This is the update for 12 December 2015. The construction of the layout finally reached the Union Station (aka Kansas City Union Station) yard area in early December. I've left this area to the end because it will have the most complex construction piece, the engine facility in the middle of the east helix. Hopefully over the next couple of weeks, I can get a couple of tracks installed to join the layout from one end to the other. I am in the process of planning the design of the support structure for the engine facility that will be placed in the middle of the east helix.

In a small town in New Jersey there stands a railroad structure that spans the Rancocas creek. The original structure was built in 1832 by the Camden & Amboy Railroad (C&A 1830-1976). The C&A was chartered on the 4th of Febuary 1830.

What my wife thinks about when I say "Honey, I just bought a train I really needed". . . . .LOL!

This is the first building kit I ever assembled. We're going back about 30 Years. I dug..this old stone building out of a box in my parents basement. I can't remember who built the kit, maybe someone can enlighten me. It was available at any hobby shop back in the day. I never thought there was use for it, but maybe there is.

Deconstruction is underway and the new railroad will hopefully lay track in early January! One tends to forget how many hidden screws were covered up by scenery, buildings, ballast etc. I am saving as much as possible, including the lumber, for re-use on the new layout. Plans are for a cantilevered wall mount with a 30 inch depth and 40 inches height from the floor by 27 feet in length.

Well a major milestone in the five year history to date of our layout was reached on Tuesday 8th of December...  

We had our first Ops Session!

Not that I am anywhere close to having any sort of Ops Session (though the gameplan is to have the first one - hopefully - next year), it is fun to at least think about how the layout is to be operated.

Delving into the past of a location will be the activity I undertake on this Blog. This idea was inspired by myself and three other folks two of which I suspect did not know they were doing the inspiring. I have had discussions with several folks on the site about my free lanced line and followed many threads and blogs on here that talk about research of the prototype and modeling it. Others talk about being bitten by the rolling stock buying bug and have rolling stock in more than one era.

This is a reminder of where I am heading towards.

Now that the plaster castings are in place I could start painting, the fun part.  

I have rolling stock mainly consisting of older tyco and some trainset quality life-like cars that I am using for my switching layout. They all not have body mounted Kadees and the question remains should I convert them to Metal Wheelsets? I have 18 cars being used on the "layout" and was curious what is the cheapest/most economic way to get enough for them all? I as many of you know have an extremely small budget so whatever help you can give would be appreciated!