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I'm not dead yet

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  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
I'm not dead yet
Posted by SpaceMouse on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 7:11 PM

I know I've not posted in a while since I told you all I had Cancer. Well after 3 years of Chemo and a couple of operations. I'm back in my garage building the Rock Ridge layout. 

What surprizing is how difficult it is to find 1890's locomotives anywhere and most of that like say on eBay cost as much as new stuff--as if anyone is making anything. It's almost like I have to create a sub-hobby for layout aquisitions. 

  

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Westford MA
  • 560 posts
Posted by Tophias on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 7:16 PM

Chip, so glad you're back. It sounds like you had quite an ordeal but good to see you're back at your layout.

Regards, Chris 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 7:21 PM

Good to see you back Chip. Don't forget to post photos.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: California
  • 2,388 posts
Posted by HO-Velo on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 7:28 PM

Hey Chip,  That is good news, guessin your last post was after your trip to Ft. Bragg?  Can't say I haven't wondered about ya from time to time, like maybe you ran out of water in the desert while birdin or somethin   welcome back,  regards, Peter

 

  • Member since
    February 2021
  • 1,110 posts
Posted by crossthedog on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 7:58 PM

Hi Chip. Glad you're back, and I wish continued good/better health to you.

I keep waiting to hear similar good news from Doc Wayne, but he has not piped up here nor on another forum I frequent.

-Matt

Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,642 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 8:17 PM

Chip, Welcome Back!

Much respect to you and so glad that you've pulled through and are moving ahead.

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 129 posts
Posted by Canalligators on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 8:54 PM

Three years - bless you.  I went from noticing symptoms to surgery, through radiation and a clear scan, over a period of only 7 months.

I resurrected my railroad hobby during the toughest part of radiation therapy and recovery.  What I really needed was a distraction, and my hobby was wonderful for that.

Best of luck to you.

Genesee Terminal, freelanced HO in Upstate NY
  ...hosting Loon Bay Transit Authority and CSX Intermodal.  Interchange with CSX (CR)(NYC).

CP/D&H, N scale, somewhere on the Canadian Shield

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 9:28 PM

crossthedog
I keep waiting to hear similar good news from Doc Wayne, but he has not piped up here nor on another forum I frequent.

Aw man! I liked Doc Wayne.

 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 9:32 PM

Canalligators
I resurrected my railroad hobby during the toughest part of radiation therapy and recovery.  What I really needed was a distraction, and my hobby was wonderful for that.

 

I hear that!

 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 9:35 PM

BATMAN

Good to see you back Chip. Don't forget to post photos.

 

Will do.

 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 9:35 PM

Welcome back!

York1 John       

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 9:36 PM

HO-Velo
guessin your last post was after your trip to Ft. Bragg? 

Hard to say. The trip was enlightening. That is the area I'm modeling.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 9:37 PM

Welcome back Chip!

Congratulations on your successful treatment.

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 9:37 PM

Thanks everyone for your well-wishes.

 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 9:47 PM

Love your tag line.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Morristown, NJ
  • 812 posts
Posted by nealknows on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 6:51 AM

Welcome back and happy to see you getting to building your train layout. 

I do like the name of your railroad. My freight yard is called 'Rock Ridge Yard' and was named after the town from the movie 'Blazing Saddles'. My industrial complex adjacent to the yard has that name as well.

Need to have some humor on my layout.

Please post some photos when you can!

Neal

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,780 posts
Posted by snjroy on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 7:36 AM

Welcome back!  Yeah, 1890's stuff is hard to find. Ebay has "professionalized" a lot these last few years. Have you tried Marketplace?

The thing with 1890's stuff is that most of the older productions don't run that well. MDC stuff can still be found at reasonable cost (2-8-0s). I must say that the new retooled 4-4-0s from Bachmann are superb. But yes, be ready to spend at least $150. If you really like to run trains, save up your money, you won't regret it.

Simon

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 4:42 PM

snjroy
Ebay has "professionalized" a lot these last few years. Have you tried Marketplace?

Yeah, I have. I have spent hours combing the site. I found no rolling stock and only an old Life Like 0-6-0-and that was over 500 posts down in the list. I accidently hit the wrong button and it was sold when I reloacted it.

snjroy
thing with 1890's stuff is that most of the older productions don't run that well. MDC stuff can still be found at reasonable cost (2-8-0s). I must say that the new retooled 4-4-0s from Bachmann are superb.

 

The only 2-8-0's were pre-order from athern due in October. The sold out the day after I found it. The 4-4-0 looks promising. Thanks.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    October 2020
  • 3,604 posts
Posted by NorthBrit on Thursday, May 16, 2024 2:25 PM

Welcome back, Chip.

 

David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Thursday, May 16, 2024 6:26 PM

I'm happy to see you posting again, Chip.  I have had two old timers contact me on PMs on another forum in the past three years and then drop off the face of the earth again.  It's weird...I'm wondering if they read my reply and then remember why they went silent again in the first place. Laugh

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 2,360 posts
Posted by kasskaboose on Thursday, May 16, 2024 9:22 PM

Great hearing from you. Glad you've pulled through.  Thanks for giving me (and likely others here) what is sorely needed: more reason to be hopeful.

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Friday, May 17, 2024 12:15 PM

Good to see ya back Chip.  Im glad to hear things went well for you.  That's some good old fashioned Carma coming round, you earned along your wayYes

 

TF

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