7, 2026
Laying Out the C&NW Yard
March 1st marked yet another major turning point for the Cedar River Valley: the day the C&NW Yard finally began taking physical shape. After weeks of leveling modules, installing wiring, and confirming alignment across all twelve sections, the focus shifted from carpentry to trackwork—the moment every modeler looks forward to. With the full yard footprint now accessible and stable, I began laying out all seven yard tracks, starting with the ladder and working outward. Seeing the geometry of the yard emerge on the plywood surface brought the project into a new phase, transforming the space from a collection of modules into the beginnings of a functioning railroad.
February 27, 2026
Twelve Modules Standing
February 27th marked one of the most transformative days in the Cedar River Valley project so far. After months of planning, building, wiring, and steady progress, all twelve modules were finally stood up and locked into place. For the first time, the full footprint of the layout existed in three dimensions, not just on paper or in my imagination. Walking into the room and seeing the entire line of modules stretched out—each one square, level, and ready for the next phase—felt like crossing a threshold. The Cedar River Valley wasn’t just under construction anymore; it was beginning to look like a railroad.
February 1, 2026
A Full House and a Productive Work Session
February 1st brought one of the most energetic and enjoyable work sessions the Cedar River Valley has seen so far. The layout room was filled with good company as Thomas Heilman, Ron Copher, and Al Lesky from the River Rail Group joined fellow S scale modeler Charles Sherman for a full afternoon of hands‑on progress. With five sets of experienced eyes and steady hands in the room, the pace of work jumped forward in a way that simply isn’t possible during solo sessions.
December 23, 2025
The First Modules Arrive
Just before the end of the year, the Cedar River Valley reached an exciting milestone: the first module sections arrived on December 23rd, built by Dan Benjamin of the River Rail Operations group. Up to this point, most of the work had focused on the Zone 2 shelf and the early shaping of the layout’s identity, but seeing the first freestanding modules come through the door made the project feel suddenly larger, more tangible, and undeniably real. These sections marked the moment when the Cedar River Valley began expanding beyond the initial benchwork and into the modular footprint that will define Zones 1 and 3.
October 1, 2025
The Beginning of Construction
Construction of the layout officially began on August 10th, marking the start of what has already become a deeply rewarding and creatively energizing project. At that time, the railroad carried the working title Midwest Grocers Association, a name chosen mostly as a placeholder while I focused on benchwork, early track planning, and the first structural mock‑ups. Even in those early days, the vision was clear: a layout grounded in 1968 Chicago & North Western operations, built in S scale, and shaped by the industries and landscapes of the Driftless Region.
August 10, 2025
Welcome to the Cedar River Valley
Welcome to the Cedar River Valley website—a home for the ongoing construction, research, and storytelling behind my S scale model railroad set in 1968 La Crosse, Wisconsin. If you’ve followed the project through social media, or if you’re discovering it for the first time, I’m glad you’re here. This site brings together the layout’s history, photos, updates, and background in one place, making it easier to explore the railroad as it grows.