First Layout

Nice layout!

Now that is what this hobby is all about, very cool, I love it!    Russ

I wanted to focus on the "toy" train aspect of o gauge instead of scale modeling since it's a kids layout.  Future plans include a barrel loader that is currently in the closet as a birthday gift as well as being on the look out for nice reasonably priced icing station and 165 magnetic crane.  That may be about all I can cram on the table. 

That's one heck of a first layout!

Yes it is a heck of a first layout.  Long story short my son and I have been through a lot in the last couple years that culminated in myself getting physical custody.  We've landed on our feet with the help of an amazing wife who took on the role of stepmother.  Sometimes I can't help it and I go over board compensating for the past.  It ends in one heck of a layout while my wife chuckles at statements like "we only need a few more things to be complete".

I think your wife chuckles because she sees that your family is complete. Your son will have other interests, but the layout as bridge to healing and playing with trains will always be with him.

Don't be disappointed when that times comes. You'll have the trains.

Perhaps your wife and son can create some scenic items together for the layout.

It has been an enjoyable healing process.  I used to play electric guitar and I spent a lot of time with a soldering iron in hand restoring vacuum tube amplifiers from the 50's and 60's.  As I've gotten older I've moved away from loud guitars towards acoustic music and bluegrass.  I was starting to miss the smell of solder and working with my hands.  The train layout seems to fill that void.  

I just started to build an O gauge live steam 4-4-0 from castings and drawings from the UK.  I like to work with my hands too.  I used to be a tool & die maker in a previous life.

That layout looks great! You and your son will have a lot of fun with it. 

Well done

Very nice layout. It just proves you don't need 25' x 60' to have a great layout.