Greg@mnrr
Section Hand
Tomorrow, while I have several projects in mind, the first and foremost is cleaning up the messy layout room. I have a bad habit of making a mess on the carpet tiles, leaving items on the work bench, layout projects started but unfinished and letting dust build up on the layout, beside my leaving out modeling supplies all over the place.
My question to the Forum members is "If a fellow model railroader unexpectedly called you and wanted to visit and see your layout, are you ready to run a train or two for your interested guest?" Granted the Covid Virus makes the chances slim to none of a surprise visit, wouldn't it be nice to walk down to your layout anytime and be able to start a train? I've met many model railroaders for the first time at functions like TrainFest or swap meets and they invite me to come and see their layouts. Do I call when I'm two hours away or give them weeks notice before the visit?
My work bench is visible to anyone looking at the layout since the work bench is usually a mess and I'm not proud of the disorganization that is so apparent in the guest(s) plain view. After seeing McLeod's work bench I want to hide!!!
I remember a well known model railroader who layout was on a scheduled tour route and we were the first to arrive the day of the tour. Well, the layout's owner, who was working in his garage, thought that the next day was when his layout was open for visits and he was planning to clean track, assemble trains and to get ready for the tour that evening on the day we visited. A day short and not ready to run.
Sure, layouts can be in various stages of construction, but do you clean up after each work session? And, even under construction there maybe a section or two of the layout where cars could be switched. I worked with a VP who insisted that employees in his area of supervision leave their desks clean before leaving work each evening. His theory was when coming to work and being greeted by a clean workspace (desk) was great motivation to want to do a good job, than coming to work to a dirty desk and left over work to complete. I followed his advise and it worked.
I know when I go down to the train room I find myself more motivated to start a project and do a better job if the room is clean and straightened up, even if it's only for myself. Besides, when the train room is clean I won't waste valuable modeling time looking for the specific supplies I require.
I'll report back after tomorrow's layout cleaning.
So my question is, "Is your model railroad ready for guests?" Then there's Murphy's Law when showing your layout to guests.....!
Greg
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My question to the Forum members is "If a fellow model railroader unexpectedly called you and wanted to visit and see your layout, are you ready to run a train or two for your interested guest?" Granted the Covid Virus makes the chances slim to none of a surprise visit, wouldn't it be nice to walk down to your layout anytime and be able to start a train? I've met many model railroaders for the first time at functions like TrainFest or swap meets and they invite me to come and see their layouts. Do I call when I'm two hours away or give them weeks notice before the visit?
My work bench is visible to anyone looking at the layout since the work bench is usually a mess and I'm not proud of the disorganization that is so apparent in the guest(s) plain view. After seeing McLeod's work bench I want to hide!!!
I remember a well known model railroader who layout was on a scheduled tour route and we were the first to arrive the day of the tour. Well, the layout's owner, who was working in his garage, thought that the next day was when his layout was open for visits and he was planning to clean track, assemble trains and to get ready for the tour that evening on the day we visited. A day short and not ready to run.
Sure, layouts can be in various stages of construction, but do you clean up after each work session? And, even under construction there maybe a section or two of the layout where cars could be switched. I worked with a VP who insisted that employees in his area of supervision leave their desks clean before leaving work each evening. His theory was when coming to work and being greeted by a clean workspace (desk) was great motivation to want to do a good job, than coming to work to a dirty desk and left over work to complete. I followed his advise and it worked.
I know when I go down to the train room I find myself more motivated to start a project and do a better job if the room is clean and straightened up, even if it's only for myself. Besides, when the train room is clean I won't waste valuable modeling time looking for the specific supplies I require.
I'll report back after tomorrow's layout cleaning.
So my question is, "Is your model railroad ready for guests?" Then there's Murphy's Law when showing your layout to guests.....!
Greg
#########
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