Sir MadogJeff - I have fond memories of rides in one of them "red buzzers" or in German "Roter Brummer". During my final year at the University of Cologne, I was sick and tired of being stuck in a traffic jam every morning and every evening, so I opted for taking the train. It cut traveling time down to half! At the beginning, it was still a Roter Brummer making up the train. I always managed to get a front seat, right behind the driver. The buzzers did not only have a distinct sound to them, but also a very special smell in them. A mixture of Diesel, toilet odor and an undefined smell coming from the plastic upholstery. I never got around taking a picture, as they were nothing special in those days - at least that´s what I thought. Later in that year, they were taken out of service and replaced by a V 100 Diesel hydraulic loco pulling a string of "Umbauwagen" - coaches rebuilt on the platform of at that time 80 year old Prussian 6-wheeled cars. Not much of an improvement, but a little faster, cutting 5 minutes off the timetable.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Jeff - just a couple of pictures to tickle your memory:
Probably looks different from what you remember...
Just letting people know I am still here, just do not post as much as I used to.
You know those $1500 internet TVs? Well, here is how to have one for less than $50.
Get a $15 thirty-foot moniter/audio cable, plus a 3-year-old HD flatscreen, add a wireless keyboard and mouse and.. SHAZAM!! You gots an internets tvs.
Samuel A. Kelly
I can draw pictures with my keyboard!
-------- ( It's a worm)
Sir Madog Jeff - just a couple of pictures to tickle your memory: Probably looks different from what you remember...
Calling it a day - G´night, Everyone!
Evening, Chloe - I'll have some of that roast beef (if Rerun & Chris left any), just an open face sandwich with some gravy, and a side salad and a RBF. Eating kinda light tonight.
Okay, Garry got me to show up, and I (sorta) got Chris to show up, now who'll get DerJohn in?
jeffrey-wimberly At least one of the meds I take causes sun sensitivity. I used to tan. Now I just burn, even with sunblock. That's just one of about forty-five possible side effects.
If anybody wants to know how to fit decoders in really, really tiny places, ask Karl - or if you've ever wanted a 'Hustler slug'... Nice website you have there!
Ray, it sounds like the museum is drawing a bunch of people in on the weekends. Do they (I hope so!) charge a fee for riding the trains, or do they sell enough souvenirs to cover their diesel/fuel costs?
Ken or Vincent, about those drag racers, are we only counting those who compete (and not those who are in a hurry and leave the stop light extra-fast?
Galaxy, I've enjoyed your informational 'start-of-the-days' - I'll leave it up to you what you find for the next month, as well.
Todd, I can see by your post that you have dealt with Chicago politicians previously, yes? The old adage used to be for the bosses in Chitown "Vote early, and vote often!" (I think that was it...) I'm surprised that Missy doesn't vote there where you live. That was something about your neighbor down the road - better that you found out this way, than had you been in a hurry and behind him on the way home, right?
Ulrich, nice layout design there - it reminds me a bit of some of Iain Rice's layouts that he builds (for the top of a bookcase/bookshelves in his office). Looks like some good switching ('shunting') Oh, and better not let Petra catch you looking for your long-lost friend on Facebook.
Dan (NE06874), back to the Diner (or to the Diner!! Have a beverage of your choice on me. , whatever... Catch us up about your (smaller-than-1:1-scale, that is..) RR layout/plans/dreams (era, specific RR modeled/proto-lance, etc,) Most of our Diners who do the 1:1 RR'ing are pretty busy and don't get to stop by the place very often.
Paul, although I haven't started ballasting yet either myself, I have already ordered several of his types of ballast - both directly, and through dealers. Caboose Hobbies offers some discount on the stuff, but I never liked that when I got to the shopping cart/ordering part, they don't use product numbers that I can tell apart which items I have ordered(!). Told 'em so, but I guess I may be the only one who said something about that... I like Arizona R&M's stuff because I model the Southwestern US, and his stuff comes from there. I think he is still looking for a buyer so he can retire, but hasn't found one yet.
