I’m a new member. Forty years ago I had an HO layout with dual cab block control. Fast forward 20 years and I’m in a CVS and bought a plastic toy train that ran off an AA battery and pulled a couple of cars around a plastic track the size of a dinner plate. Cost me 99 cents. That sat under the tree for decades. Over the years various cats destroyed some of the rolling stock until this year the surviving engine and caboose just gave up. She Who Must Be Obeyed said “We need to get another train!” and pointed me to some toy variant on Amazon. Something in me rebelled, though. Inspired by a recent trip to Santa Fe I bought a Bachmann HO ATSF sectional track set. With which SWMBO fell in love. And asked me “Can we make it bigger?” So, looking around the house... thinking about that old layout...realizing we are a few years away from retirement and a likely move...and suspecting the hobby might have moved on a bit... I am now working on an N scale bookshelf layout based on the New York Central Highland Terminal I found on line. DCC with an NCE Powercab and an Atlas Gold Conrail SD-35. The first attempt with Atlas turnouts had too many dead spots so some Peco’s are arriving tomorrow. The location is roughly based on the Cordage Park in Plymouth, MA during the mid-1980’s. There was a turn there in the wee hours a few days a week that would switch four or five cars. My version will be a little busier but not far off reality. She Who Must Be Obeyed has pointed out that she, in fact, asked for it to be “bigger” and this appears to be going in the direction of smaller. I am now in the position of having promised a larger layout at some future point. And wondering why it took so long to realize SWMBO was a railfan. In the meantime I am learning a lot, catching up on what’s new, watching YouTube videos and such. I’ve been looking at different rail forums and settled on this one. Currently we are near Hattiesburg MS where we see lots of NS, CN and UP motive power. I’m on the Gulf Coast weekly where I see lots of CSX and UP as well. That’s about it. I’ll post some progress reports and photos as time permits. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Welcome aboard, chandlerusm, you have picked a great subject to model, not that I am prejudiced at all.
Hi Chandler USM, Welcome. Note that I separated Chandler from USM, and with reason. I'm about 50 miles south of you in Saucier and sent money to that wonderful institution. Any time you're on the Coast please come to the Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum any time Tuesday through Saturday, 12-5. I have responsibility for the N Scale exhibits. On the flip side, we also have Z, HO, O, G, and 7-1/2" ride around. Ask for Hank. Looking forward to meeting you.
Don't think of these as being two different things. Design your shelf switcher from the start to be the line, or part of the line, that connects two endpoints and/or end loops to be built later. And don't tell SWMBO. Surprise her.
