Just over thirty years ago, both daughters were in college which left our third floor vacant for my son and me to build a room size layout. Prior to that, we had a Christmas tree layout with a 225E and the powered and dummy RDC pair. He and I attended a train show at the Cincinnati Convention Center at which the local LOTS group had a module layout. I asked why no RDCs were running and was told no members had any. I asked if I joined could I run ours. Sure, so I jointed LOTS. A great benefit was the Cincinnati group was working on a member's room size layout so I was exposed to Gargraves track and Ross track switches. Most Monday nights were spent with fellow hobbyists on that layout. I bought a Lionel Mohawk (18009?) and my son and I started our layout. I bought a K-Line NYC five car heavyweight set with the head end express box car. As my father in law had worked for the B&O during WW II, I sold the NYC set and bought the B&O set. Soon sold that and bought a five car Santa Fe set. I learned there is no such thing as too many Santa Fe heavyweight baggage cars. The Mohawk was sold and an MTH Northern pulled the Santa Fe passenger train. When I sold the house in Cincinnati, the train stuff went into storage for two years. Our home in Illinois has a basement large enough for a 24 x 32 layout which is basically four loops, each with a passing track. I've had 3rd Rail/Sunset and Pecos River Brass engines which were sold and now run three MTH engines and one Williams.
MTH Texas with tender
GGD in Pullman Green
Lionel 6-15543
GGD in Santa Fe Green. I should have bought a few more of these.
Weaver PS-1 with less than car load lading.
K-Line with messenger window and stack
K-Line dining car with curtains, kitchen passageway and bars inside windows..
K-Line FAIRLANE repainted with new letters.
MTH Northern with tender
MTH
Jerry Williams' car from his first five car set of heavyweights. Square on point logos and cargo have been added.
Weaver PS-1 box car painted with Valspar Olive Suede. Peel-n-Stick sign.
K-Line 1821
GGD dining car
Williams repainted with Scale Coat II Pullman Green.
John
