the Great Northern and use a modified version of the Northern
Pacific paint scheme for my diesels.
The LD SIG Journal had an article about getting the most sat-
isfying layout design. The secret, according to the author, is to
return to what got you into the hobby. It’s here where there’s a
passion for trains that will sustain you and will truly scratch the
model railroading itch to satisfaction.
But I’m sometimes slow to get it. After reading this, I went back
to my Northern Railway track plans. I was modeling western
Washington, running out of Tacoma and up over the Cascades.
One afternoon, while contemplating options for my Tacoma
area design, I got an idea. What if I changed history a bit and
ran the Southern Pacific north out of Portland, Oregon, and
interchanged with the SP on my Northern Railway layout?
The excitement of seeing the gray and scarlet SP on my layout
totally captivated me! Having the SP on my Northern Railway
excited me more than any other element on my layout.
Okay, hold the phone. Why not just model the SP? The SP Siskiyou
Line held strong, fond railfanning memories.
What a forehead-slapping moment! The SP Siskiyou Line is what
got me interested in trains way back in the beginning. Hel-LO!
So I began modeling the SP Siskiyou Line and haven’t looked back.
The LD SIG was right: by modeling what got me into trains, I’ve
never lost my passion for the hobby or my layout. If anything, I’m
more satisfied with my modeling subject now than ever.
So what got you interested in
trains?
Publisher’s editorial - 3
MRH-Jul 2013
