What a surprise!! My now gone layout is in May CTT!!

[Anonymous]

I finished demolishing my layout ("The Practice Layout") last weekend as part of preparing our house to go on the market in early May. It was very hard to destroy a 12 year labor of love.

Imagine my surprise when I found that the layout will be featured in the May CTT. The news really lifted my spirits - what a memorial!

I am deeply honored that the CTT staff included it in their great amgazine. THANKS CTT!

Wow! Can't wait to get my copy.
Pete NoVA

[Big_Boy_4005]

Pete, I know that feeling all too well, since shortly after appearing in CTT my layout met an untimely end as well. Of course it's demise had nothing to do with appearing in the magazine. I too am grateful that mine was preserved in the pages of the of both CTT and MR so that it could be remembered, and look forward to seeing your's![8D]

Oh, and welcome to the forum! [#welcome]

[pennsy_fan]

Big Boy 4005,
what issue was your layout featured in?
Id like to see it.

[pennsy_fan]

Oh yeah, almost forgot[#oops]
Welcome PeteNova..........glad to have you aboard.[:D]

[Anonymous]

Pete, congrats! your "practice" layout was nicer than I expect my second or third practice one will be. You are required to post pics of your "for real" layout as it progresses ;)

[Big_Boy_4005]

Pennsy_fan September 93 CTT and October 93 MR. The CTT article is bigger, and the MR version is only slightly different. You may have my layout in your video collection and not even know it. Tom McComas' Great Toy Train Layouts Part VI.

[NYC Fan]

Elliot,
Was your layout the Entertrainment layout at Mall of America? That was a tremendous layout!

Skip

[FJ and G]

Pete's layout is in May04 CTT. It is 8 pages long and also has the cover. It is esp. interesting because it combines the hi-rail aspect with semi-scale and plasticville items in a very tasteful and aesthetic mix. Since this is Pete's "Practice Layout," one can only imagine what his "real" layout will look like once it is completed.

David Vergun

[Big_Boy_4005]

Yup Skip, that's me! THANKS!!

[swg]

[Anonymous]

Pete and Elliot,

A surprising number of layouts featured in CTT in recent years no longer exist. Besides moving, many hobbyists find that the journey (actually building the layout) was more fun than the destination (having a completed layout).

Neil Besougloff
editor, CTT

[Anonymous]

Neil,
You are absolutely on target - the journey was where it was at. I'll miss "The Practice Layout" but can't wait to start on the Williamsburg layout - hopefully this time next year.

BTW, my wife is a journalist and former magazine editor. She opened the advance copy you sent (I am TDY) and called me last night -- just to tell me how impressed she was with the way your staff laid out the article! Strong praise from a real taskmaster! Your crew desrves an attaboy/girl!

I stopped by the Train Station in Mountain Lakes, NJ this afternoon and Doug Waller let me skim thru his advance copy - Thanks to all of you for creating this lasting memorial!
Pete

[Anonymous]

Pete. Sorry to hear that your layout is gone. Photos and magazine articles offer good memories of ones work.
As the model railroad generation ages, it will probably mean that more and more of us will relocate to areas where affordable retirement can be had. I am building my layout using a "break-a-way" design so that when it comes time for us to relocate it can be transported to a new home. Perhaps when I make my exit one of my two boys will show an interest but so far they have not. I sometimes wonder where all the great layouts of today will end up.

[Anonymous]

Congratulations on your layout appearing in May CTT. I think there is a good lesson to be learned here regarding layout building and that is when constructing a large layout consider that some day you, or others
may have the responsibility of tearing the layout down. So build it with that in mind.

[ChiefEagles]

Neil, I like building, track laying, buildings and then the scenery goes slow. Why? I love to pay with my trains. Use to spend hours loading barrels, coal, sawing lumber and all the other. All this while a long CN grain train made the main line busy. I'm just an old kid. [8D] Can't wait to get my new layout built. Just need to get some other projects done [wife wants done, get my drift?]. Weather is getting better and got to slip some fishing in there too.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Neil, while part of every layout is the journey of it's creation, mine was also a business. This is where I got a lot of the experience that I share with the people here online. While it is always sad losing a home layout, my loss was a financial disaster as well. It was also a loss to train lovers and the general public, as during the slightly over a year that it was open there were over 100,000 paid visits.