Hello TrainBoard members... I am planning on getting a Z-Scale layout or two together in the next year or so and wanted to get back on track (dodge-a-pun!) so I read on a few sites around the net for the last week or so, and this site seemed like an active site with minimal drama... so here I am. (For the short version of this post, skip to ***) Quick History... My father got me an HO scale train set when I was 8 and helped me get a large layout started. We were running three trains, plus a switch yard. At 11 I saw my first Z scale and was amazed... the size was CRAZY, until I saw the inversely proportional pricing. We were pretty poor, so Z would never happen for me in my mind. In perspective, my idea or pricing was based on Bachmann, Atlas, and Tyco in the late 70,s, so Z seemed unimaginable for me at the time. I continued working with my HO train layout into my teen years. It had to be taken up to re-work the building it was in however... and never made it back down. I still have it all however. Each engine is bagged and padded and boxed. However... I could never get Z out of my head as I have a love of miniatures. (In my 30's I even tried an Industrial Miniatures business for three years. I should have known it was too fun to make a living doing that!) I did buy the Life-Like "Little Joe" N-Scale set at some point, but never got into N. (I have the 0-6-0 and rolling stock displayed to this day however.) Then I got a better job... so about 15 years after my first exposure to Z, I decided to start buying pieces of Z from mixed sources the internet, Walthers, and a few others. Living in central Mississippi, there was no retail stores with z-scale available to speak of, although I did drive a couple of hours more than once just to see the dozen or so pieces of Z a small shop had. Even on the internet there was a pretty limited supply and was still relatively expensive at the time, but it was what I wanted and that is priceless to me. So here I am with a "box" of Z I get out and look at a few times a year. For many reasons that most understand, I have never done a layout as I seem to have too many other hobbies and responsibilities. The Z-Scale time slice is pretty thin... but I will do it eventually. Because the first train set I had, more than 30 years ago, had a GP(3X?) Burlington Northern engine, I chose that as one of early acquisitions in Z. I was pretty unhappy to learn F7's were about it for American Diesel Electrics at the time. Eventually I learned about a company that DID do a GP30-something and I did acquire a BN GP(38 I think... Rogue) as well as a Southern Pacific I plan on repainting to an ICG like I saw constantly near where I live as a younger child. I can't wait to get some track under these 'memory trains'. (I think I have had them for more than 10 years, but I have never given up this dream!) I have a few Marklin American and German Diesel and Steam and some mixed rolling stock to make the trains I want/planned over the years. I have gathered up a dozen or so buildings and various scenery as well. Because I mix American and Foreign trains to my visual preference, I promise to post ample warning before posting any images of this to avoid giving "rivet counters" and other painfully knowledgeable train professionals any stress problems. (just kidding, but I do mix my trains...) *** I don't know that I would have much to offer to others here as I am not a hard core train buff, real or model, but I will offer my 2 cents when I can. My parents and myself had enough interest in trains to have toured the Spirit of 76, Freedom Train and I did ride on the Norfolk and Western J series 611's last public run also. I also have a collection of books on trains, even some operators guides and spec sets. A couple of my relatives were involved with railroads in Virginia, although I have no detailed knowledge of this as I never met any of them. That is enough for one post hu? Just reading here for knowledge and inspiration to support the drive to get a layout or two done. See you around... MrBlackCat
