Hello everyone! I have been lurking & browsing this site for a while and decided to make it offical and join in. Allow me a few lines to properly introduce myself... I have been dabbling in N Scale for some 30 plus years. I have built a couple of layouts, a couple of small (less than 4' X 8'), one LARGE (approx. 12' X 18'). But, always ended up tearing them down. Just never been happy with any of my layout plans for some reason? I have just been very unsettled about the layout designs. Also, somehow, I never had the time, room, or the money to get DEEP into this hobby. But, I have saved my little collection over the years. They are stored, safely out in the garage! A couple of years ago, while dating my girlfriend (now, my lovely wife), she asked if I would set up a circle around the Christmas tree at my house. You know, to add to the holiday mood when she came to visit. (She really loves the Christmas time of year!) So, I laid a simple oval around the the bottom of the tree. I used the gifts for tunnels and such. When I knew she was headed over, I would set it up running before she walked through the door. She really liked it. Sometimes, we would just sit and watch it run. But after that Christmas, it came down, and went back in the box. I found I missed watching them run. Fast forward... Recently, my 4 year old grandson has been driving my youngest daughter crazy about trains. Mainly, Thomas the Tank Engine. She asked if I would someday, share my little trains with him? I haven't had it all out of the box in many years. A few weeks ago, my youngest daughter needed to have my grandson, KJ (Kyle Jr.) babysat on a Saturday afternoon. So, I grabbed my camera, my grandson, and headed out about the Kansas City area! He was really excited, a little scared by the loud noise at first, but love seeing the "real thing" roll along the tracks. Honestly, it was amazing to find out how many real facts he knows about trains, at 4 years old! We had a great time and will do it again. So, here I am, gettiing ready to start a 2-train layout, semi-perm/portable 4' X 8' layout, sometime after the holidays. (Permanent for the garage, yet "lite" enough to move into our basement (it can get cold here), or transport down to my daughter's place some 20 miles away.) It will not be very intricate, but fun to watch! I am using Bachmann EZ track, (having bought some for that Christmas time set up) with a few switches, and lots of track on a "lite" wood frame & a styrofoam top sheet. (I don't care if it's noisey.) It will be mostly terrain, with very small amount of buildings/houses, yards, sidings, or town scenery. Maybe a bridge or two, and/or trestle, deffinately a hill/mountain. I have already purchased RailModeller program for my Mac and am currently working on a few layout design ideas. (NOTE: I wish RailModeller would update their Bachmann track inventory!) I am NOT into "real" (point to point, scheduled, or timed) operations. I look forward to just watching them run, untouched for hours! With that said, thanks for having me aboard! Tred, Kansas City, Kansas
Hi Tred, Welcome to the TrainBoard, we're glad that you decided to climb aboard. Your concept sounds great. (I don't say "plan" because plans are too rigid, and most model rails are anything but rigid.) You're lucky to have a train-nut grandson nearby, and that your daughter "allows" KJ to spend time with you.
Welcome to TrainBoard! Your describing the Christams tree loop and the above line has me thinking back. I've a lot of wonderful memories of a train just looping around. I think many of us get too far away from that simple pleasure. Glad to know you've kept it.
Tred, welcome to Trainboard. Your story of taking your grandson railfanning reminds me of a similar occurrence of mine, several years ago. I took my little buddy to chase the UP 3985 in hopes of making him a steam fan. I still have the old video I was shooting, holding him in one arm and the camera in another and hearing his voice as another train came by, "Diesel, Grandpa, diesel." I think I lost him as a steam fan back then. Amazing, he's coming to visit us for Christmas, now 20 and in college. :happy:
Weel, it sounds like KJ will keep you in tune with what's really important - the sheer fun of it all! Good luck and welcome!
Welcome aboard and I'm sure you find your nit-ch for all of you. ANd this site has lots of food for thought to spur you along that route.
Welcome aboard, Tred. It's always good to see someone step out of the shadow of "lurk" and into the light of membership.
Hey Tred, Welcome to the whirl !!!! or whorl ??? not sure , at any rate don't forget we like photos and videos which gives you a chance to share!
Welcome to Trainboard. I too like the simple pleasure of watching trains go round and round. Kind of hypnotizing for a change. My daughter gave me a small tree where I can hang all my Hallmark ornaments that I have collected over the years. It was a natural progression to add trains around the base.
