Another New Member

[bsmart]

Hello, I joined this group a few days ago and so far have been wandering around some of the forums to get a 'feel' for the place.

I first attempted to build a layout about 20 years ago when my sons were younger. That attempt pretty much died due to outside pressures (job and other issues) and I think the 4x8 plywood (with some track still on it) is out in the shed but I'm going to let it stay there for a while.

I've decided to stay with HO since I don't think my eyes could handle the smaller scales. I'm planning on starting with a small switching layout (maybe on a 2x4 module) and see how it goes. I want to get something up and running fairly quickly. My wife wanted to have a train running under the tree for my grand kids (3 & 5 years old) to see this year. So we bought a ready to run Athern set with E-Z track. It worked pretty well on the floor under the tree and got the bug active in me again. I'm setting the EZ track aside (maybe it will come out under the tree next year) but the rolling stock will be my starting point.

I'm already forming some questions for y'all so I hope you don't mind.

Bob Smart

 

[logandsawman]

. My wife wanted to have a train running under the tree for my grand kids (3 & 5 years old) to see this year. So we bought a ready to run Athern set with E-Z track. It worked pretty well on the floor under the tree and got the bug active in me again. I'm setting the EZ track aside (maybe it will come out under the tree next year) but the rolling stock will be my starting point.

Welcome to the forum and that is about the exact way I got back into the hobby--grandkids and Christmas.

lasm

 

[wombat457]

Welcome to the forums and back to the hobby. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Bruette]

Welcome to the forums Bob, glad to have you onboard!

As one of our great members CJ would say "the only dumb question is the one you don't ask"

A Christmas train for my grandson got me to build my first permanent layout too!

 

[BigE]

A Christmas train for my grandson got me to build my first permanent layout too!

Ah yes, the old "got a set for my Grandson" routine eh?
I am the oldest Grandson and Grandpa got me my first Lionel set when I was about 4 (50 years ago). I think he played with it more than me.

 

[Bruette]

BigE I know just what you are talking about. I have over heard guys saying something just like what you are referring to many times when I am in my local train shop, MB Klein. I don't understand why a grown man needs an excuse to play with trains. I love my toy trains and I am proud of them!

For me it's actually true. I had always had an HO train under my Christmas trees for most of my life since 1974. When I was a boy I admired Lionel trains and drooled over them in the stores, but I could not afford them on a paper boys wages.

After I grew up I just continued to run HO trains under my Christmas trees. Then October 11, 2012 my very loyal and faithful friend, my cocker spaniel Bessy passed away suddenly from a heart attack and she was only 7 years old. That little girl was right next to me through the darkest time of my life. She helped pull me through my health problems and never left my side. I had been given my last rites and sent home to die at home, but my Bessy would have none of that. She would lay next to me and keep me warm and always had a way to brighten my days. I slowly began to recover, against all odds. I credit my faith, my wife, my family and my Bessy.

Now that my health were steadily improving she was gone. Losing her triggered my first and only bout with depression. When it was time to set up the train for Christmas I had no desire to bother with it.

My daughter being as clever as a girl can be bought a Lionel Polar Express set for me and said "Ayden (my youngest grandson) would love to have this under the tree." They live with us and she knew I could not disappoint my grandson. Setting up that set with my grandson and finally having the Lionel train I had always wanted is what began the end of my depression and inspired me to build a permanent layout for MYSELF in January of 2013.

So as I said a Christmas train for my grandson got me to build my first permanent layout.