Just a hello, my name is Mike and I have been lurking here for quite sometime and wanted to say hello to everyone, A quick History, I have had a model train since I was around 5 years old, and will be 50 this year, Iam on my 7th and most likley final layout,it is in a 10’ x 20, shop, It has 2 Mainlines, CP & CN and can handle 15-20 car trains on both lines, I run Modern day engines with EOT units and also switch to early 60’s to late 70’s with Caboose’s it’s nice to change it up once in awhile. I am just finishing off a new 10’ x 2’ foot yard attached to my main layout which has several industries as well as a nice Pike Stuff 2 bay shop for my 4 switchers to live when they are not working the yard,The yard holds about 110 cars with room for about 20 more with out plugging it up,I have a computer for the yard actvity with my switch lists,receiving and departing from the yard as well as Bad car report and maintanence of engines and roling stock, all trains start and end in my yard,I have a laptop for the Main line section,which has about 55-60 peices of rolling stock as well as 7 Mainline engines and 2 switchers for both the CP and CN shops and Various Spurs and industries, this laptop runs the same Switch list progam as my yard,so it can get busy between the both areas,but I love it, I usually burn a few hours a day out there with operations and Scenery… But some one has to do it…
Thanks for the welcome,The area I model is loosely based on the Kettle Valley Line as well as the CN Yard In Kamloops BC,so to a degree I am freelance with a degree of reality, yes I have some photo’s and am working on a web site and hope to have it up soon,I will pull some photo’s over when I have it done…
Oh by the way my Railroad is called “Southern Interior & Cascades”
Welcome to the forum. Looking forward to seeing some pictures of the layout. That Kettle Valley area sure is scenic! Lots of great trestles in there, although we lost a few in the fires a few years back I guess.
Canada guy: Check back with us when you get 500 locomotives and 3,500 cars, then we can talk. With your signing in now, that makes up to 7 Canucks on the forum, welcome aboard. Happy Boxing day and Happy New Year.
Another cold Cannuk who drops into this forum now and then, mostly lurkin’ like you, but I’ve posted a few times.
I model the TH&B (Toronto Hamilton & Buffalo aka To Hades and Back) some facticious port on the great lakes (have not decided if my port is on Lake Ont. or Erie yet). I live in northern Alberta (where it trully is cold 'nuf for me!).
You don’t say what scale you work in. Mine is N, but I do dabble in On3 (for under the Christmas Tree) and have a bunch of G in boxes waiting for the day I get a round two it.
You write: “will be 50 this year, Iam on my 7th and most likley final layout” - 50 is not time to be on your final layout - I’m a wee bit older than that and while my current layout has years to go, I am imagineering another one already.
It sounds like you are really into the electronic controls, not my cup of tea but I can appreciate the outcome. I’d rather put my hobby time into the art of scenery and structures - my goal is for the trains to run reliably.
Congradulations on breaking out of the Lurking mode and hope to hear more from fellow countryman.
