Were there any of the "famous" model railroads effected by the flooding?
Like Cat Mountain & Santa Fe?
As one who had a small flood in my train room a couple of years ago, water can be devastating to a layout.
In my case however, the layout was just in the bench work stage and most of the equipment was stored in plastic tubs (a great idea)
Let me know what you think.
Thanks
David Barrow, owner of the Cat Mountain & Santa Fe, lives in Austin, hot the Houston area. We haven't heard from any of our Texas contributors as having been affected, but if they were, they no doubt have better things to do right now than tell us.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
David Barrow's layout is on the second floor, on a room he created above his garage.
As a general rule, there are no basements in residential homes in Texas. Some commercial buildings have them. Most home layouts are in spare bedrooms, garages, or in purpose built buildings in back yards. I built a layout in our attic when I was in high school. Our unfinished, hot attic. My dad did put an air conditioning duct that helped, but I still had fun.
Hi,
I live in Spring, about 23 miles north of Houston. My RR - not famous by any means - is safe, as is the rest of the house.
We drove Cypresswood Drive this afternoon (from I-45 to 249), which runs about a block or so off of Cypress Creek, which went way over its banks - a good 10 plus feet in spots.
The devastation we saw was the worst I've ever seen, with literally miles of fine subdivisions and businesses flooded out. I am sure that a good number of layouts got lost.
And as bad as this was, the flooding along the I-10 corridor is much, much worse. Just talking about layouts, I'm certain an awful lot of them also got affected.
All said however, losing a layout is "nothing" compared to all the other damage.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
My house is only two feet above sea level, so flooding is a concern. I wish I was able to add a second floor, or an elevated outbuilding, to build the STRATTON & GILLETTE, but that is not an option.
.
Being constantly vulnerable to flooding is not a comfortable feeling.
As one who has lived through more than my share of hurricanes... my thoughts are with the people in Houston right now.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
To begin....my thoughts and prayers to all effected by Harvey. My layout is on the second floor of an oversized two car concrete block garage. When built 29 years ago the 3' wide meandering stream wandering through our neighborhood was not an issue, however over development, highway construction and drainage from two breached old coal mines has turned this into a 20' wide fast flowing creek. I have been through two major flood events....IVAN-2004 and flash flood-2010. Significant changes to the property have been made including concrete flood walls, glass block basement windows and ample supply of sandbags onsite. I've done all that I can to save my home, but nature will take it's course. Now retired, I spend many hours daily in the garage running and working on the railroad. My wife and I have decided to live here until flood or death do us part. With the approach of IRMA and tracking models showing a path through Western PA concern and anxiety levels are at a peak. This constant possibility of destruction by flood has definitely had an effect on my enjoyment of the hobby.....why bother..it can be destroyed with one storm. It's sad that one living in Western PA has to be concerned with a storm that developed off the coast of Africa. Best of luck to all on the East coast. Follow the progress of this storm at trackthetropics.com. Forewarned is forearmed!
mobilman44All said however, losing a layout is "nothing" compared to all the other damage.
I fully agree..In the great 2007 Bucyrus flood I lost over 3,000 railroad photos and around 400 slides dating back to the 50s.These can never be replace.The few BB and Roundhouse freight cars that disappeared(floated away more like) in a plastic tote was easily replace.
All my living room,dining room and kitchen furniture had to be replaced.
I was technically homeless even though I was staying with my son until I found a new apartment. I never want to repeat a flood experience.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
LION lives in North Dakota. 2200 feet above sea level. If we get flooded YOU are the ones ion trouble.
Layout of LION is on the third floor of the library building.
To bad my feet do not let me climb up those stairs anymore. But I will try again, after all, climbing stairs HAS to be good for my feet.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Living along the Jersey Shore, there is always the possibility of flooding, especially where there is no drainage, or if one lives on the barrier island. My lot is one of the highest in the subdivision, so flooding is less of an issue than wind and loss of power. We have been in this house for 31 years, and my layout is in the basement, and I have been fortunate that I have had no water incidents, so far.
I live in south east Texas 100 miles from the coast but we still got a lot of rain and flooding out here. We didn't have any problems but were kind of stuck in place for a few days due to high water around us. My poor sister had to evacuate her new house because of possible flooding. Thoughts and prayers to those that got flooded.
I lived in Scum City for 35 years and had to endure a lot of hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding and the tornadoes that follow all over the area. We were fairly lucky and only flooded once and had hurricane damage 3 times. This was the worst I have seen and I feel for all that had to suffer the floods, lack of power and all the miserable things that go along with the aftermath.
If you have never had that experience it's a very long and miserable process after the thing moves on.
There are a lot of very fine layouts in that area and some are at or near ground level. Many are on 2nd floors and probably safe. I haven't heard from anyone down there yet about layouts getting flooded or worse. I have heard from several friends who lost their homes and vehicles though. My best to all those down there.
oldline1
Marksrailroad, if I new how to private message I would, I don't think you are that far from us, so if you or your relatives need a place to stay, we have a couple spare rooms. Good luck
Bisif I new how to private message I would
Double Click on his name. Then click on Start a Conversation in the top right of the window that opens.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
My layout was spared as my house is one of the higher spots in Houston
I havent heard if Gil Frietgs "Stoney Creek and Western" has escaped the floods But it would qualify as famous
(Google it)
everyone here is a little busy
TerryinTexas
See my Web Site Here
http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/
Ironically the thing That stood between my house and floodwaters during Sandy was the Staten Island Railroad since its raised near my house the water stopped there.
Joe Staten Island West
I live next to a creek that normally flows slow and low.... but with this possible Irma path putting it through the Pittsburgh area, I'm nervous a bit. the duplex I'm renting is at least 20 feet above the creek, so if that floods were all in trouble. I'm nervous because we had a decent flooding event back in July.
mY thoughts and prayers are with Houston.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
I live 1000 ft. from the river. Got flooded 5 times in 27 years and. 4 from basic rain storms and once from Matthew. October 2015 was the worst. The end of the driveway the water was 37". Luckily my house and out buildings are on higher ground and off the ground. My train building got 6" of water in it. My layout is built with 2"x4"'s, I did notice after a few months the layout had a slight rise where the 2 x 4 legs were attached. Being it's on 1/2" plywood with a 1/2" of foam over the plywood, I just sanded the foam to make it level again...got lucky. I went through Hugo when i was in the Navy and was on the clean up team...no fun, my prayers and thoughts are with people and of Texas and LA.
This space reserved for SpaceMouse's future presidential candidacy advertisements
I was just at the All Points North MRR club in east Conroe on August 12. I'll be checking with them sometime this week when I have time. It would be a shame if they were hit, but judging by where they're located, I don't think that area was flooded.
Julian
Modeling Pre-WP merger UP (1974-81)