I started on another building today - a RDA (Railway Design Associates) gas station kit. It's patterned after one of those "red-tile roof and stucco walls" that used to be around maybe in the 30's/40's. I think Texaco might have had them before all the cookie-cutter gas stations began in the 'modern' age. the 'stucco' walls are wood (laser cut, tabs) and the instructions say to use gesso for the stucco. If I do a passable job on it, it might turn out to be a nice station when I'm done (I hope). Took a while to find the kit - hadn't been looking through the structure tubs for quite a while...
I also (last night, actually) was looking through some freight car kit boxes, and put some of the cars from the layout sections in the boxes. Plan is, to get all the stuff off the tracks on the layout, and then maybe be able to flip it over for doing the wiring more easily.
Think I'll grab a spot at the corner booth and polish off my dinner while I see who else comes in.
[Edit]: Hmm, everybody seems to be gone home for dinner, Chloe. I'll have another RBF, please.
Prayers for those Diners and family members/loved ones in need (comfort, healing rest, and other stuff).
Blessings,
Jim in Cape G.
Hmm, well, Chloe, looks like if you email them, they will reply! I'd emailed DerJohn and he just wrote me back! Turns out that he and Kris (his author wife) have been on holiday (I believe that's the phrase NOTB) and visiting Newfoundland (where Ed was born - who used to ensure that the Diner got tankers of OJ from his family's orange groves SOTB). They are indeed looking for a new home (still in Nova Scotia, I believe, but haven't looked it up on a map yet); they're looking for a particular type of home, but where they've looked, it doesn't seem that they allow that type within the town/city's limits (and they want to move to in-town). I'll update you more as I get more news from John...
Evenin' folks!
Chloe, I'll have the petite New York Strip steak, med. rare, A baked potato with sour cream, and a trip to salad bar tonight, please. Oh a hot cup of decaf to go along with everything too.
JimRCGMORay, it sounds like the museum is drawing a bunch of people in on the weekends. Do they (I hope so!) charge a fee for riding the trains, or do they sell enough souvenirs to cover their diesel/fuel costs?
Jim, Yes there is an admission fee. $8 for Adults (On weekends we run trains), $7 for Sr, Citizens, and even less for kids. One price for two museums. People enter at the New York Museum of Transportation get their Trolley Ticket for a ride on the 80+ year old trolley to Midway Station where they transfer to the train for a ride to the R&GV RR Museum. They can stay there for a while and then board the train for the ride back to Midway and take the trolley back to the NYMT. One of our Paying guests yesterday was the Mayor of Rochester, NY and his family. They got to ride in the cab of the 80 tonner going back to Midway! (I should point out that we do give cab rides on a regular basis without any bias. The engineer who was doing the training of a couple other engineers knows the Mayor and took over the controls as the trainees didn't want any distractions in the cab while they were operating. Later in the afternoon the other engineers started letting a couple people up in the cab for rides as well.) We get told what a great program we have for both museums with the co-operative effort we have. The entrance fees are split by the 2 museums and that is one big way we are able to pay our bills. Many people also will give us donations on top of the fee for our ongoing restoration work. Oh! Souvenirs, snacks, and some other things are sold at the NYMT. Some of the items there are our merchandise which we get the $$ from.
I got the rest of the lawn mowed today which was started 2 days ago... Managed to spend a little time in the train room amid many other items I had to get done today (and a few yet to get finished today!) doing a bit more painting of PC ties. About noon time I decided that the house was not going to warm up on its own and as I was still chilled to the bone, I fired up the wood stove to take the chill out of the house. Had a very small fire in it, just enough to bring the house up to about 72° from the low 60's it was hovering at. I may light it up again before bedtime, and I might not...
Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Evening All,
Not much happening here. Never did get any MRR stuff done today. Did some chores around the house which made me pretty tired and my son came home this afternoon. He seems to have his head on straight but we will see. I go back to w**k tomorrow afternoon so I will talk to you all on Friday.
Ulrich- I remember those cars. I was in the FRG 1971- 1974.
Hope everyone has a good night and prayers for those in need.
