Well it is a bittersweet time for me. Less than a month before my wife and I move up to the Ocala, Florida area. We moved down here to the Florida Keys almost two years ago. When we got here we knew it was temp so I built a 12 x 14 ft ATR layout. I didn’t do any scenery so I could take it up and salvage most everything. Anyway I took up the remainder of the track today and tomorrow I will dismantle the benchwork. All the loco’s and rolling stock etc is packed up ready to go. The sweet part is we have a two car detached garage to house the new layout. All I have to do is build a pole barn for the horses first? Small tradeoff I figure. I have been toying with a layout plan for the last month or so now that I know how much space I have. So it won’t be long and I can start the final (ha) layout including scenery. For some reason Ocala and surrounding area has more Train shops than most entire states?? So I will be able to spend lots of time window shopping for a change. Exciting times are ahead for sure. Terry
As long as it comes out okay at the far end, Terry. Your foresight has helped to make it all palatable, and you know what awaits you in Ocala. BTW, where is Ocala…I have forgotten…out of the hurrricane paths? (Woops…nope, I just looked it up!!!) I would use some of that pole barn lumber to jack up your new place.
When is the move?
-Crandell
Terry,I know how that goes and for me its always a sad day…Good luck with your move…Keep us posted on your layout process once you get it started.[:D]
Terry,
Congratulations on the newest acquisition. Will the two-car detached garage be bigger than the shed you had the other layout in? Terry, isn’t there a monster LHS in the Ocala area - something like Dave’s Train Shop?
Anyhow, let us know how things progress…
Tom
Crandell - Well Ocala isn’t historically known for Hurricanes. By the time they reach the area they are Tropical Storms. Anyway much safer than the Florida Keys. The house is not in a flood zone so no more 9 ft surges for us. Actually we will be about an hour north of Ocala at the end of a 5 mile dirt road, no neighbors just lots of large oaks and horse pasture. Larry - Thanks and yes I will keep everyone posted on my progress once I get my new internet service set up. I am sure I will have lots of questions on my new layout design. I’m thinking of a two level but may settle for the easier one level route. Tom - Actually this is over twice the size of the shed and once I get it insulated and an AC installed it will be usable all year round. A nice change from the current layout room. Yes there are several HS in Ocala. I haven’t had the oportunity to visit one yet but will soon. Can’t wait for our FT’s to ship. Can’t be much longer. I went ahead and ordered the other powered set a while back hoping it would help out (seemed like a good excuse). Hows things going on your layout. I haven’t been online much in the last month or so? Kind of out of the loop. Terry
Well, your layout survived a hurricane, so I suspect it can survive a moving van. Sometimes, we all really need a kick in the pants to get us moving away from our old ways and on the way to bigger and better things. The increase in available space alone should be worth the effort of tearing down and starting again.
My layout is only a year-and-a-half old, but I’d start from scratch in a minute if it meant doubling my space. Good luck to you and your lady, and we’ll look forward to hearing from you soon.
Another highlight of the Ocala area is the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum. They DO have HO scale dragsters now. [:D]
I had to do it earlier this year and it is sad, but you move onto another chapter in model railoroading. I miss my layout though.
Marlon - I’ll check that out. After being in the Florida Keys for two years it will be nice to have an alternative to a water activity for a change. Chuck - Wow your layout looks much better than mine. I can see why you feel bad. But the next one will be even better. Mine was just a plywood praire with a butt load of track. It was kind of a test bed for various ideas I had. I can’t wait to start scenicing. Thats my favorite part of MRR other than running trains of course. Terry