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I’ve been absent from the forum for too long.  Last year about this time, we tore down the Hodgson Valley RR and sold our PA home.  For about 9 months we lived in a rented house with a basement full of trains in boxes while our vacation home on the Chesapeake was torn down and a new home built on our lot to be our primary (and only) home.  

We’re pretty much settled in and planning for the new “Elk River & Chesapeake” is almost complete.  I’m hoping to start building by Thanksgiving.  The railroad name comes from our location in Maryland, right where the Elk River joins the Chesapeake Bay.

The thread about the HiRailers preserving so much of Marty’s layout made me realize how much we have missed due to COVID and our relocation.  I’m really looking forward to seeing all our friends at York.

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I’ve been absent from the forum for too long.

Yes, dammit, you have been! GREAT to hear from you again, and I sure do look forward to seeing you and Jean next month. I, like many others, had no idea you were moving from that beautiful home you had in PA, but I sure am glad to hear you are back in the "railroading business." You know, of course, that the magazine and forum will be looking forward to many progress reports. See you soon, my friend!

WOW Pat, I didn't realize you were moving!  It's a shame to think of that beautiful RR you had being disassembled.  Hope to see you at York, that's another thing that's been a long time coming.

A memory from a few years ago...

First I’d like to say welcome back Pat , we missed you. I remembered this day at your beautiful PA home , the layout and your workshop were absolutely beautiful. Looking forward to seeing you at York.

Alex

@Alex M posted:

First I’d like to say welcome back Pat , we missed you. I remembered this day at your beautiful PA home , the layout and your workshop were absolutely beautiful. Looking forward to seeing you at York.

And probably the cleanest woodworking shop on the planet, you could eat off the floor!   And that's a shop that really got used, all the more amazing!  I wish I could do half as well keeping my space clean!

WOW Pat, I didn't realize you were moving!  It's a shame to think of that beautiful RR you had being disassembled.  Hope to see you at York, that's another thing that's been a long time coming.

A memory from a few years ago...

I can’t imagine what it was like to disassemble such a large and wonderful layout.  I’ve had a few instances that involved a possible relocation and the thought of tearing down my little layout just killed me. Fortunately for us, it looks like our current location is turning into the forever home in retirement.  How long did the tear down take, Pat and did you recruit an army to assist?

Last edited by Strap Hanger

Thanks for all the kind words.

Mallard 4468: Yes, the layout was featured in Run 247, January 2011 and also in Great Layout Adventures, Volume 8.

Straphanger:  The actual “tear down” was completed in one long day by a crew of 4 guys that do demos for house flippers.  Filled 3 dump trucks.  That was after more than a month of packing trains, buildings, vehicles, and O gauge people.  

John:  The new shop should be up and running in the next week or so.  It’s about 30% larger than the old one and naturally I need to get it done before I can start on the layout.

The new basement is a little larger than the old one, but my plan is for the layout to be smaller than the old one and somewhat less complex.  I’m almost 75 and don’t think I’m physically capable of anything quite as ambitious as the old Hodgson Valley.  

The actual “tear down” was completed in one long day by a crew of 4 guys that do demos for house flippers.  Filled 3 dump trucks.  That was after more than a month of packing trains, buildings, vehicles, and O gauge people.
John:  The new shop should be up and running in the next week or so.  It’s about 30% larger than the old one and naturally I need to get it done before I can start on the layout.

The new basement is a little larger than the old one, but my plan is for the layout to be smaller than the old one and somewhat less complex.  I’m almost 75 and don’t think I’m physically capable of anything quite as ambitious as the old Hodgson Valley.  

It's hard to imagine the emotion of seeing all that hard work ripped up.

I'll bet the larger shop will be as whistle clean like the last one!   That was such a well organized workshop I was insanely jealous!

I hear you about the layout size, mine is nowhere near the size of your old layout.  I'm sure I'll be working to complete my layout for some time.  I don't ever plan on anything larger, much as it would be cool to have it.

Pat:

We’ve never met but, I have periodically enjoyed watching the OGR volume 8 video of your layout. I’ll add that I occasionally share your wife’s “I want it all” thinking when it comes to trains. 😉

I do have to wonder if there is a “Sports Illustrated cover jinx” kind of thing going on with that Great Layout Adventures volume 8 though. I don’t know about Bob Cebula’s layout but, yours, Ron Zweig’s and Jack Wheelihan’s layouts are all gone now. Coincidence or curse…🤔

Curt

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