I am a 61 year old working professional with many hobbies (woodworking/bicycling/antiques/mulitple collections etc.). I am a native of the Athens, Ga area now living near Winston-Salem, NC. In years past, I loved slot cars and O gauge trains. I have returned to trains with DCC controlled HO scale for the two layouts I have ongoing.

I have an L shaped layout in our bedroom which confirms I have a very supportive wife…lol. This is my main interest. I am complete with the benchwork and the track plan. No scenery yet. Wiring not complete at this writing; but ok to run locos. Several structures. I’m using Peco flex track and turnouts. HO code 83. I have two Athearn Genesis DCC (with sound) switcher locomotives. These model the EMD MP15-AC. My layout is a fantasy representation of an industrial park serving several customers in food service and furniture manufacturing. The “L” is about 11 ft x 7 ft. I have five turnouts…four right and one left hand. All hand operated. This is a shelf layout…18 inches wide. I like the idea of the detailed mircrocosm…like a diorama with moving trains. Better keep hoping for museum quality since it’s in our bedroom!! Wish I could do some kind of continuous run; maybe some kind of reverser for an out…pause…and back? That’s for a later time. For now, the switcher takes about an estimated two minutes to run from one end of the L to the other end…creeping slow…as per the prototypes in such parks.

I have a second continuous run layout in another room. This is my starter layout with EZ Track in HO. It has DCC and has four DCC controlled turnouts! It is mounted on a 4x8 table I built. Nicely painted. Homasote on a plywood top. I have the two DCC locos that came with the set (Bachman Digital Commander) and maybe 9 additonal cars. I