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Steve Maier's Beautiful Layout

c.samc.samOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Steve Maier of the NJHR'rs moved to our neck of the mountains last fall after having a splendid new home built here with a large train room upstairs. His facility is beyond first class with plenty of storage and a large workroom in addition to his spacious office. He invited me over today to see his progress and said he had a 'mystery guest' who I might enjoy seeing again.

Steve had the layout delivered to him and assembled at his new home. He began repairs and connections while performing all the demands of getting settled in a new home. The layout had 'issues' but he was able to run trains on a very limited basis. 

Still, some electrical gremlins persisted, so Steve enlisted the professional help of Mike Reagan who arrived yesterday and has been hard at it trying to sort the bugs out. It was good seeing Mike again and am happy for Steve that he was able to come help. They are also setting up a DCS system with Wifi and Legacy. 

The layout was professionally built some years ago and it is very pretty with plenty of small details that truly bring a layout alive. The variety and quality of trees really stands out. Click on these photos and scroll through them to see the 'little things'...

Rob Watson (in red shirt) came with me to meet Steve and Mike as he is one of the operators at the Bryson City Lionel Train Museum owned by the Great Smoky Mountain RR.  That's me (Sam) between the 'famous' guys in the last photo.

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Last edited by c.sam
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c.samc.samOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

The trees are something else. Don't know if available commercially or if were custom made.  Lots of little detail items - tires, barrels, spools, cans, clutter, pallets, junk, etc that bring it alive. 

Steve is about 30 miles south of Asheville and we are about the same distance west. Bryson City is further west, about 45 miles. When our new club layout is functional, you guys will be able to come to our area, stay in a nice caboose, and visit all three layouts in a day or two. The Great Smoky Mountain RR is a nice ride into the Nantahala Gorge with whitewater rafting and the Biltmore House is near Steve's place just off I-26.

If you like the area I can help you with locating some property for a 2nd home. Rentals are a good business here so come invest in your own rental property and enjoy our cool summers and mild winters!  Unabashed commercial plug...  :-)

Last edited by c.sam
gmorlitzgmorlitzOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER

We actually consider this to be NJHR South. Just wanted to let you know. This invasion is a bit more friendly than when we sent General Sherman 150 years ago or so, but you gotta know that you have some NJ soil planted there.

Steve is a great guy and you are lucky to have him in that area. We got friendly when I joined the NJHR, and he offered to help me building my layout. He did mostly electrical work, and then one day I asked him what he did before he retired. He was an electrician! Best way to get wiring done.

Glad to see the pix and see Mike included. Another great guy in the hobby. You're lucky to have Steve & Leslie down there.

Gerry

Mark BoyceMark BoyceOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
gmorlitz posted:

We actually consider this to be NJHR South. Just wanted to let you know. This invasion is a bit more friendly than when we sent General Sherman 150 years ago or so, but you gotta know that you have some NJ soil planted there.

Steve is a great guy and you are lucky to have him in that area. We got friendly when I joined the NJHR, and he offered to help me building my layout. He did mostly electrical work, and then one day I asked him what he did before he retired. He was an electrician! Best way to get wiring done.

Glad to see the pix and see Mike included. Another great guy in the hobby. You're lucky to have Steve & Leslie down there.

Gerry

NJHR South!  I like that!  Steve helping you tells me a lot of good about his character too!  Maybe someday I will get out East to see NJHR North as well.  Though I'm a Pennsylvania native, I have never been East of the Delaware River.

M MikadoOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERFORUM SPONSOR

Sam,

You really weren't kidding when you said you were posting those pics on the forum!

The good news is Steve's layout is fully operational now, he has two mainlines up and running and a 3rd main (yard lead) that will be operational as soon as the track is cleaned! Best part of all there are no Legacy signal issues anywhere and the DCS signal strength is excellent through the entire RR! DCS Wi-Fi was installed yesterday morning and working! 

Steve is very lucky to have such an awesome layout and I'm glad we were able to help him enjoy it to its full potential! Steve and Leslie are fantastic folks (and soon to be BBQ Connoisseurs!)  Just ask 'em!(I am wondering how long it will take the two of them to start dropping "y'all's"). (we had a great discussion about adapting to the Southern lifestyle and the importance of BBQ!).

Do you know anyone else out there who is having layout trouble? TW Trainworx Layout Assessment Program can make those problems go away! Just ask Steve, who has experienced it firsthand! (TrainDame's blog has testimonials from others who have also experienced it and are now enjoying their trains!)

Sam,on a separate note, we had the mainlines running at 5pm Wednesday, should have had you leave your Allegheny, could have programmed it then! 

Thank you,
Mike

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