The End Of The Line For the Kiva Valley Railway

[canazar]

Howdy all,

 

 

I suppose you will have to bare with me a little.  It has been a long time since I have posted regularly here and I have been thinking about this for the last couple of months.  I want to share something with everyone, I suppose this is more therapeutic for me than anything, so please..  forgive me.

 

 I learned lot from the friends I made here and all the info, tips, tricks, and answers to the modeling riddles of Model Railroading.  I posted the hi's and lows of my first major attempt at building a layout so, as sad as it is, I want to share this with all.

 

Thanksgiving Eve I came home from work and was greeted by my wife, standing there holding a back pack.  She told me she was moving out, the house was gone (we were renting, she canceled the lease) and I had less than 2 weeks to be out.  She was moving out that weekend.  Needless to say, it was very sudden and unexpected, and to be blunt, I got the very short end of the stick.  In a way, I am glad it happened as there were issues... which is part of the reason I having been posting as much the last year or so.  Life has been treating me well, I am lucky, so that covers that.  I do not want to dwell on it.  Just the background info. So, back to the main issue...  the trains.

 

As  one can imagine, along with everything else I had to do, tearing out my train layout/man cave/ little niche of the world, was very difficult. I had almost 5 years of tinkering in there.  Alot of memories with my stepson, freinds and family. I always knew it would happen, just not like this.  With the exception of the bench work, I was able to save everything.  Track, buildings, trees, most of the cork and even most of the bushes I glued down.

 

These pictures were taken Thursday, Thanksgiving Day.  My Dad came up to help.  Shortly after this, we started packing the cars. The pictures are not the best.  All I had was my cell phone camera. This is wanted I wanted to share though.  What I created, with help from the this group.  A late nights surfing here, then later nights in the garage.  There are more in the photo albums if you so desire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a link to plenty of pictures as recent as 2008.

Kiva Valley 2008

 

My free lanced railroad is based in central Arizona.  I like running in 1956 and also in present day format.  Changing of the rolling stock and power.  I try to keep the buildings "age nuetral". 

 

Im only 35 so I have plenty of life ahead of me.  While I am sad I at what I lost, I look forward to the future.  I have all ready to started working on a new layout, much smaller do to space limits.  a 2 foot by 11.5 foot shelf layout.  It will be based on the Kiva Valley Railway, but I will model the end of a branch line, called the Whitton Branch.  I will post up the pictures of that progress soon in a new thread.  I look forward to sharing that with everyone as well.  And that is something that brings a smile back to my face.

 

Thank You.

 

 

P.S.  See ya around the board.

[JoeinPA]

 Sorry to hear how things have gone for you.  Good luck in the future and please stay in touch.

Joe

[Pruitt]

Wow, John!

Sorry things worked out for you as they have.

Your story brought to mind my own experiences with my bigamist wife and my two-car-garage layout. Remind me and I'll tell you about it sometime.

But as I was reading your post, I kept expecting it to end with something like "...so I'm leaving Model Railroading. Buy my stuff on e-bay." So I for one am very pleased by your story's current status - your obvious survival and the beginnings of a new, albeit smaller layout.

I'll be looking forward to reading about it's creation. Rock on!

[MisterBeasley]

I think you've got the right philosophy about the end of the relationship with your significant other, and I hope that will carry over into the rest of your "big adventure."

Building a layout teaches you a lot.  When you look back, you see things that you would have done differently, given what you know now, and other things you wouldn't have done at all.  And, you recognize some "missed opportunities" for things you would have done that you didn't.

So, look forward to correcting your mistakes and making the most of those opportunities that await you.  You're fortunate to be able to keep pretty much everything.  When you think about it, you've got more than just the trains, track, etc.  You've got the great skills you've developed and shared with us over the last few years.

[canazar]

MisterBeasley

 When you think about it, you've got more than just the trains, track, etc.  You've got the great skills you've developed and shared with us over the last few years.

 

 

 

Great point, I had not thought of it that way. 

 I would never leave the hobby as t has brought so many great memories that go back to my mother's childhood.  Guess you could call it a small family tradition. 

Being 35 and a modeler, it has a very strong "theraputic" value to it.  I found that it was great to help  with the stresses of life.  "Playing with trains" had a great way of calming me or at tleast providing a little bit of fun, when there was no fun to have.  I admit, I never knew how much I enjoyed the escape then when I went through the most stressful time of my life and I did not have it.   But, I knew, somewhere in the logic, I would have another, and another so that helped a little. Hence, even before the dust settled and I was still picking up the peices, I was planning my new layout.  It allowed my mind that mental escape so I desperstly needed. 

