I have been an almost life long N-scale modeler.  My first train set was HO but it wasn't long till I gravitated to N and I've pretty much been an N -scale guy for the entire thirty four years I've been a "serious" model rail. Unfortunately though at the ripe old age of forty nine, I find that there are factors that have conspired against me where I no longer can continue to model in N. I have a bit of shakiness in my hands from meds I take and my eyesight isn't getting any better with age. My nerves aren't quite what they used to be either and I just have found that fooling with some of the small details in N has become so much of a chore and so tedious that I just rather not deal with it anymore. It was to the point where I wasn't enjoying the hobby and if you are not enjoying the hobby then why do it?

Today, I finished up dismantling the  N scale "San Miguel" which occupied a 10 X 13 spare bedroom  along with my computer, the desk it's on and my work table. Soon I will start an HO layout in this same space. I've already found a track plan I like, one that Byron Henderson has on his Layout Vision site.  It's his take on the MR Virginian project layout except it's not a 4x8.  It's what he would do with the 8x10 space that the proverbial 4x8 actually occupies when you count aisles around it. I haven't decided on a scenic theme yet but I love the plan. I doubt very seriously it will be an Appalachian coal hauler in my incarnation though! Whatever it is, it will be freelance as my layouts have always been. I try to follow rules of the prototype as best I can and I keep the era of all my equipment consistent but I'm not someone who is obsessed with prototypical accuracy to the point of being ridiculous about it.

So there it is, a new journey begins.....

Michael