149th Street Harlem Station

[sailormatlac]

Great progress, looking very good.

I am confused by this statement:

.... deliver it to Jérôme..... I'm already planning to build another small layout for my own entertainment....

Are you not going to operate it and run a wireless boxcar engine?

Yes, I'll operate it with a wireless boxcab. We area actually working on low-cost concept using the GE 44-ton frame. If we are satisfied, maybe we will build another boxcab (I've got 2 shells) using a motorized truck with correct wheelbase and wheel diameter. But I won't promise anything since many interesting projects could focus my energies on something else!

Jérôme is the guy that pestered me to rebuild the layout and he really enjoy operating challenging trackwork. My old house being continously restored, I won't be able to keep the layout at home in the long term. From the start, it was decided that Jérôme would house the completed project and that we would gather there to operate it. In fact, the modular assembly was intended so we could shuttle the layout back and forth to my home. We decided against it since the layout would probably end up in dilapidated really quickly. So in the end, Jérôme is the sponsor of this project (and a founding member of Hedley Junction). If it wasn't him, I would have not rebuilt this layout but another one (which is actually in design stage).

I consider this layout as a great opportunity to try new technics. Having to meet a "deadline" is much more motivating for me. Well, there's no real deadline, but I want to operate the layout as soon as possible. Also, Jérome is a real-life railroader working on weird schedule. He will have more opportunity to operate with the small layout at home. I know he will and I know I'm too busy.

The other small layout will be less technical and more artistic. I've been planning to do it since 2010. It is kind of related to my Quebec South Shore Railway project. It will depict a 1940s small steam era backwood terminal located in Connors, NB served by Temiscouata Railway. http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/TMCR/history.htm

BTW, Frenchman River Models just shipped bridge and ship parts today. I hope to get them as soon as possible to complete the bridge.

Matt