Well. Ive been thinking a bit about the layout, and havent touched it in months. I got an idea last night though. Im kinda at a roadblock scenery wise, and although I like my layout and have a lot put into it, the more I think about it, its not much more than a big circle, and when done probably wont leave much operating intrest, I have a very tight corner that all my 6 axle diesels have issues with, and other things as well. Id love a littel extra space in the basement as well. I dont want to be done or anything, but Im thinking of scrapping the layout and rebuilding something different. Something smaller, and more operational intreset. When I eventually move out I have MUCH bigger plans for a massive shelf style DMIR layout.

Ive been scouring around some trackplans, and the redrock northern comes to mind. Ive always likes this, and although it wouldnt be much along the lines of anything DMIR related, I could try and incorperate some DMIR to it, or just build it pretty similarly, since it looks pretty fun to operate.

What do you guys think of this layout?
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Lastly, anybody ever find a good way to keep balast since I have alot of that layed and dont want to toss it all out?

to all the "Canadian content" at Big Blue!

Andrew

:cry: Where has the time gone? it has been 3 years today when my boy went to be with the lord. as most of the older members here remember my son. i cant see 3 years form that day. his locos will make his run today as his video plays and when video is done his locos will retire to his spot on the shelf . this 4-8-4 big boy and the set of gp 38 -2 only see the rails once a year. they are the only locos that go to keegen's pass on the layout nothing else heads that way. it sits their waiting for these locos. this will be the last run to keegen's pass as i am going to remove it after this run this eve. and turn it to a new yard. that may be one thing keeping me from finshing .


well guys i thought i would share this with the older guys here that where their with me here is something that i have been reading the past 3 years.

here is the poem i had wrote to help with caring for my boy keegen this was also read by me at his service. :cry:

I AM THE CHILD



I am the child who cannot talk.
You often pity me, I see it in your eyes.
You wonder how much I am aware of -- I see that as well.
I am aware of much, whether you are happy or sad or fearful,
patient or impatient, full of love and desire,
or if you are just doing your duty by me.
I marvel at your frustration, knowing mine to be far greater,
for I cannot express myself or my needs as you do.

You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete it is at times.
I do not gift you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and repeated.
I do not give you answers to your everyday questions,
responses over my well-being, sharing my needs,
or comments about the world about me.

I do not give you rewards as defined by the world's standards -- great strides in
development that you can credit yourself;
I do not give you understanding as you know it.
What I give you is so much more valuable -- I give you instead opportunities.
Opportunities to discover the depth of your character, not mine;
the depth of your love, your commitment, your patience, your abilities;
the opportunity to explore your spirit more deeply than you imagined possible.
I drive you further than you would ever go on your own, working harder,
seeking answers to your many questions with no answers.
I am the child who cannot talk.

I am the child who cannot walk.
The world seems to pass me by.
You see the longing in my eyes to get out of this chair, to run and play like other children.
There is much you take for granted.
I want the toys on the shelf, I need to go to the bathroom, oh I've dropped my fork again.
I am dependent on you in these ways.
My gift to you is to make you more aware of your great fortune,
your healthy back and legs, your ability to do for yourself.
Sometimes people appear not to notice me; I always notice them.
I feel not so much envy as desire, desire to stand upright,
to put one foot in front of the other, to be independent.
I give you awareness.
I am the child who cannot walk.

I am the child who is mentally impaired.
I don't learn easily, if you judge me by the world's measuring stick,
what I do know is infinite joy in simple things.
I am not burdened as you are with the strife's and conflicts of a more complicated life.
My gift to you is to grant you the freedom to enjoy things as a child,
to teach you how much your arms around me mean, to give you love.
I give you the gift of simplicity.
I am the child who is mentally impaired.
I am the disabled child.
I am your teacher. If you allow me,
I will teach you what is really important in life.
I will give you and teach you unconditional love.
I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you.
I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted.
I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams.
I teach you giving.
Most of all I teach you hope and faith.
I am the disabled child.

Now that I am entering the final stages of my layout construction,I thought it might be a good idea if I asked the forum members their thoughts on using people on their layouts. This is one element that I never gave much thought. Do they tend to add or detract from a scene? If for example their is a scene at a freight platform and there are people but no trucks or freight cars, does having people in the scene make any sense or not?
I'd be interested in hearing your views.
Bob

Well, almost. The train had left the yard ten minutes ago, and I was at the furthest point from the yard testing the track work. All was fine and then there was a short somewhere. Before I could find it I smelled smoke The short was in the yard and I found this No idea why. Sorry for the blurry pic, cheap camera.
Guarantee you I am buying another fire extinguisher!

Loren

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I was trying to remember the longest i have gone without doing much railroad modeling. I have built model trains ever since I was a kid, but have taken a few "breaks" in which I didn't do much. The longest I can remember is about 3-4 years. During that break, I don't remember building any models, going to any shows or swap meets, not visiting a hobby shop, or reading any magazines. Back then, the internet was young and groups like this one weren't as numerous, and did not include photos because digital photography was in its infancy, and we were all on dial-up. I give credit to sites like this and the ability to share as well as learn for keeping me interested.

So what about you? Since the time you first started modeling trains, what has been the longest "break" you had? I am talking about a true hiatus - armchair modeling I still consider being active. Does the "break" between a childhood train-set and adult modeling count? You tell me...

I'm in need of 6 or 7 switches just to finish my mainline on my layout... but I've run into a slight snag associated with that...

last time I bought turnouts Peco's were $21 Canadian each, unpowered Atlas ones were $15 Canadian... today that has gone up to $27 for Peco and $24 for Atlas. Thats pretty absurd considering the last time I bought turnouts was only 3 months ago!

Atlas switches...well I've found that most of my rolling stock and motive power like to pick the frogs and give me that SVDA light on my MRC handheld signaling a short circuit...

So Peco it is... but, there has to be a cheaper place to find these... any help?