N Scale Progress

It appears some guys have been pretty busy down at the depot (I've been tied up with some other stuff). They have researched some landmarks around Coleman and Echo Texas, and have come up with what looks like a workable track plan.


This is the left side of the layout. Coleman will be on the right (front), San Angelo Junction will be further back (at the Y), and Echo will off to the left. The track is just tacked down to see if the plan will be workable, and it looks pretty good.


In the back of this picture, you can see the 16" wide connector that joins the two parts of the layout together.

The DCC and DC power systems will be mounted under the connector piece along with a computer for central control. We will use straight DC power for normal display operations, and will switch to the DCC power for when we want to conduct operations.

There is track down on the other side as well, but it's got too much stuff piled on top for a good picture right now. The roundhouse tracks are actually under the boxes!

More as it happens...

Happy New Year!

I haven't had much to write about for the last week or so, but since it is New Year's Eve, I thought I'd write a few lines to let you know what I'm up to (train-wise, anyway).

Yesterday Trish and I went to the Santa Fe depot and packed up the Christmas Village and trolley she had on display for the annual Chritmas show. Today, I start taking down the On30 logging layout I have had on display for the last year.

I have a plan for a small (less than 2X4 feet) urban trolley layout, perhaps built on Saturdays at the depot as a demonstration. We'll see how that works. I've already found the track, trolleys, and buildings in boxes at the depot, and just need to create a base. Perhaps as it's built, I can remember to take a few pictures to post.

Anyway, that's my plan...

Happy New Year!

Bliss

Train Depot Appreciation Dinner

Last night Trish and I went to the annual Santa Fe Depot Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. We were at a local Mexican restaurant, and enjoyed a very nice dinner with the other members of the board and volunteers. As I was looking around, I realized that at 48, I was probably one of the younger participants, with many easily in their mid to late 70s.

Part of this is due, I'm sure, to the fact that the Santa Fe railroad suspended operations in this area over 20 years ago, and many of the volunteers are former railroad employees. But I also notice a lack of interest in volunteering by the younger crowd, in general. Everyone is so busy with their lives that they don't have any time to give.

I hope, especially this time of year, that folks will look up, even for a moment, and think about the things they may be able to contribute to organizations around them.

Christmas at the San Angelo Santa Fe Depot

Every year, in December, the San Angelo Santa Fe Depot is open for extended hours to celebrate Christmas. There are extra model railroad displays, Santa arrives on the front of a Mexican National Railway diesel locomotive, the mayor and chief of police (among others) read stories to kids, and other festivities occur.

This year is the same, Friday began with Santa arriving at noon, and then he was there visiting with the children all evening. There must have been over 100 people on friday, and probably close to 200 visitors over the course of the weekend.

If you get a chance, stop on by. The depot is open Friday from 6-9pm, and on Saturday from 10am-4pm, and from 6-9pm. The Christmas celebration is all month.