I also have lamented the passing of my father while chilling-out in the train room, and have tried to imagine what it would've been like building the layout together, as well as with my late father-in-law, who was a very nice and respectable man. Both of them grew up during the Great Depression and I think they would've enjoyed "working on the railroad" and running trains, though they would likely be flabbergasted at the amount of money I've spent on "toy trains."
After completing the stand-alone "island" oval-shaped platform (9' x 15') of my layout in 2013 or so, I envisioned it as a "postwar" paradise type-layout that folks back in the day would've thought a grand layout. It certainly was a step-up from my boyhood 4' x 6' platform. Now, it is expanded around the basement perimeter via cantilevered shelves and although far from finished, it does indeed invoke good feelings.
