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An Introduction

Orion Forbes TaylorOrion Forbes TaylorOGR Forum Member

After about four years of reading the forum here, I have finally decided to join.  I am a college student and have enjoyed trains, both O Gauge and prototype, from a very early age.  My grandfather grew up in New Martinsville, W.Va. along the B&O Ohio River Division during the days of steam and introduced me to this wonderfully addictive hobby.  My family moved here to Elkhart, Ind. when I was six, so I have grown up along one of the busiest stretches of main line in the country.  Over the years, I have become a big New York Central enthusiast, despite that company already being gone for twenty-two years by the time I was born; I show this enthusiasm by interning at the New York Central Museum in Elkhart, helping put its collections in good order.  I've accumulated a small collection of NYC models over the years, including my prized set of ALCO PA-1s by MTH.  I do not have a layout at this point but I very much enjoy all the wonderful and amazing layouts I see here.  I cannot say how many ideas I have gained for future use from what is posted here.

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johnstrainsjohnstrainsOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Welcome! You are bound to get lots of advice – some will make sense, some won’t – but all well-intentioned.  

 

And I agree with Joe’s comment. Build yourself a small layout to start. It won’t be the dream layout we all want but is a good way to get your feet wet practicing layout design, scenery, structures and accessories, wiring, and all the rest.

Orion Forbes TaylorOrion Forbes TaylorOGR Forum Member

I do have a small layout - of sorts.  A long time ago, I worked with my father and grandfather to build a portable layout we still bring out for Christmas.  It has O-31 MTH Realtrax and is landscaped with a nice raised portion for a neighbourhood using Dept 56 Christmas houses for the neighbourhood and the downtown as well.  I do not know the dimensions of it, but it is big enough to be awkward to bring upstairs from our basement.  I am also able to periodically run the trains I do have at the recently-expanded O Gauge layout at the NYC Museum.

 

As far as the NYC Museum goes, Don, it is very much still in operation.  Several groups will be holding meetings or conventions there this year, including part of the New York Central System Historical Society's annual convention.  There are several pieces of rolling stock painted last year, with more supposed to follow this year - including our L-3a No. 3001 steam locomotive, which is to come first.  We may also get funding to assist with our collections management as well.

Bob BubeckBob BubeckOGR Forum Member

Welcome, Orion. While in school, I maintained various layouts (Flyer and HO) in my parents' attic, so your enthusiasm is appreciated on this end.

 

By the by, a nice overview of the New York Central Museum in Elkhart is in a segment of the soon to be released "TM's World class Hi-Rail Layouts Part 3".

 

Again, welcome.

 

Bob Bubeck

B BigRailOGR Forum Member

Having been here on this forum for (dare I say) 10 years, here is some important wisdom I will impart to you.  I remember being your age and younger.  It's tough to get a layout together with everything a young person has going on in their lives.  It get's even tougher when you are much older.  I'm kind of in the middle so the older thing has not hit me yet and so I am working like crazy to finish my permanent layout so I can enjoy it whenever I do get older (which I'm pretty sure will be never).  Point being, get some track down on some plywood and play with those trains.  Time goes by real fast after college and that train you bought yesterday will be ten years old in the blink of an eye.  The fact that you found us four years ago tells me you are way ahead of the game as the folks here could fill volumes with what they know.  Welcome and my best to you on your O gauge journey.  BigRail

gg1mangg1manOGR Forum Member MEMORIALIZED MEMBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER

Hi Orion, it's great to have you on board. I think it's wonderful that you volunteer at the museum. It's generous people like you that makes such fun and interesting places available to all of us. Your internship will pay off as your career develops, keep up the good work.

 

As for your layout it will happen before you know it, it's completing it that may take a lifetime.

Orion Forbes TaylorOrion Forbes TaylorOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by MUEagle:

BTW..Weren't they going to restore that Mohawk at the National NYC Musuem? What happened?

I do not really want to get into that in detail, beyond saying that there was a lot of mis-information fed to me, the mayor and a lot of the volunteers about the potential restoration to service.  I will say that current tentative plans are for stripping the old paint, applying fresh paint and replacing the smoke deflectors this year.  Nothing more.

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