I'm BAAaaack! 
Interesting twists of events in my life with model trains.
First...
Just this week, I made the decision to allow myself to pick up some Postwar items, Marx and Lionel for sure, and possibly some "Postwar-type" (i.e. "traditional sized") MTH.
Second...
My propensity for "life planning" has struck again.
Consider: I'm 68 now. I can still model in HO and intend to do so on my out-building housed HO layout until... well... let me put it this way:
We all want to retain our dexterity and good eyesight... but it doesn't always go the way we want. I have noticed that over the past few years, my hands aren't quite as steady as they used to be. At this point I can still work with the tiny drills, files, and such, and am able still to form handrails for HO engines and what have you... BUT... I have had moments that I'm frustrated because of what used to be quite doable, is now a lot more effort. I suspect there WILL be a time that the frustration begins to exceed the fun.
When?
Who knows? 10 years? 8 years? Or less?
SO, I'm "okay" now with picking up select PW pieces, because IF I decide to make a change, then I would at least have some equipment on hand. Cutting my HO to the bones through liquidation (keeping only a few pieces for sentimental reasons) would help finance the wood and track for a decent 3-rail layout, and I would build a simplistic around-the-wall 3-rail layout in my 20' x 16' out building that's currently housing the HO. Of course, this is still off in the unknown future if it even happens.
HOWEVER...
I've had a stroke of PURE GENIUS! (I'm very modest. )
You see, several years ago I went through a period of experimentation trying to "find" myself in model trains. (Yeah, I know... I'm pathetic! 
) One of my experiments was in 3-rail. I used benchwork here in this computer room (spare bedroom) that was modified from a failed Sn3 experiment on which to get a 3-rail layout up and running in a basic way. However, as mentioned in my first post in this thread, I ended up undermining the fun of 3-rail by trying to make it something it can't be for me. (See the previous post for all the nitty gritty.) Thus, I went moved on from 3-rail to experiment with S scale. (Unsuccessfully, and after lots of $$ and time were consumed.) Thus, several years ago I gave up on the other scales and themes I had experimented with and went back to HO.
Now, here's the "genius" part: Remember the benchwork I mentioned? Well, I was intending to turn it into a downsized L shaped shelf layout, and thereon throw in a KC Lines theme in HO and have an in-house layout for inclement weather and late at night when I had the bug to play trains/etc.
BUT...
I'm now seriously considering reusing the very same benchwork that held my previous 3-rail experiment as my current 3-rail outlet, and poop-can the 2nd HO layout idea. I would again use the "KC Lines" theme that was I using many years ago, for it had a lot of promise. Here's a pic of my small 3-rail "experimental" KC Lines layout:
In fact, I will probably use a slightly modified version of the same trackplan as I used during my experimental period. My 3-rail concept was working for me as long as I used traditional equipment.
It was when I tried to go Hi-rail w/scale equipment that I became disenchanted with 3-rail. (See my previous post for the low down.)
I know better now. This time EVERYTHING will be traditional sized, and some of (my Marx 3/16" litho stuff) is sure 'nuf "toy market" stuff. However, I suspect the Marx will be run on the layout as a novelty and the real switching ("operation") will be done with knuckle equipped equipment.
SO... IF I decide to follow through with this, I can have a totally different medium (3-rail) to indulge in when I desire to take a break for my much more exacting HO modeling.
What this means is: I actually have a way to have for a 3-rail layout in the near future, and thus if needed, I can indeed migrate over to 3-rail exclusively if/when the hands are bit too shaky to do the type of work I insist on doing in HO. Life planning: With 3-rail sized trains and flanges, I can RAILROAD 'TIL I ROT!
I'm feeling very good about this idea, and I think it has a high probability of me going forward with it.
Andre
