Hello from an old newbie !

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M

Mud Pie

New Member
I've had model trains since, well, before I was born. My mom (not my dad, kinda "odd", especially "way back then") was the one into model trains. I believe she made her first layout in the late 1950's. I was born in 1961. Our two car garage was converted into "Mommy's Train Room" to the extent that my dad built ANOTHER garage on the opposite side of the house for the cars. Now THAT is true love !!

I got the train set when we moved and my mom boxed up the train set and about 20-40 houses she had built. I guess I was -7-8 years old at this point. I set it up in our new basement, my mom letting me set it up the way I wanted. I had house/factory/house/school all on the same street. Years later my mom admitted how much that bugged her. LOL. As I aged, I occasionally would run the trains, set the layout right, add track, but never to the extent my mom did. Eventually I found cars and girls, the trains got re-boxed and put away. "kids stuff", y'know....

Then I joined the Marines, and while away, my parents moved to Texas (I'm originally from Long Island). Everything of mine was boxed up and moved. When I was discharged, I eventually moved to Texas. I retrieved my belongings and my mom asked "Do you still want the trains ?". With a smile I said "YES !", it was no longer "kids stuff" anymore. It was my youth.

I still have them all these years later. Trains and models. But all I did was look at them. Smile. Remember. Time to ride the rails once again.

My current home isn't roomy enough for an HO layout, I've gone to N Scale. My current flavor is now Kato Amtrak Superliners and Viewliners. I'm somewhat of a geek (I'm a geek by trade...) so when I started reading online about layouts and such, I've learned of DCC and sound decoders. Oh. My. God. Puts a WHOLE new spin on model trains !! So I got back into trains, but at a different level. I can fulfill my geek needs with the decoders while still having them do the same thing as they did in my youth; go in a convoluted oval and come back to where it started. LOL. But talk about FUN !!

I'll be lurking for quite a while learning, doubtful I'll be of any help to anyone, and I'll try to use the search feature before I ask any questions !!
 
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G'day Mud Pie....Great monniker...love it.....You've joined a great forum....the best actually....If there's a better one , I'd love to know but I doubt it... You'll be made very very welcome....and you'll get so much help...you'll be overwhelmed , I was about 14 months ago when I joined from all the way across the Pacific in Australia....So much fun but I warn you...it's almost as addictive as the hobby itself...Cheers Rod.....
 


Hello there, Mud Pie! Welcome to the forum! I must admit, I am still a newbie here myself. However, like you, I am learning things as I read and reply. Your story sounds much more awesome than mine also.
 
Welcome to the Forums, Mud Pie. I have to agree with Rodney, that's a great name. This is without a doubt the best and friendliest model railroad forum on the internet. Don't hesitate to ask questions or to chime in with a comment or two. Nobody's going to chew you out for anything here.
 
Thanks for the welcome, everyone !! I got the nickname Mud Pie a loooong time ago (back in 1975 or so), and I can guarantee it's not from what you think !! LOL I don't know if it's appropriate to discuss "how'd you get your screen name" in this thread, so I won't get into it...
 
FM C liner-

Pictures, at best, would be laughable at this point. I currently have my "layout", if you will, on my desk return. I set up the Manning Oaks layout from Katousa's web site using Unitrack. There is nothing else; no scenery, nothing. Just track and trains. I have three Kato locomotives with MRC sound decoders (which I found incredibly easy to install) of which I'm having a blast setting up all the CVs. Are all my sound profiles prototypical ? Most likely not. I'm doing the "oh, that sounds cool !" set-up theory. No one sees it but me, so what I want, goes. LOL. Currently I have a Kato Amtrak P42 Superliner consist (8 cars), Kato Amtrak P42 Viewliner consist (7 cars), Kato SD40 pulling the Kato Gunderson Maxi-1 intermodal. Naturally, I had to buy the Kato bookcases for all these trains to store them when not running....

Yesterday I installed the Kato LED interior lighting kit in both sets of Amtrak cars. As you can see, I'm a bit of a Kato fan right now. That may change as my experience grows, right now I'm just having fun with all the new technology with DCC and LED lighting. Things certainly have changed drastically from when I was a kid.

When I was a kid, I was only into steam. Watching all the linkage work always intrigued me. My wife and I recently took the Sunset Limited to New Orleans so that got me into the modern Amtrak consist. Actually, (this is somewhat embarrassing) I even put two N scale figures in our roomette on our sleeper car....

On the bright side, just this morning my wife said, "Why don't we get something today to put your track on so we can use the desk again ?"

She knows not what she just started.....
 


Hi MP, Welcome to the forums, your very correct that model railroading sure has changed with DCC compared to what it was us just DC which I still am in being of the old school but not really disappointed to any great extent.

As your aware these forums are a great place with a lot of friendships formed and help shared.

I might suggest really looking into a free standing around the wall type of layout as most everything is a lot more accessible
that way.


Good to have you here on the forums.
 
Being I'm going somewhat small in layout size (4'x6'), my plan is to have it portable. Not in portable as in take it somewhere, portable as in putting it off to the side when not in use. I'm going to make it so I can rest/hang it flat against the wall on wall-mounted L brackets, and put it on a table when desired. Of course this means securely gluing everything so I don't come into the room with parts scattered akimbo on the ground. The room being utilized is a spare bedroom my wife refers to as my "indoor Man Cave"; it already is our Media Room/computer room. I have my Man Things in there, HD projector with cable TV and media PC, mini-fridge and microwave, theater-style popcorn machine, futon and computer desk. My newest obsession has to fit in here, and no where else.

While I envy those with static layouts occupying an entire room (or building !!); in MY house, that just ain't happening.
 
Hey Mud pie. I had a similar experience with model trains. My dad (sorry, i'm usual) had ho models on a 4x8 piece of plywood suspended by block and tackle (pulleys for all you land lubbers) from his bedroom ceiling. He pulled down the box when I was 5, and I was instantly hooked. I've been in love with HO modeling ever since. I live in the town of Dexter, Michigan, where the local disused train station has been turned into a model railroad club. I do a lot of running there.

This is a great forum and I have no doubt that you will find that any question will be answered here. Welcome, and welcome back.
 
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