I had to dig through some of my mother's effects last weekend and stumbled on some pictures the first N scale layout I did entirely on my own (except for benchwork). The photo, I think, is from the Northtown Mall model railroad show between '79-'81 which makes me about 7.
I'm sure none of you will miss picking up on the classics "Houses Under Construction" which were really needed in a town with two depots already, or "Freight House with Steam Whistle". I know I had the "Tank with Diesel Horn", I wonder what happened? I think the horn was busted now that I think about it. There is, of course, the prerequisite lichen scenery, and if you look closely on the left hand side, those two rock blobs I think are bark chips from a shopping mall planter like the one behind me in the photo. And I can only assume there are sme bumb chenille pines on that rear right corner.
I get the best memories from the Bachmann U36B that my dad painted into Milwaukee Road with a matching caboose. It's probably the main reason I stayed in N scale because at one time he had an HO display with one locomotive from every railroad that ran in Minnesota and I had a lot of favorites among them.
That, sadly,would be the closest I have ever come to finishing a layout.
(Some static grass could have really helped. ;D)
Jason