TPBO

[FCIN]

Ed,Its refreshing to see prototypical switching layouts instead of a glorified "time saver" or a"Inglenook puzzle".

I'm with you Larry! It has been very refreshing for me as a former railroader to see how the hobby is now going more toward prototypical layout designs and operations. Maybe I'm weird, but I always thought that was the purpose of "modeling" a railroad. Even as a kid with that Lionel layout, I did the best I could to duplicate what I saw almost daily on the real thing and find out why and how things work on the "real" thing. I was a regular fixture at the Southern Ry yard in Danville, KY and all the railroad men knew me and were always willing to take the time to explain something to me.

I'll probably get chewed out by someone over these next statements, but I get really frustrated when I hear someone say they are going to build the Timesaver as an operating layout. Even in a small space, you can come up with something far more prototypical. Anyone considering the Timesave should read this article: http://www.housatonicrr.com/timesaver.htm

It also frustrates me when I look at all the web sites where folks post numerous track plans and I see switch-back track arrangements that can't be worked or built in puzzle's that are supposed to "increase operation" when simply duplicating prototype operations is all the "increased operation" you need. Here's another good read: http://www.layoutvision.com/id16.html

Jack Hill's O scale switching layout http://oscalewcor.blogspot.com/ is a great example of a neat little prototypical operation, and were I confined to a very small space (an apartment for example) I'd sure consider doing something like that in N scale. I guess his plan in N scale would fit in a 6 or 8 in deep by 4 or 5 ft wide space? I'm still considering something along the same theme myself, but with a couple more industries. Justin really did a nice plan based on Jack's work. And I must say that I'm proud to see young people like Justin who are really into prototypical operation and layout design.

Everybody - don't get me wrong - if building a model railroad layout that lets you run trains continuously is your thing - or you just want a switching puzzle/game - then that's great. The two or three model railroaders that I've run into around my town, are strictly in to the round and round type layouts and aren't the least bit interested in prototype operations. As one of them puts it: "I just like to watch trains run!" - yet that same person isn't interested in going with me to watch and photograph the real thing. To each his own.