Bear Creek&South Jackson - 3
Although it’snow10yearsold, benchworkand track still aren’t
complete, but theend is in sight. I’mhoping tofinish the
benchworkand trackworkand resume scenery construction
before2014ends. Tempus fugit – thepressureof anational
conventionoften induces great progress.
I built the layout in stages, adding temporary stagingareas so I
could start op sessions earlyon. Having trains running is agreat
way toboost enthusiasm.
My scenery is a seriesof small vignettes
. Theeyepausesoneachof these,
making the layout seembigger. Theyalsomakegreat scenes
for photography.
My hobby roots
As longas I can remember I’ve likedbuilding things. I started
withPlayskool blockswhen Iwas awee ‘un, thenprogressed
to Lincoln Logs, Erector Sets, Legos, andplasticmodel kits.
Mix thatwithnearby railroads – Iwasnearly runover on the
Boston&AlbanynearHolden,MAwhen Iwas three, and later
had the Long IslandRailroadbehindmybackyard. Add inadad
whobuiltmea small HO layoutwhen Iwas sixand itwasonly
amatter of time.
The impetus into seriousmodel trains came froma visit to the
East BaySocietyofModel Engineers inEmeryville, CA in ‘68. A
week later Iwas readingmyfirst issueof
Model Railroader
and
therewasno turningback (althoughmymodelinggeneswere
sometimesdormant).
I guess you could say thatmy current Bear Creek&South
Jackson is the logical conclusion, though somewouldargue
whether an1100 square-footmodel railroad is logical!
I trynot to takemyself too seriously; after all, nomatter how
prototypicallywemodel or operate,we’re still playingwith
trains!
Mymajor interests in thehobbyare:
Layout design–due tomyengineeringbackground.
Operation– running it prototypically. I try toavoid theboring
parts, suchas sitting ina siding for eight hours. I like the in-
teractionsbetween trains and train crews.
Construction– I alreadymentioneda fetish for building
things!
2
2: First generationAlco road switchers run through
morning fog, rollingwestwardout ofMill Bend.
MRH-Apr2014
