Thank you everyone! Dave, my wife had one knee replaced two years ago. The surgeon said give it a year to heal, and then he would see about replacing the other. After one year he said wait another year. By this year, mine was giving me trouble, but not severe, so it seemed reasonable that by the time I retired (on Medicare) mine would be ready to do. However, also the what I call "health care war" in Western Pennsylvania had come into play. It is very complicated, but though we have the same insurance plan as before, things have changed. Then my wife went in for her annual appointment and he told her the same thing as he told me. Well I don't see how she will be able to get by for 7 years. He is an excellent surgeon and one of the nicest guys in the community. I suggested we get another opinion, but....
Anyway, baring some unseen accident or illness on my part, we would be moving to a single level for her benefit, not mine. So I can envision building a new layout with parts of a layout built here. I think we just stick with version J except find a place for the second siding.
I have tried it before, and I don't like switching either. I'm a railfan, wanting to watch the train travel from one location, through some interesting scenery, and on to another location. I switch some cars into a few sidings, but I find the constant switching to be boring. I have watched some guys at shows with switching layouts. I end up gravitating to the layouts that just have a nice selection of trains travelling along. The yard would have only be for train storage. I can do that with the cassette idea. Like you Dave, I don't have a desire to acquire more trains, just occasionally upgrade to something better and sell an older one. I am not a collector.
TR18, thank you for commenting. Yes, I have seen it done without a helix. I would be glad to see your photograph when you get the time.
Dave B. Thank you very much for the congratulations. Good to hear from you!!
