Well, the nights are getting cooler, and Fall is starting to show itself. And, as with most years about this time, I find myself getting excited about the approach of another model railroading “season”.
Yes, I have a year-round layout, and I do run trains and build stuff during the summer months. But the enjoyment and activity just seem to pick up dramatically this time of year. Maybe deep down, I still relate winter to the Christmas trains of my Chicago childhood, and to the many evenings of winter basement layout projects of my teens and early years.
Am I alone in this, or are there others out there who feel the same?
I never had the luxury of having a “off season” like many do to my passion of the hobby in general,maintaining my equipment for club use,railfanning,club memberships and etc and in that light the passing of the seasons is only noted in extra arthritis aches and pains in my lower back and of course the little aches and pains that comes with age…I just can’t take the colder weather like I did just a few short years ago.[:O]
Riding the IC Highliner from Matteson station to Downtown, spending the day “Window Shopping” oohing and awwwing over the animated Christmas displays at Field’s and Carson’s, the train goin’ 'round the base of the 4 story Christmas tree in Field’s, Hot Chocolate and Frango mint Chocolate chip cookies in the Walnut Room… Christmas Decorations flashing by on everyone’s homes viewed from out of the windows of the Train on the way home… Almost want to brave the cold and leave Houston to see it all again… maybe if …
Then there was the awesome display at the Museum of Science and Industry, what a terrible shame
I for one feel very strongly about this as I have an off and on season. I really don’t like spending time in the basement when the Sun is shining and there is gardening to do. This is a great hobby for those of us who live in the “Northern” latitudes and find comfort and warmth in our “Wreck” rooms.
Memories as a child would be the Eaton’s Centre train displays. As others have said “times have changed”.
I hope to have a stellar season this year, at least better then the Pats.[:-^]
In a few weeks they will start putting up the huge G-scale layout at Harrington’s Wine and Liquors in Chelmsford, MA. Yes, a liquor store has a large train display for Christmas. It’s fully automated, and has 3 loops for trains. Each has a “start” button and a timer, so the visitors can start the trains up when they want to, but they’re not running when things slow down a bit. It’s just a mile or so from my LHS, Maine Trains, so if you’re at one, check out the other.
At home, I’m already going strong on scenery. I’ve almost completed the mill pond and stream, and in a week or so I should have that whole area’s scenery pretty much done. I’m approaching the end of the pink-foam era, and this winter should put an end to that once and for all.
Of course, then I have to start getting serious on the extensions…
Yes. Somehow October feels like the start of Model Railroad season. The nights are cooler and outdoor activity is curtailed. The train shows start up, the holiday displays will soon be out. And Christmas is train season to me. It dates back to those wonderful Sears Christmas catalogs of that always featured trains.
Since I live on 3 acres of landscaped property which I maintain myself there is no time for the train layout until the Fall. My last outdoor project will be picking up the leaves at the end of November. That usually takes 3 weeks then I am free until May when the pool is opened and the cycle starts again.
Another problem is if we get a lot of snow since we live 750’ from the highway and I have to clear it myself. That chews up the train time a lot.
I will try to finish the layout this coming season. The last thing is constructing the locomotive yard. The 9-stall roundhouse is in place along with the turntable minus the electrical hookups. The kits for the ash pit, coal tower and sand, etc still have to be built. I still have to lay the rest of the track for the loco storage yard.
It should be an interesting year. I take things a day at a time now. Hopefully I will be around to give a progress report and some photos.
Harrington’s Wine & Liquors you say? I can’t say I’ve ever been there, I will have to stop by and check it out the next time I make a run to Maine Trains, thanks for the tip!
As for the new season, I’ve already started becoming more of a “cellar dwellar” now that summer is past. My benchwork is 99% complete, just one more piece of foam needed and then it’s on to laying the track!
I have a window in the Spring and Fall when conditions in the train room are ideal all day and night. It’s been real nice to go out there and not sweat to death during the day. Time to make some progress again before it gets too cold.
Between maintaining my lawn and its 65+ trees, various vacation excursions, home improvements/maintenance, etc. my layout gets pretty lonely during warm weather. I do some shopping for craftsman kits and vintage brass because the prices are lower in the summer, but that’s about all the model railroading I do until the first frost. About this time each year, I start looking at those kits and try to decide priorities.
This winter I’ll be building structures and creating scenery for the town of Butte Creek:
It has a turntable (last winter’s project) and tracks to fit a small locomotive servicing facility. There are also a couple of industrial spurs that need a reason for their existance - they need industrial buildings:
My approach is to build all of the structures, then determine their locations, build a foundation and install the wiring for structure lights, then remove the buildings and I do scenery up to the foundations. This approach has the buildings out of the way while I sprinkle various ground-covers; when I install a building on the foundation, it looks like it’s been there for a long time.
Anyway, like a lot of you, I’m looking forward to a season in the shop.
Shayfan, just looking at your structures for holding up your track and layout, do you think the 2 or 3 layers of chipboard will actually hold the weight of those brass locos??? or maybe you are planning to stand on and walk around the layout itself, one thing for sure if there is a tornado coming your way, you are ready.
Thanks, I’m taking that as a complement. Really, I like the way OSB works, and I make it thick so I can cut it away as necessary while still being confident that what’s left will still provide enough support. I have a well equipped woodshop (my other hobby) in the same building, so when it’s time to create below grade scenery, I just go get a router or one saw or another.
The heavy-duty style of it works for me. Bring on that tornado!
I’ve actually gotten more done on the layout this summer than in the past few winters combined, which has me (gasp!) looking forward to winter, as that is my primary modeling season. It’s just so hard to justify hiding away in the basement when the weather’s so fair outside and it’s light until 10:00 at night. Good thing I’m such a night owl during the weekends.
