My First Attempt - With all your help

[Anonymous]

Well I would like to thank all of you for your insights. I am very new to this hobby and have started my first layout. This is a link to my pics of this start.

http://community.webshots.com/user/bowser7of9

This will be a small layout to be displayed at Christmas time in the living room, yes my wife is in on the plan. There is no benchwork as it will be on the floor. The layout is on 2" foam, and being in a small town I only had 2X8 available. The layout is broken into two pieces (4X4) to make possible to work in the basement and be able to bring it to living room in December. Sharp turn from basement makes it impossible to do it any other way.

I only have one Loco, from a set, and few items of rolling stock but that seems to be a part of this hobby that will obsorb a lot of my cash. Love all the trains.

I have been reading this forum for a little while and you have all been a great help and I plan on spending a great deal of time here. I will post more pics when I do some more work. Next is some spending on scenery and structures...spend spend spend...hee hee.

Bowser[bow]

[Anonymous]

Bowser, welcome to the world's most fun hobby! Your track plan looks great for an around the tree display. You don't say how old you are, but it doesn't matter. If you're a young guy, with children, you might have to progress slowly unless you have a high income job. Looks like you're keeping your layout simple and just for fun, so you should get a lot of satisfaction out of it. You can find something you like. Read all the books and magazines for more on buildings, scenery, trains, etc. It's all great. If your wife ever objects, tell her a $10 greens fee for golf is gone in one day. A $100 model locomotive lasts a lot longer than ten rounds of golf, with the same kind of satisfaction. Besides, if you're a dedicated model railroader, she'll always know where you are on Saturday nights, and she'll know what to get you for your birthday and holiday gifts. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the encouragement Geo.

Actually I'm 42 and just starting out at this. I know it may not look like much now but I have a vision, don't we all.

As for golf, that's also a passion...however I have a very understanding lady in my life...she would have to be.

Thanks again to all of you, this is great place for a bigginer to get some advise and instruction. Once this layout is ready for display at Christmas I plan on building a more 'operational' layout with sidings and yards, time will tell.

Bowser