I think the NASG database would be a good place to start. Many don't care to
have any infomation listed whatsoever, and I'm assuming they are collectors who
fear theft. NASG dues is a cheap way to locate potential targets, but those
who do list might indicate whether prototypical operation is available, and
list the details. Could space be provided for such a description? I would be
willing to travel a considerable distance to visit and participate in operating
a working model railroad. As soon as my layout is up and running, I'm going to
attempt attracting operators. I don't think my space would accomodate more
than 3 people, but we'll see when the time comes.
Being an operator at heart, I'm not so concerned that I've limited my
equipment choices by having a 30" minimum radius. What concerns me more is
that it be interesting and challenging, both to build and run. I'm not sure
about the "ask folks to help build it" part. I think that would work where
there is lots of room to shift things around and make changes, or if you know
exactly what your design is before you start so that you can give adequit
guidlines. I don't think I'll have many instances where a comercial kit will
fit unaltered. My layout is like working on a clock from the inside. It's
being built in a gutted 25' travel trailer with 2 levels. I've kept it road
worthy, so you can see the potential there, but the space is all too well
defined and inviolable.
This is like any other pastime, in that the main goal should be to have fun.
If all we do is crab about what we can't do, or what's not available, or woe is
us the scale is dying, who in their right mind would want to join us in our
misery? Would anyone like to see my partially completed track plan? I'm open
to suggestions on how to improve it for operating fun. Drop me a line and I'll
email a PDF to you. Any operators out there?
Ed Kozlowsky
Sanford, Maine
Bob Werre <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Ed makes a lot of sense here. S has been said to be too 'secret' in a lot of
ways. I think having real operating sessions is a good way to chip away at the
dominate scale in a subtle way. Over the country, I know Sam Powell, Frank
Titman and Skip Romig have regular operating sessions. I know that Ed Loizeaux
and myself will be doing that shortly. What we need is 40-50 layouts having
operating sessions with the guys from other scales throughout the country.
This can happen by putting a list down when you are open for a tour. Folks who
are interested in seeing trains run around circles will not sign up, but those
guys interested in running with time tables, waybills etc. will sign up and
have a good time. I routinely operate on a HO layout and have been invited to
others. In the coming months I hope to have groups of guys over for the same
thing and I assume most of the guests will be from other scales.
Actually the fellows doing live steam have had the same problem. They spent
all their time acquiring land, laying track and making the railroad people
friendly. Nobody actually had the large stuff doing anything but hauling kids
around the landscape. Seldom did you see boxcars being delivered and tank cars
being picked up at industries.
S has had a great reputation as a builder's scale, but the downside, as Ed
Loizeaux often mentions is that time is short, we never get to the point of
actually running a layout in prototype manner. Indeed many of us have built
layouts that don't feature actual operations in their designs. I will find out
with my layout shortly.
Bob Werre
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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