Demographics Poll

[davidmurray]

MTRailsandCattle

I prefer to model BNSF as that is what I grew up around.  However, my last layout was a 12x32 double deck depicting MRL from Helena to Missoula.  I ended up getting bored with it and I missed having grain elevators as a key focus.  So I'm currently planning two entirely different layouts and not sure which one I will choose.  One is of the Havre, MT BNSF engine terminal and car shops (I have a lot of engines and would love to be able to use them).  The other is the BNSF Fort Benton Subdivision, which is a lonely stretch of rail (unless it's harvest season) that is near and dear to my heart.  The line has three unit train grain elevators, several smaller co-op style elevators, and a few remaining ag related businesses that are rail served.  

 

Could you not, with a dose modeler's licence  model both?   A little compression on the engine terminal/car shops, and  one unit train elevator and some co-op elevators.  Off line staging at that end.

 

[MTRailsandCattle]

davidmurray

 

 

MTRailsandCattle

I prefer to model BNSF as that is what I grew up around.  However, my last layout was a 12x32 double deck depicting MRL from Helena to Missoula.  I ended up getting bored with it and I missed having grain elevators as a key focus.  So I'm currently planning two entirely different layouts and not sure which one I will choose.  One is of the Havre, MT BNSF engine terminal and car shops (I have a lot of engines and would love to be able to use them).  The other is the BNSF Fort Benton Subdivision, which is a lonely stretch of rail (unless it's harvest season) that is near and dear to my heart.  The line has three unit train grain elevators, several smaller co-op style elevators, and a few remaining ag related businesses that are rail served.  

 

 

 

 

Could you not, with a dose modeler's licence  model both?   A little compression on the engine terminal/car shops, and  one unit train elevator and some co-op elevators.  Off line staging at that end.

 

 

It's a great idea and I've thought about doing that, just haven't started messing around with the planning for it.  One of the main reasons I tore down my old layout was it was too overwhelming!  HAHA!  We are talking about starting a family soon and I thought it would be a good time to downsize the layout.  My last layout started out pretty simple and then I headed down a rabbit hole!

[danmerkel]

Age 67

Retired at 58 (semi forced)

Business/Management/Marketing --Graduated from Bluffton College, 1975

Reside in Findlay, Ohio

Scale HO

Inspired by a former neighbor when I was growing up; he had a whole room full of trains and I was fortunate enough to get a few pieces from his layout when he sold his home.

Layout under construction is HO, approx. 16x19 w/about 200' mainline.

I model the Nickel Plate Road and "sort of" stick to the mid to late 1950s although I fiddle with some earlier models from time to time.

I've been married for 46+ years to my wonderful wife, Janet, who is completely supportive of my hobby. I also enjoy photography and spending time with our three grand kids. I'm on the board of the Nickel Plate Historical & Technical Society (nkphts.org) and manage our little Company Store.

Hopefully, this won't derail most of you but I am also considered "legally blind." On a good day, I can read the second line on the standard eye chart. Aside from not being able to drive, my disability hasn't prevented me from enjoying the things that I'm interested in. Hopefully, I can serve as inspiration to others; if you really want to do it, you can find a way! :)

dlm

[groundeffects]

Hi Brent!, hope all is well.  This is a interesting topic.

 

I started reading the MR Forum about 2007, however I didn't start participating in the forum until November 2010 (currently 132 posts).  I guess I generally like to read through the topics and comments more than comment.  

 

Age: 64

 

High school/college education (CSU Northridge).

 

Been married for 13 years to my wonderful wife Annette.  She supports my hobby and has also given me many fine locos for gifts over the years.  No children except for Toonces, our cat.  More details on our cat in a moment.

 

I've had a number of interesting jobs in my lifetime.  I was working in the travel industry for the last 31 years until March, 2020 (laid off due to the pandemic).  I worked as a corporate travel consultant (25 years), as well as an adventure travel consultant for 6 years (1999-2005).  Before I worked in the travel industry I worked as a professional model maker for about 7-8 years, primarily doing scenery, but also map interpretation/topography.  I once worked on a model of the entire Monterey Bay (CA) where the model scale was one inch equals one scale mile.  This model also featured the bay sea floor as well as fiber optics to show kelp bed locations and the like.  Finally, when I was a teenager in SoCal, I worked during the summer packing and selling pears and peaches at a local packing house.

 

I now live in Folsom, CA.  It's nice to live only 90 minutes from Donner Pass, and when it is hot in the central valley, its about 20 degrees cooler up in the high Sierras.  Of course, there is also some great train watching!

 

I started model railroading as 8 year old.  I can say my train interests started with my dad and grandfather back in the early 60's.  My first layout was a 4x6 foot HO scale layout.  I later got out of the hobby for about 25 years, and when I came back in 2006, went immediately to N scale.  I built a coffee table layout (2x4 foot) about 10 years ago, using a tropical theme (Hawaii, 1960's).  When we adopted our cat Toonces, I had to cover the top/sides of the coffee table layout with plexiglass, as Toonces would have made short work of that layout.  Because of our cat I've now become adept at cleaning and repairing N scale diesels (especially the removal of cat fur and other impurities) and am presently trying to start a new N scale layout.  Since I was a kid, I have always been partial to the Southern Pacific (I used to live in the high desert near Cajon Pass and Tehachapi).  My next layout will be based on the Espee's Santa Paula branch (SoCal), with it's many orchards and packing houses.  

 

Some of my other hobbies are travel and rail photography.  My avatar/photograph shown above was taken at Cold Stream Canyon, which is about 5 miles west of Truckee, CA.  I also enjoy hiking.  I used to backpack when I was younger, but my last overnight trip was about 15 years ago so now it is just day hikes (mostly near Donner Pass).  Over the years I've backpacked many areas of the high Sierras (Calif), the Trinity Alps (Calif) and the North Cascades (Washington).  

 

Jeff

[rrinker]

 The most pressing question though has to be, does your cat drive? 

                              --Randy

 

[groundeffects]

Hi Randy,

Sorry, but Toonces cannot drive (BTW, We love the old 90's SNL skits with Toonces the Cat), but Toonces is still pretty good about taking my seat on the couch, waking us up at 6am looking for fresh cat food, and immediately occupying any opened cardboard box just received from UPS.  I wish Toonces could drive though!

Jeff

[doctorwayne]

If I had a cat that could drive, I'd buy it a car, just so it would leave.

Wayne