Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
 Well, I actually started out with a more interesting layout on a few 4 by 8 boards me and my dad assembled in a donut shape on sawhorses in the basement. That layout evolved to where it had about 10 stub end industries, all trailing point (behind the locomotive) switches, and a long track running into the wall as an interchange. The interchange was where I swapped cars from the layout with cars in an old bookshelf next to the layout. There was a rudimentary operating system consisting of old business cards saying things like "Hillside Chocolate receive 1 covered hopper sugar" (I did have a chocolate factory, and while the realism suffered (sugar really isn't received in grain hoppers) it sure was fun to have one!) which provided enough realism for me. The scenery and realism really was lacking, but that layout provided countless hours of operating fun for me... Ah, the good old days![swg] So, my reccomendation?Build some sidings, and write up some operating cards, and feel free to adapt the industries to whatever you like. Once you get used to it, it's a lot of fun. And when you feel you're ready to move on with the operating system, it's easy. When I was 12 I switched from that scheme I mentioned earlier (introduced to me in a MR book called HO Railroad from Start To Finish, by Jim Kelly) to my current car card and waybill system.Don't give up! I started out on a warping 4 by 8 sheet of plywood on the floor, pushing the trains by hand until age 6 because I was afraid of the noisy 15+ year old power pack! My parents eventually realized what a great hobby it was for me, and now my layout takes up almost half of our basement. Hopefully your parents will eventually realize that a hobby like this is a much better way to spend your time than video games, or especially drugs, cigarettes, and other stupid things, as you get older.Just my [2c]
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag

Update Reply

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!

Subscriber & Member Login

Edit post

Post Body

Tags (Optional)

Subscriber & Member Login

Users Online

Search the Community