All this started back in October of 1999. I found myself bored with woodworking projects and the weather was turning colder here in the Northeast!
My intent was to find a hobby that would occupy some of my time without costing an arm an a leg. I found myself window shopping outside my local Hobby Shop. I began with what I was familiar with, 027 & O-Scale. The train sets of my childhood were still out there. Searching the web for "deals" on Trains that I was introduced to as a child. The Lionel 675 and 2020 models still have the charm and durability I remembered. Then I discovered Weaver, MTH and Williams. Atlas and Gargraves track...the list goes on and on.
At first I wanted a small layout. This idea didn't last. Before I could buy my first engine, I ended up with a 16x24 plywood base and away I went! A few dollars later, the O-scale layout is about 90% complete. I still have some minor wiring and landscaping to do, this will probably be a multi-year process, but I'm almost there.
Into HO Trains
It was an accident. I purchased a few items on the web. I thought they were all O-scale but at the bottom of the box I found, wrapped in tissue, an MDC HO Climax and 2 Rivarossi Log cars. At first I thought, well, I'll just sell these and buy more stuff..... While researching this little engine I fell in love with it. The detail is terrific, the history well documented. Next thing I'm buying track and transformer. Buildings, trees, people....now I needed benchwork and here I am! I now own several Shay's, 3 Kitbashed Climax's and 2 Kitbashed Dunkirk's.
