July 12, It's still day 1 of our Road Trip.

Second Stop: Minneapolis Meet Up!

I put out the call on Facebook, the RailPro User Group, and MRH looking for any model railroaders in the Minneapolis area who might want to meet up. The response was very good and we had people from each of the groups represented at dinner.

So, I'm watching the movie "Unstoppable", and thanks to my time here at MRH, I actually know what everyone is talking about!

July 12 was officially day 1 of our Road Trip.

First Stop: Paul Krentz & the Pokey District (Visit Paul's BLOG on MRH)

I've added a few tools to my shanty scene plus I've rusted up an old earth mover to park next too the shanty.

The 2 figures I painted earlier are also in their place. Now I just need to work on tying it all together.

To All: The St. Louis, Memphis & Southeastern RR existed from 1902 until 1907. It then became part of thr Frisco. I scratch built, painted and lettered this Early Rail Boxcar. Photo by Elvin Howland. Yours, Elvin Howland/E. St. Louis Rail Group Layout.

My first blog, http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/15158, was about setting up my proto/freelance Ontario South Central in the living area of our condo in Toronto and the best way to blend it into the living arrangement. 

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 ?

I am seeing a lot of folks who are "back" at this hobby after several decades, and a lot of folks new to this hobby as well, so I'm curious as to how many people here ARE new to the hobby? How many people were in this hobby before, but are now back?

On an unrelated note: How did you folks hear about Model Railroad Hobbyist?

    Probably about a month ago I was sitting here starring at my computer screen and thinking I need a hobby.  Yes I've dabbled here and there in things over the years, but I wanted something that I can continue to learn and evolve with.  I started thinking about how I enjoyed building model kits during my late teens, early twenties.  Marriage, Army, and kids kinda pulled me away from building models.  Then I started thinking of how I like to dabble in woodworking from time to time.

After falling in love with the Illinois Terminal, I have started this blog to document the building my new layout.