Curt Webb
The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad
http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/
JimRCGMO If anybody wants to know how to fit decoders in really, really tiny places, ask Karl - or if you've ever wanted a 'Hustler slug'... Nice website you have there!
Evening everyone, and thank you for the kind words Jim .
Really haven't done much with the webpage lately. I want to do an update soon, got a few more little engine with decoders, and sound to share!
Drag racers? We have drag racers here? been known to drag race some, but don't tell the cops!
Today was a 12 hour grind, dinner was filling, and now the sandman is calling,
stay safe, catch y'all later!
Karl
NCE über alles!
Good evening everyone!
Ulrich, it's good to see you here again! I lived in Germany near Kaiserslautern back in the early 80's when I served in the USAF. I loved it there and miss it a lot. I hope everything turns around for you.
Garry, I'm glad you like the painting. I didn't tell you, but I did turn down a couple of offers for it here last fall. I told them it was a commission job for a friend. I plan on starting the B&O 2-10-2 project next week. I'll post pics as I do it. I'm planning on giving it number 6133 because I own the real locomotive's builders plate from 1923:
We're up to our necks in this HO layout project for the rail museum. After getting the easy parts off, we found that the large parts of the layout are screen and plaster monsters that might have to be butchered to get them apart. Since Mr. Busack was not too big on scenery, I don't feel like we're wrecking anything that we couldn't make look better anyway. I set out all of his bicentennial locomotives and rolling stock, and believe it or not, there were 71 locomotives kitbashed to exact replicas there. We're going to take a few at a time to our layout for photos, and return them to their new permanent display above the N scale empire in the main lobby.
Shane and I did a little photo session in the fog on the layout using our fog machine. I posed our NKP berks for some nice pics:
Well, gotta tie this up. Six hours of driving tomorrow.
Everyone have a good night!
-Stan
Went to town with my father this morning. We had breakfast at The Waffle House in New Llano then went to Wal-Mart so he could do some grocery shopping for himself and I could pick up some much needed medical supplies and some Great Value drink mixes. My drinks may of medical necessity be limited mostly to water but that doesn't mean they have to be tasteless. Got back home about 11:30 and since I has still hurting quite a bit took some more Aleve and rested as best I could. No layout work today. Didn't even touch the layout. Maybe tomorrow I can get some work done on it. For now it's time to call it a night. I'll see y'all tomorrow.
Evenin'folks!
Janie, just a refill on the decaf coffee please...
I just made it down stairs to the layout to do some more painting of ties tonight when the phone rang. My sister calling. I let it ring three times before deciding to pick it up! She wanted to let me know her new kitten, Claude, is being a monster! Bragging more likely I think. He has been digging up all her collection of plants, getting up on the counters in the kitchen and knocking things off, and a lot of other things. My suggestion to spray it with a spray bottle of water every time he does something bad, doesn't work as he thinks it is a great game. He climbs in the shower with her every morning and just loves water. She even tried a squirt gun with water in it. For the plants, I suggested she put some good sized rocks on the top of the planter to make it impossible for him to dig in. I also told her to ask her Vet for suggestions as they often will advise on behavioral issues. Anyway, so much for painting ties tonight.
Jeffrey, hope you feel better tomorrow!
Guess I will call it a night myself. have a great night everyone. prayers to all in need!
Evening Dinners!
Flo, Beer Pleases.
Well today has been a Pain In The Caboose, where do I start?
Furnaces Pilot Lite. Seems it has went out, now I know how to light a pilot lite. If I could find where it lights at? I know where the Regulator is, I can see the Thermocouple. What I can't see is where they meet to lite it?
Wife's Car. Took it to work today for a oil change and check the brake lines. (We both driver older Town Cars and my brake lines rusted through a month ago or so) Her brake lines look like the quarter panel off a 69 Charger! (rusted) They looked so bad we did not want to touch them. So she is with out a car (she won't drive my Town Car because she knows nothing about it)? Same car, just 2 years apart.
