Good Evening:
I haven't been on here in several weeks but I just wanted to let everyone know --who took the time to patiently reply to my newbie questions-- that my platform came out great, and was a huge hit at my family's Christmas party this year! I even had a bunch of friends and neighbors come over for the unveiling, since they knew how much I had been working on this to get it set up for Christmas. It turned into a 8x8 layout, w/ "old fashioned" block wiring to allow for multiple trains on an outer loop, a separate inner loop featuring my grandfather's first train (given as a Christmas gift to him by my grandmother in 1946), and a trolley. I got a lot of Plasticville up and lit, too (model power LED's are awesome!). Despite all the clapping and smiles and congratulations, the best part of the whole thing was seeing my 90 year old grandmother light up to see grandpop's trains running for the first time since 1971. That was eight years before I was even born.
A lot of what I ended up accomplishing, novice as it may have been, couldn't have been done w/o so many people here taking the time to answer my questions. I, and my family, thank you heartily for helping me revive a family tradition, and revive some very old trains!
I'll try to get some pictures up soon, so you all can see what the finished product looks like. And in case you're wondering, the platform WILL be staying up year round! Only the "Christmas/Winter" decorations will be removed at the end of the season. Thanks to a friend w/ a table saw and nail gun, those two 4x8 pieces of plywood could probably withstand a hurricane w/ all the 2x2's and 1x2's we used to brace it!
Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year to you all!
Matt
,
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
Electric trains and Christmas, doesn't get any better than that. Looking forward to your pictures.
Bill T.
Way to go Matt!!! I just wish my Dad and Mom were here today to see the old iron still soldiering on. Brings back a lot of fond memories. But I hope you didn't assign any rerailing activities for your Grandma. Union rules prohibit the use of forced labor for 90+ year olds!!!!
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
@ Bill: thanks, just posted them in the user photos. My neighbor took them w/ a special effect to make them look "nostalgic."
@RI: very funny! grandpop was a trolley driver for SEPTA for 40 years, so he'd have rolled over in his grave if I broke union rules.
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