Structures and Design on the New England Berkshire & Western

Modeling structures seem to be John Nehrich’s favorite part of the railroading hobby judging by his work on the New England Berkshire & Western layout. He spends a large amount of time researching architecture and building styles. The elaborate windows are one of the most impressive details on John’s structures.

Structures and Design on the New England Berkshire & Western Railroad

To wrap up the 10-part New England Berkshire & Western series, John Nehrich provides a step by step tutorial on how he intricately details windows on structure kits. He shares his tips and tricks on how to detail large amounts of windows at once. Allen and John also discuss the New England Berkshire & Western model railroad in further detail.

The New England Berkshire & Western layout is 124 feet by 33 feet. The size is fairly large and allows for ample modeling freedom. The space allowed the Rensselaer Model Railroad Society to model a whole network instead of just specific buildings. For example, they modeled Saratoga in relationship to the outskirts of the downtown area and in relationship to a whole line that runs through up north Troy, New York.

Allen Keller closes the final segment with a recap of New England Berkshire & Western layout and the Rensselaer Model Railroad Society. John states that he will likely never start another project after the NEB&W. He explains that anything after that layout would be a letdown and would likely be a compromise as far as space. John also enjoys the teamwork aspect of the club and appreciates the motivation from the other members while working on the NEB&W.

This concludes the New England Berkshire & Western series. Browse around MRA’s video section for more model railroading tutorials on layout planning, operations, weathering, and much more.