If I had extra money, I would. . .

[Anonymous]

Captain Carrales: I have 1 grandson who maybe would help me. My 4 sons & 1 daughter have all said no.

I probably should have given more info about my health problems in my 1st post.

From February, 1997 to August, 2001, I had surgery 6 times; both hands, both arms
and twice on my spine. I'm pushing 69 years. I can't rely on my grandson to help
when I need him. I was 15 a long time ago & I kinda remember how I felt when some girl crooked her index finger my way.

If my health improves in the next 2 years as it did this past year, I will consider some
klnd of outdoor railway. It won't be 300 feet long. More like 80 or 90 feet point to point set in the midwest [(where I reside) (Ohio)] and will follow the natural slopes of my
lawn. The only plants will be natural grass & weeds and there won't be a creek.
Durn it!!!!!!!! I'll cut my own ties, build 6 foot sections of track and fabricate the switches. Thanx for the post & willingness to help me find a way.

The Big 4 Route of the NYC RR ran through my hometown a long time ago. There
wasn't much passenger traffic so the NYC operated a Doodlebug for passeengers
and local freight.. A local market ordered a barrell of salted fish every week. This
fish was delivered by the Doodlebug, only it wasn't called a Doodlebug. It was
called the Fishwagon by all the local people.
fishwagon

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jimalich1

Put my time in with the idea of living to work. Now it's time to work to live. Would love to get about 10% of what the typical thieving CEO makes and retire. Life is to short. Been thru an MI and Bypass-want time to have fun and enjoy life. Work just ain't where it's at. Retiring to a reasonable place to live, sharing my time with a wonderful woman, and building my dream RR is where I want to be and feel great about it.

Please, (sob)...don't say things I cannot have...(wimper)...I can't retire until 2036!

[Anonymous]

Put my time in with the idea of living to work. Now it's time to work to live. Would love to get about 10% of what the typical thieving CEO makes and retire. Life is to short. Been thru an MI and Bypass-want time to have fun and enjoy life. Work just ain't where it's at. Retiring to a reasonable place to live, sharing my time with a wonderful woman, and building my dream RR is where I want to be and feel great about it.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fishwagon

I wish, wish, wish I didn't have $10,000 worth of titanium braces in my spine.

I have space for 300-375 feet of track. I'm retired. I know basic electricity.
I have 2 radial arm saws to cut my own ties & scale lumber. I have a mapp gas
welder & a 225amp electric welder, all kinds of hand tools, a small metal cutting lathe w/milling attachment, indicators, mics and a bunch of other goodies & I know how to use all of it.
I was a machinist for 28 years. I know how to survey & solve drainage problems & I am a 54 year HO model railroader.

I can do damn near everything concerning building a garden railroad except
bend over, stand on my feet more than 5 minutes, squat, get on my knees,
push a wheelbarrow & other things. So I make do with designing & building
a 14'8" X 18'8" indoor layout when my back allows it.

If I had umpteen million dollars, I'd find a surgeon who could/would fix my spine.

Then, gentlemen, I would build one hell of a garden railway.
fishwagon

You don't have a son, grandson or nephew who can serve as an assistant?

[Anonymous]

I wish, wish, wish I didn't have $10,000 worth of titanium braces in my spine.

I have space for 300-375 feet of track. I'm retired. I know basic electricity.
I have 2 radial arm saws to cut my own ties & scale lumber. I have a mapp gas
welder & a 225amp electric welder, all kinds of hand tools, a small metal cutting lathe w/milling attachment, indicators, mics and a bunch of other goodies & I know how to use all of it.
I was a machinist for 28 years. I know how to survey & solve drainage problems & I am a 54 year HO model railroader.

I can do damn near everything concerning building a garden railroad except
bend over, stand on my feet more than 5 minutes, squat, get on my knees,
push a wheelbarrow & other things. So I make do with designing & building
a 14'8" X 18'8" indoor layout when my back allows it.

If I had umpteen million dollars, I'd find a surgeon who could/would fix my spine.

Then, gentlemen, I would build one hell of a garden railway.
fishwagon

[Anonymous]

I may be forced into early retirement if my job goes offshore. Then I will have more time to work on my roads, but not the money to obtain the materials to expand to graden line.....

[whiterab]

"Quit my job and work on my railroad"

I just did that! It's called RETIREMENT[8D]

[smcgill]

You should of had included ALL OF THE ABOVE!!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor


I run all European trains but i would love a big colourful American Mogul complete with cow catcher and huge smokestack and well lit carriages to go with it.

I have read that Australian railroading was very much like those of the American West and South Texas. What is your opinion?

I prefer American Railroads for modeling, they seem more adpated to the frontier. I often wonder what it must have been like for an engineer to ride the rails on the Union Pacific in the days when Indian attacks were a reality or what like was like on the Texas Mexican Railway going from what my friends call "nowhere" to "nowhere special."

