Hi, I have been a member for a couple of weeks or so and was really starting to get into the forum when it went down. Arrrgggg. I work in a data center and understand these things. Glad to see it is back up. I had some train sets as a kid and then bought myself a Christmas present when I was in the Navy and could not go home. I bought a good ole Tyco brown box train in the 70's. The hobby never did tackle me, and even though I enjoyed the trains I never was serious with the hobby. As I near retirement I have started thinking about model trains again. Two Christmases ago the train came out and ran around the tree. About June, I ordered a model train magazine subscription; the wheels began turning. Last Christmas the train was setup again, and by the end of January I was bitten big time. Being the good computer geek that I am, I obtained some track planning software and started making track plans, and more track plans, and still more track plans. I am not planning to model anything specifically. At this point I am just interested in getting a train running and seeing where it takes me. About 3 months ago I decided on a 4x8 HO layout. I purchased lumber and began building a table while still working on a final track design. In May the design was chosen and I started buying track in anticipation of finishing the table. Tonight did the final checks on the bus wiring and only found 1 reversed connection in one of the terminal strips. Now I am ready to put the plywood sheets on the table and begin laying track. I think Saturday July the 4th is a good day to start. Oh, I almost forgot. Yesterday, I started revising the "final" track layout. I am starting to realize that the track design will NEVER be done, even when I have finished laying track. Rich Young
Welcome aboard, Rich. I think one of the great things about the hobby is nothing is ever "done," there can always be tweaks and adjustments just like on the real thing. And yeah, July 4 would be a great day to have for your railroad's "birthday."
Hi Rich, Welcome. Please understand one thing, "Finish" is a dirty word that does NOT exist in a model railroader's vocabulary. I'm on my sixth or seventh layout since 1947, and although it's the farthest I've ever come with development, I accept that it will NEVER be "Finished". In the meantime just have a blast designing, tweaking, changing, creating, and all other fun stuff like running trains.
Thanks for the welcome. Oh, I have been enjoying the "tweaking, changing, creating, and all other fun stuff". I plan to retire at the end of 2016. Of course that decision was made before I dove into the deep end of model railroading, and now I don't know if I can last until then. I am ready! Right now I am adjusting my track to see if I can model one curve of the ET&WNC sheer drop in the Dove River Gorge. I picked right up on the Boston and Maine logo on your post. Before Delaware, I live on Cape Cod and in Plymouth for almost 20 years.
Argh. Sorry about the site going down and the timing of your joining. The old site software had simply become intolerable and had to be changed. Anyhow, welcome To TrainBoard! You wrote "I am not planning to model anything specifically. At this point I am just interested in getting a train running and seeing where it takes me." This hobby is all about people being happy. If this choice does it for you, excellent! Just have fun.
Welcome Rich. I only spent four years in Delaware, at Dover, but I liked it. Are you going to stay after retirement? Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk
