Swiss Z scale model trains. The SBB Gotthard Line
in miniature.

   Yes, that’s right folks – after a loooong time waiting, the article on the Gotthard Modules was finally published in the December 2007 issue of model railroader. It was a pretty cool 6 page spread with a huge graphic of the track plan – the track plan is downloadable for MR subscribers in PDF form. Even better, it was in the same issue as Rod Stewart’s layout – so now I have one degree of separation to a Rock and Roll icon.
   Needless to say, I am very grateful to everyone who was involved with the project from beginning to end.

Cover of the December 2007 Model Railroader Magazine featuring the Z scale Gotthard Line

Thanks to
The team at Raildreams:

• Dick (Chief Collaborator)
• Collin (General Contractor and Artist Supreme)
• Herb (Master of all Electricity)
• Rudy (Keeper of Soldering Iron)
• ...and everyone else in Lake Linden.

The DC Z-Bend Track group:

• Randy
• Bryan
• Art
• Brett
• and Bill.

The gang at MR:

• Terry Thompson – for leading the way
• and Paul Dolkos for fantastic photography and getting it done!

And of course Rob Kluz and the Late Great Bill K. for getting me started down this path about 7 years ago.

Paul Dolkos hard at work photographing the Z scale Gothard Line in April 2006.

   I’ve heard some complaints from people about getting their layout published in a national magazine, Model Railroader in particular. I don’t have any secrets, but I can share with you some thoughts.
   First, be proud and walk tall, but do not be arrogant. “I have the greatest layout in the world and it must be published RIGHT NOW” will not work. If possible, display your layout where you know the editors will see it. The editors at MR saw the layout at NTS 2005 in Cincinnati. They approached me. I did not approach them. In short, you need to make an article their idea, not yours.
   Once the process starts, ask for a pro to help. I was very fortunate in that Paul Dolkos, regular contributor to MR, lives within a mile of the layout. Paul spent the better part of a full day carefully photographing the layout from every possible angle. We did a long interview and he spent several evenings writing the text. His photographs and text were far better than I could ever have dreamed, and his copy was far more objective than mine would have been.
  Last, be patient. Big magazines plan their lineups a year or more in advance. MR editor Terry Thompson viewed the layout in July of 2005. Paul photographed and wrote the article in April of 2006. It was published 18 months later in December 2007. That’s over 2 years start to finish!!!