O Scale Trains Magazine Online

The other evening, I had the firstgathering of the local O Scale crowdover to see the progress and crash (Imean, “run”) the railroad. It gave methe opportunity to actually get somefeedback on some of the choices I’vemade, several of which have been presentedin this column over the last yearor so. Here’s what I saw.If you remember, I chose not to gothe “finished basement” route for whatI thought were very sound reasons.Instead, I’m going with the backdrop/scenic divider techniques mostly seenin the modular crowd. Folks have takenme to task over that column, with itsflouting of the enSIGlicals of ProperLayout Design, and I was actuallysomewhat surprised at how polarizedthe “finish-or-not” issue really was. I’vebuilt both, and the experiences haveled me to conclude that I’ll go the fullfinishedroute above grade, but notbelow. I chose, instead, to pay detailedattention to lighting, roominess, anda simple cleanliness while jealouslyguarding the access to pipes, drains,and electrical wiring I had with an openceiling. White cinder block takes theplace of drywall to keep the possibilityof mold growth down. As it turned out,the lack of a drop ceiling seems to bea non-issue, made so by the more thanadequate lighting I put in. Nobody waslooking up and clucking their tongues;they were criticizing er, I mean lookingat the railroad, instead.I also watched folks to see what theychose to use of what was provided.The seating/lounging/supervisory areaswere well used. That’ll stay. The barstoolsstrategically placed in the aislesof the railroad itself weren’t used at all.Out they come! Folks switched cars,talked, ate donuts, drank whatever, andwatched the mainline stuff go, all withoutprompting. They stayed late and leftin a bunch, so I was pretty well satisfiedthat they enjoyed the whole thing. Yes,there’s stuff to hide that I didn’t thinkabout, like the big copper drain cleanouton the wall that had become prettyinvisible to me. There are things thatneed to be changed for better access,and there are other compromises thatI thought would be problematic thatjust weren’t the issues I thought they’dbe. I watched folks nod in appreciationbecause the rolling stock neverderailed, thanks in part to the standardizationon one type of metal wheelsets.I also saw that the mix of Weaver,Atlas, and Kadee couplers was a sourceof discord. The next project is to gothrough all the freight stock and standardizeon (in my case) Kadees.In the end, I learned more by watchingfolks and their reactions than I didby listening to comments (everyonebeing so polite, as O Scalers tend tobe). The tip here is to not worry somuch about what folks say. Instead,turn ‘em loose and watch what they do.You’ll pick up on a lot more that way.An unexpected epiphany percolatedup to the top of my brainpan a fewweeks later that also bears relating. Itwas very motivating for me, having thecrew over. Not out of mortal fear ofembarrassment, but it was just plain funwatching other folks whose companyI enjoy busily working the schedule onmy creation. If that sounds a bit egotistical,that’s because it is (I got a letter theother day stating that I write with a falsemodesty; I wasn’t aware that I wrotewith any modesty whatsoever!). Whatgot me thinking about it was the dilemmaof a good friend, who has beenworking on a very neurotic depiction ofa particular piece of New England railroading.The work is beautiful, but theenjoyment (for him) was going, going,gone as each project was completed.An aspect that I had forgotten, andrelearned when the lads were here, isthis. You and I, and many of our ilk, getgreat pleasure out of the building. Then,as lone wolves, the fun ends with thecompletion of the project, whether it’sa block-by-block re-creation of a Richardsonstation or soldering together a J2Hudson. If you’re getting close to overallcompletion, what do you do for thatsatisfaction when you start running outof projects? The challenges have beenmet, and the dust starts to accumulate.Amazingly enough, though, whenfriends enjoy what we’ve built, theenjoyment starts anew. Seeing the smileon the operator’s face when that J2flawlessly charges off with a mail traingives me and my ego a second shotof satisfaction I never would have gottenif the Hudson was still on the shelfafter completion. Try it. Meanwhile, I’mgoing back down to build some morebenchwork, ‘cause the boys are comingback at the end of the month andthere better be some changes! I’ll alsogive the modesty issue the attention itdeserves.Let’s go exploring!$494, To Your Front Door!The Only Name in Resistance Soldering is having a SALE.Learn all about our SPRING SALE atwww.americanbeautytools.comor phone us at 800.550.2510AMERICAN BEAUTYSoldering ToolsJoin our CONTEST to win prizes andhave your layout featured on our Web site.May/June ’07- O Scale Trains • 11