CN Blackwater division

[TMo]

I think we all run into similar problems in layout construction. It's so tempting to say "good enough" with track laying and move on to scenery and things like ballast. One of the things I did make a concerted effort on my current layout was to run a lot of trains over every nook and cranny of my layout - both directions, forward backward, and every combination of rolling stock and locomotive that I could lay hands on. Even after a lot of running, you find little things that need to be improved for bulletproof operations. You also find flaws in your track plan and reasons to add or remove features, or you keep things in mind for possible expansion. With all that said, once you do add things like tunnels, trees, rocks and other features, you create a whole new set of constraints that make you pull your hair out. As far as neatness goes, we probably all have the same problem - everything's packed in a box and the box is never where you thought you left it. You pull out 14 things to find one, and then you leave the other 13 out. Maybe I should have my wife come down here every week and complain - I'd then have to clean up my mess.