HELP EXCHANGE

I too understood the original post just fine.

I have two people helping me right now. Both were found right here on the forum. One works for trade, which is a win win, because he is taking unwanted items off my hands, in return for progress. The other gets some cash, but most of that goes to gas because he lives a couple hours away. Also, at the end of every session my wife makes us dinner.

Train running in trade isn't really much of an option, because my layout is 100% TMCC. People can't just bring any old trains over to run. I think Matt has mostly DCS, and Patrick mostly conventional.

This past week, Patrick did bring over a couple of engines, one Legacy and one Atlas w/TMCC. We got the Legacy to work, but for whatever reason, we couldn't get the Atlas programmed. We just took a half hour out of work time to play a little, no big deal.

Jim offers a reasonable question. I have only grabbed some assistance from family, mainly in helping me pick up the benchwork materials at the local home improvement store. It is very difficult (or impossible) for me to get big sheets of plywood on the truck alone so extra hands are a must. No help in building the layout although I have in the past on certain occasions.

I build layouts in reasonable sizes so I can handle pretty much anything without getting help. I can respect those that have multiple operators with train orders and very prototypical operations but I want to be able to run trains without waiting on a bunch of people to come over to help. 

I've also had Trackers (www.nationalcapitaltrackers.org) over to run trains on multiple occasions. We all had a good time. I can't think of an occasion where I put them to work but perhaps that will change next time...

I hear of OGR forum members getting together all the time.  This usually comes after one member ask's for help and others then find out where they are located.  I sometimes wish there was a listing of where members live, at least by the state or country they live in.  There might be a member living down the street and you would never know it. 

I don't even know which members live in Oregon or states near by.  I understand why, but the secrecy of it all sucks.

TEX

Steve

In my case, a member with a OGR featured layout a mile away. Since I had my address listed, as well as a my email, he contacted me.

Thanks Brad, never knew that, at least it's a start.  Thank you for posting the info.

TEX

Steve

Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't know that either. Now all I have to do is find the other 80 members in Minnesota.

What part of the United States will this layout be located & what are the social/labor/economic conventions in your neck of the woods? What are the prevailing wages? Local unemployment rates? (This is the time in the national  economic cycle for all to be making money). Local crime rates? Any local train clubs w/trade skill members willing to barter their skills for yours?

How large a layout? Will it be bigger than what your prospective labor crew own or can afford?

Around these parts big club members have their own keys to the club layout where each can run the club trains per each member's schedule. Each volunteers for work assignments & further there are monthly dues to pay. What will that be the rules to 'your house' layout? How long will your "build to play" agreement last?

Around 1000 feet of track when finished not including yards.  That big enough for you?    There are no O Scale clubs within a short distance to me. The premise of this post is simple, nothing to do with prevailing wages, keys to clubs, unemployment rates and crime rates.  I have plenty of skill to do it myself having constructed all the houses I have lived in. I have the bench work and 2 loops with switches run already.   It was a simple question does anyone do it and has it worked. There is no crime on my layout. 

I do not see you volunteering being I am in Indiana and you are in New York. Once again let me lay it out for you:  Does anyone do this and does it work?  I did not ask if I need to unionize, pay a prevailing wages and enter into an ironclad contract for the help with construction and the subsequent running of equipment.  Once again a simple post has turned into something it was not meant to be. 

Jim, I hope my original post was helpful. Here's a little more insight as to how it all went down.

I found Patrick when I started a topic about my layout and told my story. You can read the whole thing by clicking on the link in my signature. When you get to the post by CGWforever that says "email sent", that's Patrick.

As for Matt, our paths crossed right here on page 30 of "What did you do on your layout today?" He had no idea we lived so close (nor did I) until I mentioned the Minnesota Wild in a post. Then it clicked.

I guess my point is, nobody will know that you want help until you ask, and the forum is a good place to do just that. I think you will have even more luck in Indiana because there a lot more members than there are in Minnesota.

Thanks Pat, your post was helpful and I just was wondering if that sort of thing worked out.  I am slowly getting things finished but thought it might be a fun way to kill 2 birds with1 stone.  I was holding off asking until I got some feedback from the many INTELLIGENT members we have on the forum.  Thanks again Pat and MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Hello Jim from Valparaiso!  Unfortunately, barely have time to work on my own.

I have a semi employed nephew in-law who is a carpenter.  I usually have him help with benchwork.  If I had a chalk line, a LASER and two metal guides, I cannot cut a straight line with a circular or jig saw.  I pay him and usually feed him and my niece. They like to come over, we have a good time and it gives them a few bucks.  Win win.

After we get the newest section put up, the next time they come over they enjoy seeing the layout progress and they like to run trains.

Jim. 

We we have several volunteers that have stopped by and helped with layout construction on our new layout. You can see some pictures on our Facebook page at MrMuffinsTrains. We welcome people that want to bring their trains and run them on our layout. The picture of the Berk at the top of our Facebook page is one such engine. During the year we were open at the old space, we had no issues. There's no "agreement" in place; they are just our guests running their trains. 

When we get down that way I would like to stop and check out your layout.  I am not against letting a small circle of visiting operators using my layout from time to time.