I'm a newbie. Again.

I just wanted to introduce myself to the group.

My name is Al and I live in Phoenix, AZ. I’m back into the hobby for the 5th or 6th time. This time I have actually laid and wired track, got a couple of locomotives and many cars, and put some rudimentry buildings up. Scenery has not yet been started.

My HO layout is a U shelf about 5’ off the floor. The sides are about 10’ long and the base just over 8’, ranging from 12" to 18" deep. It is primarily a switching layout, but I have several passenger car kits and am thinking about a removable shelf to make a continuous loop, so I can sit back and watch them run.

The current time frame is 1946-47, but I want to back date to the late '30’s. If I can come up with the right equipment, I’d really like to be in the “Roaring '20’s,” just before the market crashed.

I currently have buildings somewhat assembled for a brewery, produce shed, meat packer (with small stock yard,) lumber company, fuel oil, and an ice house. There is also a DPM Coal River depot waiting to be assembled, along with a coaling tower, water tank and a host of various parts, shanties, shacks and sheds.

I have space for a coulple of more industries, or engine service facilites. I’m thinking of a flour mill and cotton gin, among others.

The scene is a fictional town in central Arizona, that bridges the ATSF in the North with the SP in the south. It is very fictional, since my town will have trees. I just didn’t want to model a desert scene. Off site industries to generate traffic include logging and copper mines.

Once I get more familiar with the forums

Welcome Al, sounds like you have some ambitous plans. Please share your progress with the group, hopefully with photos. Ask any questions if you need help, there is a lot of help here!

[#welcome]

welcome! looking forward to seeing the layout progress forward!

[#welcome] Salt River Al.

Drop in at the diner, (Elliott’s Diner) another thread here. Lots of us hang out there and you can be sure of a welcome there.

Just come in an introduce yourself as you have done here and order up a virtual lunch or whatever pleases you. The waitresses are Zoe and Chloe and the Big Boys name is Vinnie, but thank goodness he isn’t around much.

Glad to see you are coming back to the hobby. It is a great time to be in this pasttime as the changes are coming fast and furious. You can stay up with them if you are so inclined or you just pick your enjoyment level and be satisfied with that. Whatever you choose is fine. It is your Railroad so do what pleases you, just get it happening or as Larry, the Cable guy would say, “Get-r-dun”.

I look forward to watching your progress, so be sure to keep us posted. Photos are welcome, we all like them. Any questions you have will be freely answered here. You may get a selections of answers but this is just different ways that the patrons here have sloved your proposed question. There is lots to learn. Also get familiar with the search bar at the bottom of the threads as this will also give you a quick selection of discussions on the topic that you enter there.

Enjoy the journey,

Johnboy out…

James:1 Verse:5

Long live the “Wobbly”

[#welcome]

Nice to see ya!