Work Front. It would have been a sort of boring day but the Computer's Crashed! Not just our shop but Nation Wide! Want to talk about a company ill prepared! We don't have the numbers to call for Credit Card or Check Authorization(leap of faith there) cannot prices tires, don't know what the % we charge for Shop Fee's and what the Tax Rate is.
Today was a pain, Tuesday if the computers are up will be a nightmare. With us guessing at the prices, then mannerly trying to get the prices to match. Think I will be Tuesday.
See you all later!
Ken
I hate Rust
Morning Coffee in the Diner
GOOD MORNING!!!
Today is Tuesday, September 25th, 2012!!!
BOY! DO I feel like an old man today!!, Groans and Aches and Pains everywhere. OH,THAT'S right,
Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday to Galaxy, Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to Galaxy-eee, Happy Birthday to me
Send me a PM and I Will tell you where to send all presents! {Tee hee}
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Galaxy!
Lotsa nice presents for you, and a big slice of the cake called happiness!
Good Morning!
Today seems to be a little nicer than yesterday - at least in terms of our weather. It´s overcast, but not raining. 3 months to go till Christmas - time sure goes by quickly.
No major plans for the day. Petra and I went shopping - the usual grocery run for the week´s supplies. I´ll do my daily search for job openings, send out my applications, knowing that in 99% of all applications I won´t be getting an answer. The remaining 1% will most likely have the usual result.
Quite a number of you folks have been to Germany - I am really surprised at that. Germany is a beautiful country, with picturesque towns and beautiful landscapes. Unfortunately, our society has changed a lot with the influence from our former communist brothers and sisters in the east, who dominate public life these days. It´s like the tail wagging with the dog. There are quite a number of folks who wish the Iron Curtain would go up, but this time made up with western technology! End of rant ....
Still dreaming of that cabin by a lake, with a red pick-up truck parked in the drive way - somewhere in the US or Canada...
Have a splendid and safe day!
Good Morning! from Tipton IN.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
NKP yards, Frankfort IN, 1940s
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Goog Bordig...
The weather here is sunny with a high of 66F later od....
Yeb, I hab a code...a goog old fashiod code. By dose is all stubbed ub ad I cad barely speag as you can see... ...AAAACCCCHHHHIIINNSKI!!!! * sniff sniff HONK!!*
I'se be goig to the bag bood to find some solice in a cup of rub toddy ad by blanky....
Galaxy!!!
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Good morning, Diners. Chloe, I will have a large black coffee before heading to the pool. It has been closed for 3 weeks while they drain/clean/paint. They do it annually. I tried the outside pool and other locker room, but didn't like them. Next year, I will go back to the 3 weeks of not going.
Happy Birthday, Galaxy.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Morning guys
Yesterday I didn't get out of work until 4:30, so a 10.5 hour shift. After that I went to the LHS, which is a couple of miles from my work. I ordered some .06 quarter round styrene for the F-unit fuel tanks. I also tried to order some .06 x .06 square rod, but they couldn't get any. I think I have some .06 sheet, and maybe some .06 rod laying around. I might be able to aquire some if I go to pensacola this weekend.
I watched the game last night, and am pretty ticked about the botched call. The replacement officials have cost Green Bay a game. IMO, the packers could be undefeated if it wasn't for the replacement refs.
Galaxy, Happy birthday
Ulrich, Good to see you back. I lived near Trier Germany when my dad was stationed there in the early 90s, but I left when I was 2 or 3.
Jim, The former, those who compete.
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
Good Morning!!!
( door slowly opens and peeks in) Barry still here? Gone? Good. I’ll come in then. (confused and slightly concerned look on face) You know, I’m not familiar with Canadian home remedies, but I don’t see how rubbing me is gonna help his cold.
Coffee and a caramel roll please. Thank you.
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Never mind the % chance, trust me, it’s 100%. Had some real gentle thunder a bit earlier……niiiiice sleeping. Unfortunately, it was time to get up. Let the dog out and checked the rain gage, so far 1/4 inch. Then.... I had a rememberence. Went up front to the drive and yup sure enough.....left the passenger side window halfway down in the truck.
