In my situation, a well-defined layout concept did not come into focus until the late 1970's. Due to circumstances, reaching that goal has taken every bit of my time since, especially during the years when I had to virtually suspend model railroading activity.
Since moving back to Ft. Madison, I'm glad to report that the operating concept I envisioned all those years is a success. Along the way, I sacrificed many cherished ideas, such as continuous running and exquisite detailing ala' Loizoiux (Boy, I murdered that!) and Karnes, etc., but I had to get something running within my abilities. To that end, I simplified my main line to a long single track with a couple of passing sidings and rural industries, I have taken a lot of "expert-cringing" economy-based shortcuts to get where I am, but SHABBONA performs, and performs well, well enough that some of its shortcomings in the visual department go unnoticed. It features realistic movement and operation of locomotives and rolling stock, complete with realistic empty/load juggling of not only open top cars, but closed as well. For the past two weeks, I have been installing a new control panel in the Terminal District and upgrading wiring on this one remaining section of a previous layout I started over twenty years ago. Here, again, realistic multiple movements within Yard Limits is the objective. I have designed SHABBONA for multiple operators. While that is not likely to happen in my part of the rugged wilderness of distance from other modelers in S scale (HO people in this area are apparently unaware of my existence), it was one of my original aspirations that I couldn't let go of. Besides, some members of the Minnesota Mafia did stop for a visit on their way home from St. Louis in 2009 - whose to say they won't drop in again sometime. Long story short, I am finally realizing a [almost lifelong] dream that had to wait until time was almost running out. When The Time Comes, I figure I'll give it all away to whoever will dismantle it and haul it away - if they'll promise to keep a couple of locomotives in their famous zebra stripes for old times sake Bob Nicholson __________________________________________________ --- In [email protected], "ctxmf74" <c...@...> wrote: > > > > --- In [email protected], "Bill Lane" <bill@> wrote: > > This post is not coming from a particularly happy place but it will > > hopefully stick with you this year and possibly inspire as well. > > I love your message here Bill. Time is short so don't waste it. > For those thinking it requires a huge space to build a satisfying layout > I'd suggest looking into small terminals like the New york harbor sites, the > Harlem transfer could be replicated in exact prototype size in about a 6 by > 12 foot space in S scale. > A linked module S layout could fit onto the walls of a spare room or one > side of a garage. The possibilities are endless....dave > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
