The SouthWestern is the N scale freelance railroad of Marv Linke. 12 ft x 23 ft in size, the layout is single main and shaped like a large E. I use Micro Engineering code 55 track and have scratch-built every turnout. Benchwork is L-Girder and scenery is made from foam. The backdrop is 100%, track 95% and scenery 40%.

The purpose of this site is to allow others to see what I have done and offer some incentive to myself to keep working on the railroad. I hope you enjoy it.

 The SouthWestern track plan can be seen here.

Roster Page   Complete motive power roster for the SouthWestern

Hiawatha Page. See my locomotive project, The GHQ Hiawatha, built on a Hudson J3 chassis.

Benchwork Page. Before scenery is benchwork. See the framework that holds everything together.

Scenery is a major component of a layout. This page documents progress on the scenery.

Structure Page shows many of the kit-bashed structures I have built.

The Farm Page   This is new! Take a look at my farm structures.

Trestle Page illustrates construction of this scratchbuilt structure.

Steam Facility Page  See the coal tower, water columns, ash pit, sandhouse and tower.

Snowshed Page. See how I built this shed to prototype design.

Turntable Page. This turntable is a Walther's kit. Not much is recognizable as Walther's though.

The Big Dig Project. Helix gets a makeover.

Milwaukee Junction Track Crossing. An N Scaler (me) tries his hand at HO scratch building.

Railroad Links Page. Railroad related links may be found here.

Here is a scratch built cyclone collector, compare it to the original on the left

Fisher's Original Revolving Door Co. & farm scene

See these at the Structure Page

Article on this track bumper in pdf. format here.                       The Big Dig Project