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Reverse Running commentary
M
RH and the greater
community in the
MRH forums have
ruined my hobby. It used to be
a fun hobby. I'd go to the hobby
shop, see something that
looked cool and buy it. I would
joyfully take it home, plop it
on my diorama or small layout,
whichever I had at the time,
and run it around and around.
It was a nice past time that pro-
vided me some semblance of
stress relief.
Enjoying my hobby, I came
across Joe Fugate's Siskiyou Line website in 2008. I loved scenery
but had only made a small attempt at it on a diorama once. Joe's
video series looked like something I would enjoy and was reason-
ably priced, so I bought it. I tried out several of the techniques
and enjoyed this next step. Joe also discussed his new ezine that
he planned to produce, which I was fully supportive of. I'm a
visual learner and the thought of videos and more pictures avail-
able through an ezine would benefit me more. I eagerly awaited
the magazine and joined the MRH forums months before MRH
released its first issue.
The MRH forums were modest at first, but friendly and helpful.
There were many good tips, as well as a number of posters that
Reverse Running: Stepping outside the box with a contrary view
by Dave Kilborn
My hobby has been ruined!
provided updates of their work. Many of those original people
still frequent the forums today. As MRH moved from a quarterly
to bi-monthly to monthly publication, the forums grew and more
people were finding what a great resource the MRH website is,
not just the publication. Unfortunately, this was where it all went
terribly wrong for my hobby.
The more I learned from the forums and MRH itself, whether it
was in the questions I asked, articles I read or just reading other
peoples' questions or comments, the more I realized where my
layout lacked. Where once I saw a great CP loco with the Action
Red and Multimark, I began to see a loco with the incorrect head-
light, bell and horn placement. Where once I saw some nice dou-
ble stack cars, I now saw cars that didn't fit my chosen era.
In fact, after my recent switch back to HO, I pulled out a few locos
I had stored and instead of seeing the nicely detailed, smooth
running locos, I now saw a foobie and three others that needed a
number of modifications to bring them up to standards. In fact, I
sold the foobie and one of the other locos, and bought two newer
offerings that were much closer to standard. The other two await
a promised article on detailing them from a MRH member.
I also used to enjoy “designing” track plans that would fit in my
desired space. My main requirements in those designs years ago
was trying to get the longest mainline run, have a tunnel, at least
a couple bridges and a couple passing sidings to run two trains
opposite directions.
Now I have to figure out ways to make the layout a plausible
depiction of a real railroad, including operational plans and deter-
mining what rolling stock and locos I will need to meet these
objectives. Now I have to really work hard at getting a good plan.
Thanks, MRH. Look at how you've ruined my hobby!
MRH-Mar 2013