Looking back,  I think my only regret was not getting back on here sooner.  Missed this place. 

[Anonymous]

  back to this place.

I am going through some pretty rough times myself at the moment. I lost my house, my job, and nearly my life, but I am back again! The love my wife gives me and my little MRR dreams keep me going. I don´t know when I will be able to start to build a layout again, but I am sure I will - one fine day:

Participating in this forum helps me to cover the time until then!

Smile!

[HaroldA]

Having had a similar experience many years ago I wish you the best.  My own experience opened up new doors, closed many others, but gave me a whole new perspective on life and living as well as a new appreciation for family and friends.  It also rekindled an interest in model railroading that I was able to pursue - and it is therapeutic even now.  

So hang in there and remember you have many friends.

 

And to Ulrich - looking forward to hearing about your new layout when thay day arrives. 

 

[SteamFreak]

I was wondering what happened to you John, and hoped you hadn't melted in that Arizona garage. Sorry to hear life threw you such a curve ball, but glad that you're staying with the hobby. I honestly don't know how people without hobbies cope when things get tough, becuase they can really help save your sanity. I've lost 4 older friends in the past 2 years, and then my father died on Christmas Eve after a 5 year battle with Alzheimer's, so trains and other interests have been important therapeutic tools that have helped me cope. Much better than haunting some bar and crying into your beer.

I'm looking forward to seeing the branch line take shape. I'd hardly call your first effort "sad."

[Grampy1]

Hope things work out quickly for you, John. That was a great looking layout. Just think of all the changes and improvements you can make on the next one based on your experience. It'll be even better.
Good luck and have fun.

Roy

[jwhitten]

canazar

Thanksgiving Eve I came home from work and was greeted by my wife, standing there holding a back pack.  She told me she was moving out

 

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles, but look on the bright side...

... now you can model a really seedy little bar on the outskirts of town, you know the kind-- a run-down dive located on the wrong side of the tracks and filled with smelly, unpleasant and unsavory characters...

... and name it after her!

 

 

John

 

[Packers#1]

jwhitten

canazar

Thanksgiving Eve I came home from work and was greeted by my wife, standing there holding a back pack.  She told me she was moving out

 

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles, but look on the bright side...

... now you can model a really seedy little bar on the outskirts of town, you know the kind-- a run-down dive located on the wrong side of the tracks and filled with smelly, unpleasant and unsavory characters...

... and name it after her!

 

 

John

 

 

lmao, now that's funny right there!

John (the original poster), ouch man, I'd say that's a knuckle ball, not a curve ball. glad to hear that the Kiva Valley will live on in a new branch line form.

I myself find working on my layout relaxing whenever i'm stressing about something at school or anything, and I'll be keeping it going on as I grow up.

[MPRR]

  Hang in there man.. Things can only get better for you. Of all the not so good things that have happened to you, and I'm sorry to hear about it all, you've got to look for the positives in your situation. Upon looking at your pictures, I'd say you had one heck of a layout. It does suck it had to be dismantled, but now you get to experience all the fun of building another. Not to metion all of the improvements you'll be able to make.

  Well, think positive, keep your head up, and your chest puffed out!! We Are Man... Now you get to be your own one again.

[UncBob]

 Man that was one nice layout

 

Good to see you were able to save the  detailed parts

[Marc_Magnus]

Hi,

I am so sorry to read your story; these will be sad times anyway.

I have lived the same troubles some years ago and had many big difficulties to keep my head out of the "water".

I don't beleive I was very lucky in all these troubles and certainly I was to much kindy to regulate this situation whith some advantages for me.

Anyway I have tried and have the chance to save my layout; it was one of the most important thing for me because I have bankrupted whith so many life fact.

My train is one things where I have always find lot of success and many people congrulate me for my work. Nobody could understand how much this had help me to recover a normal life.

Because today I have no more contact whith my children and my lost wife I have reorganized my life around building a new layout; I have invest in a very big project to be sure to finish something I find amazing.

I can really say this is  the challenge of the next coming 20 years of my life and even if some are thinking I am a little bit crazy, it's the only way I have found to strike back into life. 

Finding a project, trains or anything else would help you.

I have pushed the concept so far and knowing building a good sized layout is a big challenge because of the space needed to accomodate it; l work hardly only to buy a big house; you can see how far this hobby is powerful!.

