I feel like Rip Van Winkle waking up after a long sleep

[Erik W]

After about 6 months of zero train interest whatsoever, my interest in working on the layout is back.  In April I was powering out a track realignment in my yard as my interest waned.  Once finished, I shut the light out in the basement and haven’t even looked at the layout since then.  My other interest, though less intense then model RRing, is building military models.  I’ve been working on a ship, which is now 95% finished.

Anyway, I’ve checked in on this forum from time to time but have really just started pouring over what is new in the last six months and what you guys have been up to.  I see Dave Vollmer is starting a new layout, Craig Martin is looking to corner the market in the quality, modern freight car field.  Matt G’s locomotive project is moving along and many of you have been making steady progress on your layouts/rolling stock fleets.  There seems to be a decent amount of fresh blood too.  Always a good thing.

As for me, I had acquired all the materials needed for the next segment of scenery on the Denver leg of my layout before I ran out of steam in April.  I’m ready to hit the ground running.  I also have had a couple of pre-orders trickle in.  I have an Atlas RS3 that needs a decoder and weathering and a FVM MILW Rid Sided boxcar that needs Z scale couplers and weathering.  And . . . I do plan to scratch build the coal tower at Burnham Yard in Denver as well as Denver Union Station (which will be scaled down a bit).  As I look at the layout with fresh, rekindled interest, I’m looking forward to jumping in and getting started (once I finish the last 5% of that ship).  My first order of business though doesn’t involve any new construction, it’s to clean the track and run some trains.  It feels good to be excited about this stuff again!

Here are a few rehashed photos:


This is a panoramic shot of the layout.  The few feet containing the Moffat Tunnel are out of the picture to the right.




These are a couple shots of the last section of scenery I did before I ran out of steam.  This is the transition area between the city scenery and scenic leg of the layout.  I plan on blending the backdrop/scenery interface a little better in this area.




Here are a couple of shots of Denver.  This is the last area of the layout needing scenery.

Erik

[Sokramiketes]

It's normal Erik... I'm still wrapped up in a car, hoping to make it to the track one last time this year.  Next weekend is Naperville Prototype Modeler's which usually kicks me back into gear for the winter.

Looking forward to more progress photos!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

It's good to have you back!

I know the feeling. The wife and I are closing on a house next week, AND I just finished helping with the CRHS's convention and Conrail Express Trip. Prototype preservation stuff like that, while still similar stuff, really does feel like a different hobby at times.

But now I'm thinking about what's going into our awesome finished basement. It'll be like dusting off an entirely different hat.

Anyway, welcome back!

[mcjaco]

Totally normal.  I kind of fell out of the hobby for a few years, but the excitement is back, like you.  Not to mention it's a great way to spend time when you're holed up inside during the winter. 

Welcome back, love those Rio Grande SD's! 

[asciibaron]

just as i was gaining some construction momentum, the layout construction has come to a halt as we work to get our house on the market.  looking for a house is a PITA with our very specific list of "must haves or it's a waste"

2 car garage
full basement
3 bedrooms
2.5 baths
family room
living room
1/2 acre minimum

all for a reasonable price and not in the ghetto.


i'm really looking forward to getting back to building the L&HR in a larger space.
so far, we have seen 1 house that might work.

[sirenwerks]

Steve,

I never quite understood the concept, what's the difference between a family room and a living room? Is the former a living room you don't clean? A living room with that lived in look?

[John]

Steve,

I never quite understood the concept, what's the difference between a family room and a living room? Is the former a living room you don't clean? A living room with that lived in look?

I have both .. my living room is the room with the foo foo couch and crap - I am not allowed to sit in it except on special occasions.

The family room has my chair and TV ...

[DKS]

The family room is the one where all the kids' toys collect.

[wm3798]

The Chair and TV arrangement was at one time called the Den.  That's now my home office, which currently is piled with crap from my no longer functioning business, and my wife's involvement with Girl Scouts.

My preferred place of residence, of course, is several flights of steps up.

Lee

[CNWlivesinme]

You are not floating alone in that boat Erik.

I find myself having money, wanting to get back into hobby with a railroad and location I actually care about.

So, first comes buying the Western Pacific book sitting in Chuck's shop that has all the street running in Oakland, with detailed diagrams.

Then comes building up a small layout along with a fleet of cars to run on it.

Time to get down to business!

[FrankCampagna]

Welcome back. Let's just hope that the government never finds out that model railroading is more addictive than tobacco  ;D. I know I've tried to quit many times.

Frank

[Dave V]

I'm glad you're back!  I've always been a closet D&RGW fan (albeit mainly the narrow gauge), and your layout is one of the best I've seen.  Very well done, sir! 

I also like the size and design...  Large enough to be going somewhere, but not so unmanageable it never gets done.  EXACTLY the balance I hope one day to strike.

And thanks for the props!  My Enola yard extension is not so much a new layout as a necessary addition to the old.  When I'm done with Enola (and my hobby budget catches up) I have plans to re-lay the rest of the layout in code 55.  At that time I plan to make some more changes to the plan.

[oakcreekco]

"Walking Away" from the DRGW for a while, is like leaving Colorado from a vacation. You'll eventually be back, with mountain railroading consuming you. It's normal as can be.

Outstanding work that you've accomplished on my favorite road. Enjoy it all over again.

[Ian MacMillan]

No biggie Erik! Most of the time in the warm months I spend all my time working on the speeders, and spend the winter on the layout. My wife says I can't do both at the same time because both hobbies are so expensive! (Speeders moreso!) But I showed her this summer, haha!

[asciibaron]

The family room is the one where all the kids' toys collect.

winnar.

the family room is where the kids can beat the crap out of each other while the adults drink martinis in the living room.

glad your back Erik - your layout has been an inspiration.