New frontier while saying goodbye to a old friend

[West Coast S]

The time has come to dismantle the 20X12 layout that has occupied two locations in the past 20 years. My now deceased dad and I began construction in 1979 and got to the trackage complete phase when he passed suddenly.

I relocated to LA the next year and the layout, having been constructed in 6 foot sections moved with me. Alas, the space my future wife permited did not allow full reconstruction so it was reassembled as a smaller layout. Life and other events intervened and the layout was soon forgotten, the room was used for storage for the next ten years and the layout became buried under junk over time.
Two events reignited the fire:
After my heart attack, the doctor ordered me to persue a hobby and find some other interest besides work . About the same time, my wife spent two months in ICU as the result of being severaly injured by a drunk driver, suffice to say, I took a leave of absence and spent six months caring for her and in my spare time found myself re-reading the old magazine collection, building a kit or two and eventually clearing out the layout room.
This was it.. I was hooked again and was able to attend a NMRA convention, my first in over 20 years...there was now no going back. I was introduced to the possibilties and downside of S scale and upon returning home, stripped the layout down to the benchwork and made the necessary changes for my new scale. I didn't care that no scenery had been completed or the the fact the benchwork used four different construction techniques or the the fact the track plan was not to my liking , it was a good learning platform for future endevers.

In exchange for vacating the space, I have gained a 70X40 room at my second residence, but as part of the deal it is going to cost me a new bathroom. Soon a new layout will arise from the experience gained from the old.

[howmus]

They say that life is like a book with many chapters..... Here's hoping the one you are starting now will be a very long and enjoyable one! Don't forget to post back often with your progress (and questions).

Good Luck!

Ray

[SpaceMouse]

Dear West Coast Phoenix,

I'm going look forward to a op session next time I get to LA.

[grandeman]

Best wishes on your new layout. I hope you and your wife are doing well and you find some serious relaxation working on the new railroad.


BTW, could you hurry up and get some pics posted... [:D][:D][:D]

[cheese3]

Good luck. Hope you have lots of fun with the new layout! [:D]

[West Coast S]

There are some room consessions necessary that are guiding me towards an island style layout. I've spent the last couple days in my hotel room doodling some possibilities. I figure I have a actual space of 50X20 to work with and i'm exploring a point-to point,single track design with two folded dogbone loops to return trains to thier proper stagging yards.

One problem I encountered with my around the wall designs was how to realistically incorporate my electric and lumber branch lines without violating my no more them one trackage visible at a time rule. The island type design does not impose these limitations and even permits room for a interchange yard. I'll keep you posted as to the progress.

The wife and I made a full recovery, Touted the son off to married life far from us and took a less stressful job and except for the occasional need to travel (I did ask for and was granted a training command desk job after almost being killed in the line of duty three times during my tenure of field assignments.) life has now taken on a slower pace.

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by West Coast S



The wife and I made a full recovery, Touted the son off to married life far from us and took a less stressful job and except for the occasional need to travel (I did ask for and was granted a training command desk job after almost being killed in the line of duty three times during my tenure of field assignments.) life has now taken on a slower pace.

Good for you! Life is good.

[fiatfan]

Congratulations on rejoining the hobby. Glad to hear you are both recovered.

Good Luck!

Tom

PS If you have any left over space in your basement, please ship it to me! [:D]

[selector]

I hope you have a heck of a ride! Enjoy.

I am always happy to hear that someone has overcome serious setbacks, too. [:D]

[JohnT14808]

Gee....only 50x20 to work with......wow. Wish I had half that and the funds to do something with it. Good luck on your layout and glad to hear that both your and yours are recovered and moving on to new things. It's fun getting back into the hobby, huh??

[AntonioFP45]

So glad that you're moving ahead.
Keep us updated on your progress. Looks like you'll be running some lonnng trains on this layout!

My prayers will include you.

Roger that.

[Adelie]

Sounds like everything is coming together for you. Some of the trials you have described would sink many others. It takes a strong person to turn those things into challenges, resolve them, and move forward. Congratulations.

Enjoy yourself! And take time to smell the roses.... uh, steam, along the way. But I'm sure you already have that appreciation.

[West Coast S]

I know it sounds as if I have acres to work with, but with S scale your looking at 42 min radius curves. One number 6 turnout can take up 1 1/2 feet depending on how you lay it out so the "where did all my space go" factor is present.

It was and continues to be trying at times to adjust from HO to S, heck, one time I laid out a drawing and read the wrong scale! I knew there was a plausible explanation as to why that particular model looked odd next to my others.

The new space has be one the most disfunctional rooms i've ever encountered. Who knows what its orginal purpose was, I contemplated razing this room and laying a patio in its place . Cost and permit politics made me reconsider. One wall is 90% floor to ceiling plate glass windows, the opposite wall has three doorways leading to various areas of the house and pool area.

[Anonymous]

Happy Rails! Keep us all posted with your progress. If you have a digital camera or a scanner post some snaps of your progress on the "Photo Fun" thread.

Glad to hear you are both recovered. All the Best!

Trevor[:)]