Happy New Year to all. Back in 2017 I was contemplating a large garage with loft for a big layout. After seeing the quote for just the bare bones garage and the adding in all the insulation electrical heating etc, I decided to not go that route. Instead I decided to make a smaller layout in the basement. 

The repairs are done and a new set of shelves are up. Display pieces are back on display should I get a visit from anyone interested in the hobby.

Time to consider a new project.

A Project sitting on the back burner has been to put a decoder in the Presidents Choice steam locomotive on the lower Shelf. 

So the Bridge to Nowhere is all fixed up. More trees, shrubs, animals, people, autos, and trains too. A bit of paint around the outside of the diorama, and now I have something to show visitors when they stop by.

Santa is on the front of HBR 4200 making his traditional holiday tour.

The only part of my Flin Flon layout I kept was the big bridge scene. I had built it to be moved and I am happy to say it survived the 1400km journey. 

This weekend I built a stand for it and got it out of its shipping crate I made. I was very pleased to see it was all intact. I had taken off a lot of small details before the move so once I figure out which box I put them in I can add them back to the scene. 

It has been 20 weeks since I finished dismantling the layout in Flin Flon, and about 8 weeks since we moved into our new home here in Emo. This is the first weekend I have had time to work on model railroading again. 

With all of my gear in boxes back in Flin Flon awaiting the move to Emo Ontario, I have time to con'tim'plate the future layout in my new house. Yes, we don't have a house yet but I am working on it. I am used to three trains a week cut back to just two a week in Flin Flon. Here in Emo there must be 20 a day running at speed through this little community. So should I  change my ways and built a high speed main line with modern locomotives ?

The mine is out of ore so the tracks are being removed. The town can't survive like the old days so many are moving on. Historically this scene has played out many times. 

For me I am moving to a new job so I have to dismantle the layout. New adventures await. A new layout will be built, but exactly where and when is not known.

Tim Schwartz

Well here is the final project for the year. I Kit bashed a Highway Miniatures Erie B-2 Steam Shovel into a Marion Type 450. HBMS had 10 of these versatile units.

I used almost everything from the kit with the exception of the boiler. 

So far I have managed to get four locomotives back together and weathered. All of them run. Each has some one at the controls. Left on the list is #1 and #8. I have to make handrails for #8. Winter has set in so I should be able to get back to my models now. 

Until Next Time.

Tim