Galaxy.
Jim- Ya that was something with the neighbor. But as for me, I just don’t get worked up about that kind of stuff. Oh I can get a bit cranked when someone is always in my way. Like I can go into a Walmart at say midnight, there will be one customer in the whole store. Got it? ONE. I will go in to get a couple bowls of that hot/spicy add water microwave soup in the Asian section that only me and three other people in the whole world eat and the other two, one lives in San Diego, the other somewher in Georgia. Can't remember. And low and behold, there is that one person standing right in front of that item, or just pulled up to it deciding on either something there or something on the other side of the aisle, or using that spot to make a phone call. So, after milling around waiting for them to move, step back, then move along (can't ask to move because that is rude to ask someone to move who is already occupying the space. I just need to be patient. ) I then go to the other side of the store to get some one off item that you would only need once in a blue moon. When I get there I find WOW! There were actually TWO people in the store and guess where the other person is…..right in front of the item I need. Now this could be the second mystery person, a new arrival, the store stocker rearranging the shelf fo no apparent reason or has parked his cart of goods while stocking something nearby or, and yes it has happened, the lady who was previously standing in front of my soup. She beat me there only to be doing the same tthing she/he/it was doing before. This same type thing happens when I drive as well.
With the increase in population of Williamsville over the last several years, it has become increasingly difficult for me to back down the streets to get to my destination. Instead I find myself having to drive around the block or turn around and use the generally accepted traffic patterns. Aggravating.
Speaking of aggravating, still waiting for the mortar to dry on the shower. Went ahead and restudded the west wall carefully trying to avoid getting in the not yet dry base and today I will try the east wall and see how that goes. Hopefully I will be able to paper and hang the backerboard tomorrow. Depends on how the mortar feels and if I think I can do it without pitching the base out of level.
And to think this whole house remodel started with just me replacing the linoleum in the entrance area. (shakes head)
Ya’ll have a good day!!!!
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Do!! Do!! Dot rubbing you!! Rub...Rub....rub....ahhhhh forged id..id's alcohol here....
Found a confused kitteh who thinks he's a Dog!
watch?feature=playerembedded&v=Iaz6JOOdJw
Morning All,
Going into w**k a little early today to do some paperwork.
Galaxy-
Hope everybody has a good day and prayers for those in need.
'Morning everyone!
JimRCGMO Dan (NE06874), back to the Diner (or to the Diner!! Have a beverage of your choice on me. , whatever... Catch us up about your (smaller-than-1:1-scale, that is..) RR layout/plans/dreams (era, specific RR modeled/proto-lance, etc,) Most of our Diners who do the 1:1 RR'ing are pretty busy and don't get to stop by the place very often.
Since Jim's offering to buy, I'll have a cup of coffee this morning Chloe.
1:1 scale --> working at the old B&O roundhouse on West 3rd Street in Cleveland, OH. It's volunteer/part time work, so it doesn't take me too far away. The group there (Midwest Railway Preservation Society) is working on restoring the 1906/7 era roundhouse to full working capacity, as well as the ex-GTW 4070 (2-8-2 light Mike). We just got some amazing cars last week -- a paired set of Stainless Steel kitchen/diner cars, and a baggage car that's been re-purposed as a generator car. The SS cars are (to my understanding) the last of about 15 or 16 paired sets that the PRR ordered.
HO Scale --> My preferred modelling scale, though certain events in the last 18-24 months have relegated them to boxes, and I doubt that I'm going to be able to pull them out any time soon. So, for my birthday present to myself (last week ), I went and bought a few N scale things.
N Scale --> My "new" scale, which will probably become my "preferred" scale in the near future due to accidentally falling in with a local N-Scale club at the LHS when I was picking up my loot. I've only got a loop of track (Kato "M2" set), a matched pair of LifeLike F1s (Pennsy, DC only at the moment, decoders are pending slight milling of the weights), 2 boxcars and 2 (lightweight, ewww) passenger cars.
