The CNW Marshline – Take 2

I have been in a state of indecision about my layout and the direction that I want to take my model railroad hobby.  I find myself wanting to “do it all” and when that thought hits my head, I wander off my current project and think about the realm of possibilities.  And by wanting to do it all and thinking about “what might be” I never really get anything done.  Heck in the past 6 months I have only put together two models.  Now I know what you are thinking, well maybe he is just busy, or has a lot going on with work and home stuff, but really the fact of the matter is I am just making excuses.  Because it means I would have to do something instead of just thinking about it.  If I am being honest.

This this summer I started the planning process for the Mascoutin Valley Railroad rebirth.  I started putting much work into the track plan, the operation scheme and how I wanted trains to run from one part of the basement to the other.  I could almost visualize the trains running in the basement.  Green locomotives on the canvas of a heavily wooded terrain, hauling Iron ore and wood products.  It sounded amazing.  I even got so far as to start construction on the benchwork.  Got most of the benchwork built in the ol’ train room, the 11X16 room that I’ve been building in for years.  Then I started to place out the track and quickly realized I did not have the space to put the operations I wanted in the basement.  Also, the track plan was clunky, did not flow well and relied on a lot of hidden track and as we all know hidden track can be a challenge. 

So, what do I do? Tear it all down start over again?  Or do I…lay the Marshline schematic on my new basement configuration?  So, I tried it.  I laid the schematic of the Marshline Sub from the 1980’s on the basement layout and found it fit perfectly.  So, let’s try it again!  No benchwork will be getting “Dorsched” – that one is for you Morgan P!

We are starting over, and this is the timetable!  The new plan will be set in the 1980’s!  The operational plan is to have one train traverse the layout and switch out customers along the line.  Hope everyone is doing well and remember to be kind to one another!

Keep ‘er in Notch 8!