Layout number 6. . .

My first layout was started in 1969 when I received a Tyco train set for Christmas; I was four years old. The layout was an oval made with the track supplied with the Tyco set. It never went beyond an oval. My next layout was started while I was in Elementry School. It was built on a 4'x8' sheet of plywood. I can't remember much about that layout. It was never finished. My next layout (number 3) was started while I was a junior high student. I started to get more serious about model railroading. I would purchase Model Railroader Magazine, Railroad Model Craftsman and other train related construction books to learn the art of model railroading. I actually constructed a 5'x9' foot table about 3 feet off of the ground. It was very solid; butt end construction - very heavy. The track was a combination of Atlas code 100 sectional and flex track. I didn't put much thought into the design of the trackwork. I just made to ovals; one inside of the other with turnouts connecting both ovals. I can't remember if I had any spur tracks for businesses. I started to work on scenerey but got board and stopped work on the layout. I eventually dismantled the layout in high school so my parents could use the back bedroom for guests. Another layout not completed. I started work on layout number four during my senior year in high school. I spent much more time planning out the track arrangement. I designed a 5'x12' foot point-to-point layout with reversing loop staging tracks on top of each other. I was inspired by Eric Brooman's Utah Belt and I wanted to have a very with the same design philosophy and implementation as the Utah Belt. After I graduated from high school, I started work on the new layout during the summer in the garage. I remember coming down with a bad flu and not treating it. I just kept working through being sick. I had one reverse loop constructed and laid the track for the loop and then I got bored and got interested in restoring my 1967 Chevrolet Camaro. I stopped model railroading altogether from the summer of 1983 until September of 1989.

In September of 1989 I purchased an issue of Model Railroader and the model train bug had bitten me once again. Most of the 1990s was spent being an "arm chair" model railroader. In 1990, I briefly joined the South Bay Historical Railroad Society which was in the process of building a layout in a restored Southern Pacific passenger depot in Santa Clara, CA. I soon found that I did not have the time or desire to maintain membership in a model railroad club. I just read magazines and I think I built about 3 or 4 freight car kits during the 1990s. I received a bonus from my work in 1999 and decided that this was the time to start a new layout. I had the funds and I had a couple of co-workers who were also model railroaders so that helped me with motivation. I purchased a copy of 3rd Planit model railroading CAD software and began designing the new layout. I calculated that I could build a layout which measured 12'x14' in my garage. I wanted to have a more prototypical look and feel so one of my design criteria was to have large radii curves. I decided to base this layout on Pelle K. Søeborg's layout. The track arrangement was almost identical to Pelle's but my overall layout dimensions were a few feet smaller in both directions. One thing I regret about layout number 5 was that I was very impatient and wanted to get trains up and running as soon as possible. This desire quick gratification resulted in my taking short cuts on building the bench work. I based my bench work on the open grid/"L" girder bench work made popular by Lynn Wescott (I think it was him). Not wanting to go into too many details, let me just say that the bench work was not stable and not level resulting in problems with laying track. I was fortunate enough to get all of the track laid but again, I rushed through some parts and the track work was not implemented as well as it could have been to allow hassle free running of trains. I started to ballast the tracks and then it happened. . . I completely lost all interest in model railroading. It happened something like this - I went into the garage to work on the layout and paused for a second and looked at the layout. I thought to myself, "This layout doesn't look anything like what I see in the magazines and never will!" From that point, I had absolutely no desire to model railroad ever again! The next weekend, I tore down the layout, cut up the lumber and threw it in the trash. I boxed up my model railroading equipment and sold it all to a co-worker for $150. I let my subscription to Model Railroader run out and I did not give model railroading another thought until. . .

It was about eight months later and my doctor put me on disability. I had to stay home from my job for two months. I was sitting around at home with not much to do and the model railroad bug bit me again. I went out and purchased an issue of Model Railroader and purchased a freight car kit from my local hobby shop. Learning from my past experiance of rushing through a build and being impatient; I decided to take my time and enjoy the fun of building a kit. I purchased Kadee sprung trucks for the kit. I also spent time with weathering the trucks and wanting to make the car look more prototypical. I also purchased an Athearn Blue Box Union Pacific SD40-2. I had never super detailed an engine so I thought this would be a great time to start. I added a snow plow, MU cables, an AC unit and warning light for the cab, numbers for the number board, and handrails. I also installed a DCC decoder. I was very pleased with the results and it was just plain relaxing and fun to take the necessary amount of time to
complete the model.

After returning to work our company was purchased by a large corporation, I was laid off from my job and we decided to move back to Southern California. I continued to make kits but I knew that I would not have much time for a layout because I was trying to get my document imaging business, Twin Imaging Technology, "off the ground". After a couple of years, my wife encouraged me to join a model railroad club. I decided to join the North Coast Model Railroad Society, located in Oceanside, CA. I enjoy this club because most of the members seem pretty laid back and everyone gets along. I like being part of the club because I can bring some of my trains to the club on Thursday nights for running. I find this very relaxing and an escape from the pressures of running a business.

So how did I decide to start on layout number6? It all started like this. . .

I was with my youngest daughter Megan (eight years old) and she asked me how wood boards are held together. I explained that nails and wood screws are used. She asked me what a screw was. I explained it to her and a light bulb went off in my head. We should work on a layout together because that would be a great way to pass the time during the summer vacation and she could also learn about how to use power tools, construction techniques, etc. I asked Megan if she wanted to work on a train layout and she replied with a very excited, "YES!" Megan has taken an interest in my model trains. She has asked me if she could build a couple freight car kits. We have worked a couple of kits together and she has demonstrated to her third grade class on how to build a kit.

The first thing we had to do was clear out the garage so that could have an area for our model railroad.

I determined that we could have an "L" shaped layout - 5'x12'x5' I taped down the over all dimensions in the garage to determine that there were the proper clearances so that the storage cabinets doors could be opened and easily accessed. Then it was time to get the wood. Megan was at a friends house swimming so I purchased the wood so that we could start building the next day (July 3, 2006).

The bench work is a combined open frame "L" girder with a plywood top. The reason for the plywood top is that we will be using Woodland Scenics foam risers for the subroadbed. The foam subroadbed will rest on the ply wood. I thought this was a good compromise so that Megan and I could more easly get trains up and running (without rushing of course).

After two days of laid back, slow moving and relaxed construction; Megan and
fished the our first section of the bech work. The bench work will be built in three sections.

It has been a good experience for Megan. Working with power tooks and wood is helping her to understand that it is important to focus on the job at hand and to be careful while working with power tools. And it's just plain fun spending time with Megan.

Peace,

Sean, sean@twinimaging.com

7-6-2006