If I can pull it off, I'm going to stick with the PRR somewhere in 1945-'48 or so, as I strongly prefer steam locomotives over diesel, though 1st generation diesels are usually pretty good looking. If 1944 doesn't allow me to run the diesels I actually do like (e.g. FM H-xx-44, EMD E/F#/Sx/etc, ALCO S-#/Fx(A/B)-#/RS-#/etc, Baldwin VO-x/etc), then I'll push the time out to a year that would allow them to run, but then make a freelanced (sub-)division that held onto steam til then (or later) to warrant my much preferred types of locomotives.
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
Galaxy .... Happy B'day!
HEY! Who ate all of Galaxy's birthday care already?..... BARRY!
Stan .... I had a frame that was just perfect for the painting. It's not on the wall yet, but will be soon. Your layout photos are OUTSTANDING! ... How did you do the fog?
Tomorrow, we will be driving northward through Illinois.
Edit: .... Welcome, Dan! ..... Interesting stuff you are doing.
Cheers!
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Stan: Love the photos!! Which Fog machine did you use?
Currently 49 with an expected high of 81 under sunny skies.
Galaxy
Barry - Take care of that cold. A little bit of J. D. with honey in some hot tea usually helps me.
Wife started her second round of Chemo yesterday. So far, so good. I have a closing shift today, so I will stop by the hospital before going into work to see if she is still doing OK.
With her being out of work for so long and doctorbills starting to add up, (I do have great health insurance, but we still have to pay some co-pays and such), and me missing a lot of work, we have to make some hard financial decisions. Have to let the bank take back our travel trailer, and stop paying on some other non-essential bills. Getting her healthy and keeping the house are the important ones.
Prayers to all in need.
Paul
Living in Fernley Nevada, about 30 miles east of Reno, also lived in Oregon and California, but born In Brooklyn NY and raised on Long Island NY
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe, I'll start with a hot cup of dark roast coffee in my R&GV RR mug please. Then you can get me the #2 Special, over easy eggs, bacon, homefries, and a double order of sour dough toast, and more coffee! Thank you, Ma'am.
So Galaxy, your 29 again???
Another chilly morning here in the Finger Lakes. Currently 61°F but we will have a high of 72°F sometime this afternoon with sunny skies. According to the weather channel it did not snow last night! Didn't even rain. Tonight they say we will get some precipitation in liquid form. We still need it around here so overnight is a good thing so the panels on the roof can make the most of the sun shine today!
Dan, nice to have another 1/1 scale volunteer on board. Sounds like you folks are having some great successes with the restoration.
Garry, wasn't me! Haven't even seen Galaxy's cake yet.... (wipes frosting off mouth...)
Stan, love the foggy photos... Did you use light or heavy fog? I just recycled my old fog machine from my DJing days a couple months ago.
Only pressing item on today's agenda is to do the MLK Committee financial statement for our meeting tonight. THAT should take care of half the day though...
Catch up with all of you later!
Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to galaxy, Happy birthday to me
Oh, I did that part already..I just like the way it sounds! THANK YOU for the Well Wishes thus far!
I have things to do today so it is NOT a "lazy Birthday" for me. Have to find out aobut insurances increases in coverages, and have the pulmonologist and other things to do today. Tomorrow is my check so I need to prepare for that and Thursday is furnace repairs. We are going to eat at AppleBee's "2 for $20" special tonight as I don't wnat to cook!
Gee, I feel older already...
Must get my creaky bones in gear,.
Happy Birthday to me...Happy Birthday ...
It is past 6 pm in our neck of the woods, so it is perfectly OK to say
"Good Evening, Gang!"
Spend the afternoon detailing my plan. Seems as if there is a fair chance I can go forward with it. I will be able to sell that Z scale stuff next week, which should give me a sizable amount of cash to be spent
As you know, the looks of a layout is just as important as operation, so finding the right structures to match the intended theme and era is not easy. Most of the kits from Faller, Vollmer and the likes are just to "sweet" and toy-like for my taste. I found a few craftsmen kits in the web, which would look fine on the layout.
More research to be done!
Have a nice evening and a great birthday party for Galaxy!