I had always loved the 400E Blue Comet. When MTH began their reproduction of that storied tinplate locomotive, I contacted one of the roller base manufacturers, and inquired if he could make a roller base for that specific loco. When the answer came back in the affirmative, I decided to order the locomotive, and then ordered the specially manufactured roller base. My short lived "Plan A" was to merely purchase that one tinplate locomotive. However, I was hooked on tinplate trains.
With each successive MTH tinplate catalog, I decided which locomotives, cars and accessories might be worth adding. Given the breadth of beautiful offerings, the desire to limit the purchases, and the likely promise of future offerings, I decided to proceed slowly. I also didn't have a tinplate layout at the time, and no room to build such a layout. "Plan B" was to build a tinplate layout when I could acquire the right of way. Last summer, I finally acquired the right of way, and built a modest tinplate layout comprised entirely of MTH reproductions and some Lionel Tinplate. So, a number of years passed from purchase to actual use of the tinplate roster.
As usual, the Tinplate forum members were most helpful with both the conception and design of the layout. And while small for a tinplate layout, the footprint would allow for a massive HO layout!!!
