Author | Lightnews

James McDonald

@jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social

400 followers 700 following 420 posts

Musician, historian, and fabricator. I play drums (ska, reggae, cumbia, punk), write history (lots about trains, but also food and convenience), and build all sorts of things from models to theater sets. Mostly model train posts these days.

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James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · 8h

Me for sure. Most of the stuff I model isn't available commercially so it's either extreme kitbashes or scratchbuilding.

Reposted by James McDonald

Interurban Era @interurbanera.bsky.social · 3d

My #1 goal for all of what I do is to make OUR lives hopefully a bit more joyful.

Are there "serious" topics about the model railroading hobby?

Sure. Mostly centered around inclusiveness of gender/race/economic status.

The key is inspiring people to enjoy the hobby at a level they wanna enjoy it!

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James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · 2d

Timonium train show this coming weekend. Hoping to pick up some new tools and maybe a freight car kit or two. #ModelRailroading

James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · 11d

Check out this super weathering technique for modelers.

NETWORK SOUTHEAST LATCHMERE 🟥🟦⬜️ @nse-latchmere.bsky.social · 12d

Using salt for weathering. This and other REALLY USEFUL videos (🤭) can be found on my YouTube channel.

#ModelRailway #Latchmere

Reposted by James McDonald

Metro @wmata.com · 21d

A bittersweet farewell to our 2000-series! 🚇

Today, we removed the final one from Greenbelt Rail Yard. These trains were first introduced in the early 1980s, operated nearly 200M miles, and carried more than 775M passengers.

Now, we’re making way for our 8000-series! 👋

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Reposted by James McDonald

Eastern Standard Time @estmusic.bsky.social · 22d

Our next show is this Saturday in Newport News. One Love Reggae Music Festival!! Come forward!

Poster for One Love Reggae Music Festival. Black background with text in yellow, blue and white. Texts read: Oct 4, 5th annual One Love Reggae Music Festival, 11am to 9:30pm. Free admission. Coastal Fermentory & Ironclad Distillery. 206 23rd Street Suite B, Newport News, VA. Bands listed: Eastern Standard Time, Rio, Cultivated Mind, Lost Soul Society, Nature’s Child, Trevor Daniels and The Reef, Young Lions, Lionsbridge, Native Dread, Josh Craig.

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James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · 23d

This is very true, unfortunately.

James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · 23d

I’ve been trying to organize an oral history project at the RF&P HistSoc for these same reasons but it’s quite a task to undertake. Progress is slow.

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James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · 23d

IC is really under-appreciated, and this bubbles over into model production.

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James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · 23d

Wow

James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · 29d

I cycled thru many scales before landing on HO as my primary. Nowadays I mostly restrain myself from purchases outside of HO unless they’re from pre-1990 Eastern Europe. Then I’ll buy TT or N stuff.

James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · 29d

It’s always sat poorly with me because its “humor” posits that an interest in trains and being on the spectrum are things to be ashamed of. Neither are.

James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · 29d

CE-15 is at the B&O RR Museum in Baltimore, although its design is a little different. I feel like the Detroit Photographic collection has a pic of a clearance car but not being that into MoW I don’t think I ever paid it much mind.

Reposted by James McDonald

Eastern Standard Time @estmusic.bsky.social · Sep 20

Our next shows…

Flyer for Eastern Standard Time showing bass player with an expression of delight and hand raised like a claw. His fingers point toward the text listing upcoming shows, which are September 27 Oktoberfest at Five Mountain Brewing in Shickshinny, Pennsylvania and October 4 at One Love Reggae Music Festival at Coastal Fermentory in Newport News, Virginia.

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James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · Sep 17

I’ll look for the reference. I think it was the subject of someone’s electrical engineering dissertation. I mostly remember it because the document had real photos glued into it.

James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · Sep 17

It’s been years since I read about it but IIRC at one time the PRR had (or planned?) a substation over the tracks in, I think, Philly. Maybe that approach would free up room?

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James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · Sep 15

Back from @supernovaska.bsky.social . What a great weekend!

Reposted by James McDonald

Iron Genesis Models @irongenesis.bsky.social · Sep 15

Reminder, that if you want an HO scale model of the first 4-2-0 built, the Experiment of the Mohawk & Hudson, you can get a 3D printed kit on my shop here: 3dptrain.com/products/183...

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Reposted by James McDonald

bluebeatoftheday.bsky.social @bluebeatoftheday.bsky.social · Sep 12

Next at Supernova, Eastern Standard Time

Eastern Standard Time, a ska ensemble, on stage

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James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · Sep 10

That bed looks amazing!

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James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · Sep 8

FWIW one of the early executives of the M&PA came from a WB&A predecessor. Also, if I can play along, maybe add in the Chesapeake Beach Railway to the system.

James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · Sep 8

I thought to myself “ok, that’s a *really* niche reference; but this being bsky, maybe I’ve found someone else who knows late 80s East German music.” Accidental laughter is also good tho.

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James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · Sep 8

Stille Invasion?

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Reposted by James McDonald

Jacqueline Antonovich @jackiantonovich.bsky.social · Sep 7

As an icebreaker, I asked my college students, "If you could time travel to any decade in the past, where would you go?"

Dear readers, I'm sorry to say that the overwhelming majority said the 80s. The 1980s.

When I asked them why, they said, "seems cool!"

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James McDonald @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social · Sep 5

16 years ago today, CSX 8201, CSX 8509, and CSX 8803 were heading west through St. Denis, MD on their way to Jessup, MD to pick up a transfer run to Baltimore. 8201 was L&N 3573 built in 1974, 8509 was ex Seaboard built in 1983, and 8804 was originally Conrail 6373, built in 1977. My photo.

3/4 color wedge photo of three diesel electric locomotives passing under a signal bridge on a multi-track railroad line. Green trees make up the background.

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