I am a 61 year old working professional with many hobbies (woodworking/bicycling/antiques/mulitple collections etc.).  I am a native of the Athens, Ga area now living near Winston-Salem, NC.  In years past, I loved slot cars and O gauge trains.  I have returned to trains with DCC controlled HO scale for the two layouts I have ongoing.

I have an L shaped layout in our bedroom which confirms I have a very supportive wife.....lol.  This is my main interest.  I am complete with the benchwork and the track plan.  No scenery yet. Wiring not complete at this writing; but ok to run locos.  Several structures.  I'm using Peco flex track and turnouts.  HO code 83.  I have two Athearn Genesis DCC (with sound) switcher locomotives.  These model the EMD MP15-AC.  My layout is a fantasy representation of an industrial park serving several customers in food service and furniture manufacturing.  The "L" is about 11 ft x 7 ft.  I have five turnouts.....four right and one left hand. All hand operated.  This is a shelf layout.....18 inches wide.  I like the idea of the detailed mircrocosm......like a diorama with moving trains. Better keep hoping for museum quality since it's in our bedroom!!  Wish I could do some kind of continuous run; maybe some kind of reverser for an out...pause...and back?  That's for a later time.  For now, the switcher takes about an estimated two minutes to run from one end of the L to the other end....creeping slow....as per the prototypes in such parks. 

I have a second continuous run layout in another room.  This is my starter layout with EZ Track in HO.  It has DCC and has four DCC controlled turnouts!  It is mounted on a 4x8 table I built.  Nicely painted. Homasote on a plywood top.  I have the two DCC locos that came with the set (Bachman Digital Commander) and maybe 9 additonal cars. I also bought a Bachman NS F-unit loco for this layout...it has good DCC and sound. Great fun with this continuous run set up.  It's not as expensive as my L shaped switcher layout; but lots of fun and the grandkids are entertained for a few minutes before returning to their gaming!  Before beginning the shelf layout, I sometimes joked about the EZ track set up (excused it as juvenile and a bad first choice). No more.....super learning platform and easy to start.   I can play around with this layout and mistakes aren't troubled over...more critical with my Peco shelf layout.

Thanks in advance to all who have and are offering me guidance in my layout's construction and operation!! Happy Modeling!

123mike