Primary residence on Long Island, NY w/second home in Gearhart, Oregon. Currently building main HO layout in basement in NY, but also started building smaller layout taking part of 2-car garage out in OR. Retired: model railroad bug hit me many, many years ago as a kid; my father owned a hobby shop in Brooklyn, NY back in early 1950's & that's how I got started...still have some of my Dad's engines & rolling stock (still several kits unbuilt on shelf in layout room). Look forward to interacting with other members of forum.
Hi, Alan, Welcome. Sounds like you have the best of two worlds. When you get bored with one, you just take a quick trip and play in the other. I'm curious if you have any of your Father's engines. My favorites from that era were the Bowser Challenger and the Varney Casey Jones Ten-Wheeler.
Thanks for your "welcome" note. No Bowser Challenger, also no Varney Casey Jones, but do have my father's Penn Line Pacific and Atlantic, also an 0-6-0 slope tender switcher (Varney, or Mantua).
Thanks for your note; actually will be heading back to NY Mar. 2nd; looking forward to getting back to work on my main layout.
Welcome to Trainboard, interesting I grew up in Brooklyn; although didn't start my Hobbyshop ventures until the 60's though. Fun times I must say. Glad the Model Train bug hit you again . Enjoy and see you around.
I had some time in Brooklyn and West Hempstead growing up, so that's somewhat familiar. If you're so inclined, it could be a treat to see some of your "old timers."
To be honest, some of my "old timers" need refurbishing/repair; also have an old Varney Dockside switcher (needs re-wiring to get it running)...all are on my project list. I've been acquiring some new & used engines (mostly steam because I want to model the steam-diesel transition era) and at same time I'm getting into DCC; unfortunately, those old engines are impossible or at the very least difficult to convert to DCC, so I'm trying to build a layout to accommodate both DC & DCC. Would be happy to meet you in person.
It would be a challenge, but you could replace the Pittman motors with modern can motors, then you'd have ample space for a DCC circuit board. Of course you would have replace the weight lost by removing the heavy Pittman motors to maintain traction. I'd forgotten about Varney's Dockside. B&O owned only four, but Varney built thousands of Little Joe's.
Welcome from down here in a southern "Fly Over" state. From down here I doubt I can even wave as you go by.
Alan, in Oregon, Waldport, on the coast about halfway between the CA and WA borders. In NY, Little Falls, Mohawk Valley between Albany and Syracuse.
How far from Gearhart is Waldport? We're on east end of Long Island, NY in Southampton, a good distance from Mohawk Valley.
I think we are about 150 miles apart. I know it's about 90 to Garibaldi from Waldport, and I used to go there often to ride the Oregon Coast Scenic railroad.
150 miles isn't that far; drove through Garibaldi couple of weeks ago driving to Tillamook. We're heading back to NY Mar. 2nd but will be back next winter (plus a quick 2 week trip this summer); maybe we could hook up next winter.
