Here on the forums of late we have experienced the doom and gloom portent of model railroading future, the failure of the 4'  X 8' layouts but also things like the realism thread and the Depression Era thread.

These topics got me to thinking: What is YOUR particular passion, YOUR points of interests that became focal points for the enjoyment of the Model Railroading Hobby ? What is the motivating factor(s) that keep you plugging away.

I think I just accidentally became an MRH preacher... proselytizing the good news of Model Railroad Hobbyist...

I just asked the question, in a Facebook HO train forum, "Now I'm curious... how many here subscribe to Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine?"

The thread has blown up, and quite a few folks say they never heard of it, and just subscribed today!

Does anyone know what happened to "Vector Cuts"?  I have several of their kits and detail parts and wanted to order more, but the web site is down. Did someone buy them out, or did he just go under?

Thanks,

Wes Garcia

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

I'm working on a bookshelf layout that's 25 ft long and 8 ft wide (HO Scale). I was wondering if there was any truth about an elevator system that could raise and lower your train between levels. I was planning on putting my train yard on the second level and all my businesses on the first level. I don't have any room for a helix and I looked at a long incline but that too requires long distance to go up 14 inches. Does anyone have any suggestions?