Finally!
After many years subscribing and chatting (and career work time-related layout less) on this Forum, I'm now retired and have FINALLY distilled the mental essence (it's been driving me crazy with want-basics in my head) of my retirement O27 model train layout down on paper.
I owe this dramatic mental release (and relief) to the purchased SCARM Program and license, worked through many iterations of basic dimensions and track arrangements, until I sat back and shouted "That's IT!!!". The model railroad would fit into, with a walkway surrounding, the now spare 12x17 following our daughter's vacating.
Disclosure: I'm no model railroading neophyte, now age 62. I've been messing with model trains since childhood. But never had an operational layout. Being detail and minute "interested" (obsessed?) I played with N scale Code 55 in the 80-90's and belonged to an N scale local club. Moving to a very modest retirement home on the Delmarva Peninsula of Maryland in 2000 (which would match my extremely modest pension), plus failing eyes, N scale was pitched in favor of O. Discovering the existence of O27 gave me an excited outlet for finer rail profile operational details combined with more compact operations. The N Scale club members were amazed at my scenic talents...being a career Horticulturist and Conservation professional evidently helped translate landscapes to miniature.
I've had some inspirations along the way:
- Choo-Choo Charlie's 50's O27 Lionel layout;
- John Armstrong and Tony Koester books on prototypical model railroad planning;
- Lance Mindheim USA and Iain Rice UK;
- BIGGEST influence...the book Minimalist Model Railroading; Capturing the Essence of Railroading by Jim Spavins;
- Since 2000, track side exploring and monitoring (in person and scanner radio) Maryland & Delaware's Delmarva Peninsula short line railroading industry, customer business operations, rail movements and interchange with Class 1 railroads.
Thankx!!
