Shortlines You Can Model, Vol.1: Miami’s Swamp Rat (Shortline Railroads You Can Model)

Imagine a shortline set in a tropical city where English is the secondary language, and trackside voodoo rituals are commonplace. Palm trees, oppressive humidity, a narrow ship-clogged canal, and one-story pastel-colored structures with peeling paint and murals fill out the backdrop. Now, take that background image and overlay an arrow-straight, mile-long, spur worked by an aging SW8 in peeling mint green paint running down an often flooded right-of-way to serve a handful of industries clinging to the banks of the river. Welcome to The Swamp Rat, Miami’s short-lived and largely forgotten, shortline. This richly photographed and engaging backstory serves as a plausible fiction theme for the freelance shortline modeler. The journey starts with the backstory. It then moves on to the design and construction strategies needed to bring it to life. Take a vacation to Miami and enjoy the ride.