Good luck anyway.

Marc

Marc

[IVRW]

I am so sorry. I am amazed at how everything ended. Words can not say how sorry I am for you. Hope things turn up better.

[mlehman]

 Big John,

Sorry to hear of the troubles. Sounds like you have the right approach to dealing with things. Been there myself. Had an important person in my life that was always wanting to "improve" me so that I'd be a "better" person in her eyes. If she'd only left good enough alone...

 Needless to say, it all worked out better in the end for me. Not sure about her, although I still hear from her from time to time. Now I'm very happily married to someone who appreciates me for what I am. In fact, she's a railfan herself! She doesn't model, but she's very tolerant of my tendency to spend lots of time in the basement.

Here's to you and the better life you have ahead of you!

[Texas Zepher]

canazar

It has been a long time since I have posted regularly here and I have been thinking about this for the last couple of months.

I wondered where you had gotten too.   Now that I think of it several (most) of the 2004 gang have faded away.

[Hamltnblue]

 Good Luck. been there done that also.  Just keep this in mind. There were trains before her and trains after her. Write her off and don't return any phone calls. Things will only get better.

[canazar]

Texas Zepher

canazar

It has been a long time since I have posted regularly here and I have been thinking about this for the last couple of months.

I wondered where you had gotten too.   Now that I think of it several (most) of the 2004 gang have faded away.

Yeah, it doesnt seem that long ago we met in Caboose Hobbies on my honeymoon trip through Colorado. Doh!  2004?  Wow, hard to belive.  I still want/miss my stars!

Thanks to everyone for their kind words and support.  It means a lot.  Life has gotten better and at least I am back in the saddle when it comes to the trains.  I have become a regular again here and it feels good.  Better things lay ahead and I have been working on my new layout.  I have a thread going over in The Layouts and Layout Building board.  There is a link to the thread in my sig line.  

And this link should work.   Whitton Branch  Nothing like throwing down some new track work to get you over the loss of the old one.

 

[Dave-the-Train]

Best wishes from this side of the pond. 

[MisterBeasley]

About a year ago, I "finished" my layout.  Of course, no layout is ever really finished, but there comes a time when the last of the track is down and ballasted, all the lights and turnouts are wired, and the final square inch of pink foam disappears beneath the ground foam and turf.  Yes, there was a deep sigh of satisfaction at that point, but it was quickly replaced by, well, sort of an empty feeling.  You see, I'm a builder.  I'm happiest when I've got loose wires dangling beneath the layout, Hydrocal castings setting up in the laundry room, bundles of flex track still held together by rubber bands and boxes of kits on the workbench shelf.

So, as you rebuild, let us know how you feel.  If you're a builder like me, a fresh start will give you more enjoyment than your original Kiva Valley.

[Dave-the-Train]

MisterBeasley

You see, I'm a builder.  I'm happiest when I've got loose wires dangling beneath the layout, Hydrocal castings setting up in the laundry room, bundles of flex track still held together by rubber bands and boxes of kits on the workbench shelf.

OT slightly but I have to note a happy man... one who knows that a large chunk of his fun comes from the building... I'm sure that many RR modellers would be a lot happier /satisfied if they recognised that the building is what they enjoy... it would free them up to enjoy that part rather than rushing to get the thing built and ready to run only to then wonder what had gone out of the interest and what to do next.

[canazar]

Dave-the-Train

MisterBeasley

You see, I'm a builder.  I'm happiest when I've got loose wires dangling beneath the layout, Hydrocal castings setting up in the laundry room, bundles of flex track still held together by rubber bands and boxes of kits on the workbench shelf.

OT slightly but I have to note a happy man... one who knows that a large chunk of his fun comes from the building... I'm sure that many RR modellers would be a lot happier /satisfied if they recognised that the building is what they enjoy... it would free them up to enjoy that part rather than rushing to get the thing built and ready to run only to then wonder what had gone out of the interest and what to do next.

 

I am both for sure.  My old layout, the Original Kiva Valley was finally done, ironically, 3 days before I got the notice.  I finally laid all the track, figured what industries would go where and was looking forward to the detailing, weathering, fine tuning the scenery etc.  Oh well.  

Now that I am back to the stage, bench, track and rough scenery, it is going quick and takes a lot of work.  But it is just what I need to keep my mind busy.

[PA&ERR]

 Wow! Sorry to hear about your misfortunes, but glad to hear that you seem to be handling them all in a positive manner! That's the important thing.

Hang in there, things will get better!

-George