I have a question of semantics as that you are from another former British Colony. (Well, actually I am from a former Spanish Colony taken over by former Mexican Colony which was inturn taken over by that former British Colony- [:p]) Labour vs Labor, Colour vs Color; why do you suppost that is? Noah Webster maybe?

Your American friend and fellow train fanatic.

[Anonymous]

but seriously though there is a three cylinder live steam shay out there with my name on it.... that and a live steam big boy... but then i would need wider radii, whatever would i do... [:D]

[Anonymous]

Well I am already retired and I live in one of the best places on the planet, Kawana Island, Sunshine Coast, Qld, Aus. My house is to die for, 300 sq M of elegant tropical island living. So I am not going to move easily but my big problem is i don't haver any front yard and hardly any back yard; instead I have a series of courtyards, all added up and connected up it can house a pretty decent if trunkated garden railway.

So if i had a hellava lot more money and I didn't spend all of it on international travel which i love (just back from Bali), I would employ some labour and really do some lanscaping. I live near the fabulous Glasshouse Mountains and I know a person that makes just great mountains out of ferro cement. So I would do a lot more of that. Also I would get much more automated with more electronics on my LGB MTS and run the whole thing with a computer. I am particarly interested in getting location and proximity infromation back from the railway itself.

Rgds Ian; Kawana Island Tropical Railway.

I am in to passenger trains and they are very expensive but come into their own during night runs I would like to make a few of my trains longer and get some more classy trains; few in number but very classy with all the bells and whistles.

I run all European trains but i would love a big colourful American Mogul complete with cow catcher and huge smokestack and well lit carriages to go with it.

[Anonymous]

I like the ride-on idea; tried it once about 20 yrs ago. Found out that I didn't have the funds, tools or the talent for this big stuff. The only thing I had going for me was two and a half acres of forested land. I did manage to build about 250' of track and two push cars for the kids.
With plenty of cash I would buy locos and cars ready to go and hire people to build the railroad; I'm getting to old for that much heavy construction.

OLD Decrepit DAD

[Anonymous]

Bman, I have an acre, 30 x 40 garage and an attached one and my wife has parked outside since 1998[:-^]. other than the repaint I have every thing to finish it.
I NEED PLAY TIME! been working 10 and 12 hour days. Trying to build my company's capital as well as my personal after a slow past year.

[bman36]

Hi guys,
Matt...stop working on the cars and get at that layout ***GRIN***. Rene, you never said how much extra money! I only need a hundred grand to buy the five acres I want. Yes it's a nice piece of land. Pricey...but nice. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

How 'bout "...fini***he dag-nab layout!..." Vsmith

I would just like to start!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

retire.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Teran5

Well, how about the option that isn't up there, buying the full cize counterparts? That's what I would do, just play with the big steam engines all day long. Just a quick thought...

Come on man be realistic, the pure paperwork with the ICC has been the only thing stopping me from doing that that! [:D] [4:-)]

[Anonymous]

Well, how about the option that isn't up there, buying the full cize counterparts? That's what I would do, just play with the big steam engines all day long. Just a quick thought...

[Anonymous]

hi
JUST RETIRED AND BOUGHT TWO ACRES SO THIS ELIMINATES ALL BUT ONE
FINISH LAYING MY 750 FT OF TRACK THEN GET MORE ROLLING STOCK

[vsmith]

How 'bout "...fini***he dag-nab layout!..."

[Anonymous]

I am pleased to see that most people who post here are persons of character who strayed from the poll choice that said “Quit my job and work on my railroad.” We all seem to be of the thought that one should earn a living. The only way that I would entertain that thought is if I won the Texas Lotto. I shan’t be greedy and wish for the 10 million dollar jack pot. In Texas we have this lottery game called “Weekly Grand,” a person has a chance to win $1000 every week for 20 years. That would be the perfect amount for building and maintaining a substantial G scale railroad.

[pmsteamman]

I would build my dream house and build a live steam (1/8) railroad. I would more than likely expand my roster also

[Anonymous]

Hi
Thats an easy one buy a second live steam locomotive
Expanding rolling stock will happen in due course any way as funding will be found for that.as will library expansion.
Dont need the neibours land I havn't filled the space I have yet and I don't see that happening in a hurry as the garden and railway are being done together the back yerd looks like waste ground in a city exept where the railway is.
progress on the railway is also progress on the garden must pullout and move the plants that where a mistake on the weekend.
regards John

[Anonymous]

Rene,

I like your idea! If I had the funds, I would buy the neighbor(s) houses, except I would have a ride on railroad with the extra land.

George

[Rene Schweitzer]

Or, perhaps buy your neighbor's house and expand your current line. [:D]