I've been in bed for a couple of weeks, and am only just coming round, so apologies for not having posted for a while. A few things have been happening, and I am keeping a photo record for the point at which it's worth sharing.

What I did want was a corner house for the Bülowstrasse buildings and the stadtbahn that passes through them. This is how it looked in 1905; the photo is from Wikipedia (German).

I've been spending a lot of time over at MERG (Model Electronics Railway Group) and they have some fantastic ideas on controlling turnouts or as they call them "points". I had initially decided to use Caboose Industries Ground Throws and Tam Valley frog juicers. I do know I want juiced frogs. 

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I have finished the West End of the Greater Nickel Plate. However, I have a minor problem in two areas of trackwork. First, let me say that I have reviewed and physically inspected every inch of the DCC wiring and soldered drops - none crossed and all are solid contacts. Second, I have cleaned both the track and wheels of operating engines - usually H-10's with good decoders.

Ok so in a recent thread we hear the ongoing lament of the death of the hobby. 

Yet, a look at the table top role playing hobby of D&D or WWII war games and we see a healthy hobby. Lots of stores, with actual activity nights with participants. No PC games, no online nothing, just a real life hobby that is growing. The thing I like about RPG's is the fact it is based on creativity. 

I wonder if operations on MRRs can be seen as similar to role-playing games?

And if that is the case, I see a way to attract the next generation.

Whenever I go over to the weathering shop I get all amped up to rust something. This time I actually followed through and rusted up one of those old cheap Tyco trailers.

One of the great things about internet forums is all new interesting and nice model railroad friends you learn to know.

A guest who I come to know on another forum visited me all the way from Germany yesterday. Great fun! We run one full round of operations on my layout and had a lot of fun. 

I have some great news from the convention this weekend which still continues into Sunday. I am typing this now after getting back from the banquet, winning three auction items quite a few door prizes and also.... best in show in the novice category for models for my turntable diorama. To start out the weekend I went to work on a local model railroad in operations. I had a job involving some intense switching but the group there were very impressed on how I did, it only took about 2 hours swapping about 40-50 cars back and forth.

  After much consideration and input from MRH readers I decided to proceed with the CCT in S scale so I thought a new thread would be easier to follow. Anyone interested in the thoughts and suggests relating to the choice can search up my previous CCT threads. Here's a concept track plan subject to fine tuning as the track is laid out and viewed on the benchwork.

Back around 2008 I bought one of the first Atlas MP15DC models off the line - it was the Master Gold version with QSI sound. A custom board in fact, because the space in the locomotive is really tight. I loved that model... I think it is still my most expensive single unit at retail.