Congrats Eddie - first thing I'd do would be to talk my dad out of his Blue Comet. Offer him $50 - Clem Clement says that the fitty dolla Blue Comet is out there somewhere!. There is just something about that shiny rattly train stomping down the track that just gets in your head. I recently got my 8 section modular layout running, the grandkids were completely captivated.
Jim Waterman