Ever create a scene and think, “This little shop looks like it’s been here forever” or “That brakeman’s probably telling the same story for the hundredth time”?
Let’s talk about bringing personality to our layouts—not just through realism, but through storytelling:
Do you name your towns, industries, or characters?
Ever build a structure with a backstory in mind?
Have you hidden any Easter eggs—like tiny signs, props, or scenes with a sense of humor?
One of my towns is called “Hickory Bend,” named after an imaginary logging boom in the 1940s. The general store has a crooked sign and a bench where two old-timers always “sit and solve the world’s problems.”
I’ve even got a run-down caboose turned into a diner, with a tiny chalkboard menu and a flickering light that makes it feel lived-in. And yes—there’s a dog chasing a chicken behind one of the barns. Total Easter egg 😂
For me, these little details make the whole scene feel like more than just trains—they make it feel like a place with memories.
