Hello everyone, My name is John Edge and I live in the north west of England, halfway between Liverpool and Manchester. Both of which cities are quite famous for football (soccer!) and music - sadly I have no talent in either! No interest in footy but I do like music of all kinds, quite "catholic" tastes really in that I like everything from "pop" through Rock, Classical and yes, Country! (got a couple of albums by Chris Ledoux!). I'm 50 y.o. married with three cats, own my own (small) business, we both like travelling around the world. I've been a model railroader since I was a child, it's a lifelong hobby for me. I started out with British 00 stuff because I knew no better but then I lived in France for a while and got started in H0. By the time I was about 25 (1990) I got into US outline H0, buying a bit of everything to start with before settling on Southern Pacific/Rio Grande. I happily collected these items while helping to build a club layout (at this time, I lived in Derby in the midlands). After a while however I grew more interested in the C&NW so sold off the Espee/DRGW stock as well as my old French stock. I was really into Alco's so that kept me busy for a while. I managed just one trip to the States in 1995, imagine my horror at discovering that UP had just gobbled up "my" railroad! Over the years my interests wandered again and I followed KCS, C&O (where my username comes from) and NY,NH&H but always came back to the North Western. Thanks to my wife, we moved "up north" as we say and eventually I became involved with German H0 trains, then I started going to see them and the obsession grew until just recently when the flame simply burned out. So now, I'm back and in love with the North Western again, although recently I have also developed a 'crush' on the Texas & Pacific. Cheers, John.
Welcome to the forum. You'll find a lot of good reading here and be sure to use the search feature for more specific info. It's always cool to have a member from "across the pond" as they say.
Hello, John. Welcome aboard. It's always interesting to get new members from across the pond. You have an interesting history in the hobby. Someday, perhaps you might find time to post some photos of your layout and equipment.
Hi John, Welcome. Glad to have you on board. We have a member, Charlie, who retired as an engineer, among other positions, from Chicago's Northwestern District (I think?). You can read of his experiences and knowledge in "Storytime with Charlie" in the Railfanning Discussions sub-forum.
Yes, the Northwestern did succomb to the 'Yellow Peril', but it was a long time coming, and a great performance by a great independent. Interesting that you should take a shine to it from England. It was built on English capital and long tied to English interests, and was one of the few U.S. roads where left-hand operation was the usual method rather than the exception. Welcome!
Welcome, dear fellow "close to be a neighbour". SP, D&RGW and C&NW are a great deal of interrest for me as well... Was planning a layout based on Tehachapi Pass prior to drifting to Mexico... Dom
Hi Everyone, Thanks for such a great welcome! My interest waxes and wanes so modelling the SP is certainly on the cards in due course! A few years ago, I could not resist the Athearn U50 in bloody nose livery, so I do have grey & scarlet in my fleet again. Now! I've read a rumour (on facebook!?!) that Bowser may be doing a C415? If so, I will be getting at least on in SP livery and we'll be off again! Cheers, John.
Hi John, I'm new here myself, also from England. I'm modelling a little further north in the borders of Scotland. Cheers Dave
Hi Dave, Welcome. We're glad to have you on board. Minor correction to your praise of US modelers. Not all in the US are "years ahead". I am one of a few dinosaurs who have not converted to DCC, having operated with DC for nearly 70 years. I think DCC would be lots of operational fun, but I doubt if I could convince my roommate/accountant of 58 years to agree with the costs of conversion.
