Three suburban neighbors in Minneapolis, Minnesota have combined their HO layouts in a unique way, forming an expansive railroad empire that has many NMRA members voicing the familiar adage "Now why didn't we think of that?" George Sellers, John Aleck and Dave Fray have more than adjoining houses in common. All three are avid model railroaders. But it took years for George to convince John to re-enter the hobby. Constant invites to help run his basement layout didn't quite do the trick, but John's retirement finally spurred his decision to plunge ahead. Now two basements were off limits to the family cats, with John mimicking, and sometimes seriously improving upon, George's around-the-walls achievements in HO. That left good ol' Dave, who hadn't run a train since the old American Flyer set got packed away in his parents' attic. When his neighbors' enthusiasm became overwhelming, Dave broke down to inspect both layouts in a single evening. Being a computer programmer must have broken the proverbial camel's back. One hands-on session with George's DCC system later, and Dave was hooked like a spring trout on a new fly. They devoted one night a week to traintasking, alternating from basement to basement. When John suggested expanding operations to Tuesdays and Thursdays, George considered but Dave, still a breadwinner with two little girls, hemmed and hawed. None of three recalls who came up with the "idea", but its arrival over coffee after a train session on a cold winter's night knocked them out of their chairs. It was a simple inspiration, but one requiring a bit of physical labor in the form of pickaxing rock-hard ground and hammer-drilling six inch square holes through four basement walls. Why four? If the reader can guess that, there's no need to explain the rest! John's house sits between George's and Dave's and required two holes, one at each end of his basement. You guessed it! An added siding on each of the three layouts later (ah--two on John's of course),permanent connectivity was achieved in the form of insulated PVC connecting tunnels that now allow them to share engines, rolling stock and dispatching jobs (exchanged by smartphone). Closer communication is done by three walkie-talkies. During Minnesota winters when even a short walk to the house next door can be a royal pain in the fingers and toes, George, John and Dave now enjoy presiding over a triple-sized railroad empire without ever leaving their own basements. They have yet to set aside a little time, however, to discuss the eventual derailment in those "intercellar" spaces.
Cool story! I got what might be going on right away, as I read, and before I finished reading, I was wonder just how a derailed train could be retrieved.
Hopefully they had the forethought to use LOTS of Atlas re-railers, and the pipe is big enough to allow some options, such a camera car, light, and a retrievel device.
Can't wait to hear "the rest of the story" on derailment retrievel.
Mike.
My You Tube
Fun times! I do agree though, how to handle derailments will be a significant challenge, particularly if super detailed rolling stock/locomotives are used.
Neat story.
.
I guess they all agreed how high benchwork should be.
Too bad Albert Mackellan did not live in the same neighborhood.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
IDRickFun times!
I wonder about the time stamp on the orginal post.
Dave
OK, I see what your saying, jokes on me! Well, anyway, it could work, and wouldn't be that hard to do, IF your in sandy soil like where I am at.
Somebody always has to ruin a good story.
Pictures or I call shens!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
davidmurray IDRick Fun times! I wonder about the time stamp on the orginal post. Dave
IDRick Fun times!
The names sound suspicious, too.
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
Good one Mister Mikado, You had me convinced until I finished and thought about how unlikly this is. Great joke!
Harrison
Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.
Modeling the D&H in 1978.
Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"
My YouTube
I seem to recall something similar in the past - the way past, before DCC. This was kind of an updated version.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
That's it, Mr. M's going to have to write the April fools thing for MR from now on!
I have to admit, it had me going right to the end. I fell first! Oh well, all in fun.
I probably would have hung on to this, right up to where they all get together to use weathering pods.
BUT. My niece and her family live in a small development in NW Minneapolis, houses and the development look they were built right after the war, just about all the same, and it can't be more than 10' from one basement wall to the neighbors wall.
Mike, the fool
Thanks Mike! I would love to write the April Fool articles for MR, that was quite a compliment! OK everyone, now I can reveal my post's history. This was an article I actually submitted to MR awhile back for the April issue but they rejected it. So posting it here for you all was the next best thing. Almost as many readers will set eyes on it.
And yup, those three names on the first line should have tipped you all off! Now who can guess which three notable model railroaders I parodied?
LOL, oops got me as well! Ahhh, I'm originally from Minnesota so yeah, Minnesota Nice and a few beers, yeah, they could do it!
I actually could see this scenario happening in thr attached housing I grew up in. (Queens NY).
Joe Staten Island West
This sounded great to me, and I was actually wishing there were pictures.
York1 John
Mister Mikado Thanks Mike! I would love to write the April Fool articles for MR, that was quite a compliment! OK everyone, now I can reveal my post's history. This was an article I actually submitted to MR awhile back for the April issue but they rejected it. So posting it here for you all was the next best thing. Almost as many readers will set eyes on it. And yup, those three names on the first line should have tipped you all off! Now who can guess which three notable model railroaders I parodied?
George Sellios, John Allen, and Dave Frary are my guesses.
I don't know much about the names, The Dave Frey, I think I have a scenery book by him, but I don't know the Gods from the past of MRR, never paid attention.
rrinker And yup, those three names on the first line should have tipped you all off! Now who can guess which three notable model railroaders I parodied? George Sellios, John Allen, and Dave Frary are my guesses. --Randy
Randy, you got them all correct. Kudos! -Rob
Bravo! What a great joke. If only it was true.