PRR/Conrail Juniata Division Engineering Report

[reinhardtjh]

In the meantime, I need to repair the JD to prepare it for the BLI M1s!

You've got roughly three months!  The clock starts now! 

Actually, longer.  BLI moved the arrival date to May 2015 on the last update in November.

[DKS]

I wish DKS were still posting regularly...

I was poking around, trying to take my mind off of a crapload of shitful problems, and saw this. It made me cry. I'll post they whys and wherefores some other time in the appropriate thread.

Dave, for what it's worth, here's my recommendation: take a break from trying to figure out what you want to do. You've got yourself boxed up in a room full of expectations and no good outlet for any of them at the moment.

You have a life full of more questions than answers... career... health... family... where will you be in five years? Will you be far, far away from narrow gauge, and see the interest fade? Will you be back near the east and have PRR re-light your fire? Or will you be totally elsewhere and have completely new and unexpected interests get sparked?

I've not been relocated hither and yon all across the country as you have, so I can't relate to those sorts of competing interests; but even in my own tiny universe, I have enough different things that have excited me over the years that I'll waffle from this to that, then go though months of dry spells when nothing stirs any passion at all. Then I'll start a bushel of micro-layouts with the hope that one of them will see me through. Of all the ones I've started--and people here have seen most of them--only one could be considered close to done, and that's the Trenton Transportation Company. And that was only finished because I practically forced myself to do it; otherwise, I'd fall into a funk of feeling like the never-finish-anything loser. (Count that up to peer pressure--which can be quite unfair at times--more on that another time, perhaps.) All those other layouts? They're all poised for a new home in a 30-yard roll-off. Seriously.

All that is to say I doubt anyone can hold a candle to my record of non-commitment and non-completion. Wasted time? Wasted resources? Perhaps; it may look that way to others, but my philosophy has always been it's the journey, not the destination--and while some may claim that's a cop-out to commitment or completion, I can genuinely say they satisfied my modeling needs at the time. Honestly, I very rarely begin a project with the primary goal of finishing it; I begin a project as a satisfying process for the moment. That moment may last days, or months, or years, but that's irrelevant. Just ask Chris Schmuck--I feel as if we're cut from the same cloth.

This is a very, very long-winded way of saying, Dave, don't get caught up in some driven need to commit to something and then hang that goal of completion over your own head like a death sentence. You've gotten far further with the JD than many modelers here (come on, be honest, guys). Revel in the joy it has brought you up to now (including an appearance in GMR!), and if you can't justify any way of keeping that flame alive, then don't sweat it.

Interested in another scale/era/setting? Try starting by just building a structure or two--someplace to pose a couple of token pieces of rolling stock. (I have some HO stuff in storage that may see the light of day in the far-flung future). Then maybe build a diorama--one of my favorite "layouts" of mine is still the "Somewhere in New Jersey" diorama I shot for Bryan Bussey's photo contest--I still have it and still tinker with it. In fact, it's on my kitchen table right now awaiting some fresh weed treatment. Somewhere along the line, when your life path begins to coalesce, you may be struck with totally new ideas you hadn't yet envisioned. You just need to resist justifying why you shouldn't pursue them.

But please don't fret over your current state. Nothing wrong with losing interest. Nothing wrong with waffling. Nothing wrong with changing ideas every few days. It's a hobby, not a job or a marriage.

Model whenever the mood strikes. Model whatever makes the adrenaline rush. Otherwise, have a glass of wine, sit back, and laugh at all the silly posts on Railwire.

[chicken45]

Wow! DKS! Hope you're well! Well said. Many of your points hit me in teh feelz, too.

[glakedylan]

DKS you have been sorely missed
good to see your post and hear from you
I hope and pray you have a blessed Christmas
and a New Year filled with comfort, peace and joy
all my best, as always...
sincerely
Gary

[Dave V]

DKS,

Welcome back!  Yes, you've come to the same conclusion I have.  I think it's best if I give the JD a real break.  I haven't been doing much with it, but I need to stop thinking about it for a while.  It needs a few maintenance actions, but other than that, I'm going to leave it alone.

Philosophically speaking, I'm in unfamiliar territory with the degree of uncertainty I'm facing.  It's not a bad thing, but can be disconcerting for a guy like me who likes to be in control.

OTOH, the decision to do a micro layout has given me a well-needed shot in the arm:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=34849.0

Although somewhat sadly, the layout you helped me design for Jacob has run its course, both boys are very interested in my plan to convert the benchwork to a model of the Colorado Midland.

A micro layout does not commit me to space issues or a wholesale change of scales.

Would love your input over on the CM thread if you're so inclined!

[DKS]

Replies will be infrequent as I have but a fewe minutes of online time a day courtesy of a generator and a portable wi-fi hotspot.

[pwnj]

Fantastic points DKS. I guess something important to consider is that in the big picture of things, trains really don't matter all that much, so don't let them drive you nuts. 

Dave, digging the microlayout game plan.

DKS, it is just excellent to see you back, even if only in a limited way. The mitrebox and throttle you sent me has made a tremendous difference in my modeling experiences and both are being used frequently. THANK YOU! And the offer still stands. If you ever need anything, I'm glad to help in whatever way I can.

Merry Christmas peeps.

p.s.- If you want to save money on a 30-yard roll-off, I'd gladly haul those poor unwanted layouts away for you. With my expenses going up and income currently non-existent, it'd be quite helpful (and I'd hate to see that stuff end up in the trash).

[Chris333]

The DKS back at the Railwire. It's a Festivus miracle 

[OldEastRR]

Welcome back, DKS.
The end of the year seems to be the time when a lot of people feel like they (or their hobby) are going nowhere, what's the point, etc, etc. Added to this are happy Xmas memories, and the physical fact that it's the darkest, longest nights of the year and our bodies are geared to hunker down during winter months (the Aussies are lucky --their year begins in the middle of summer). We shouldn't read too much into end of year doldrums. They just happen.
As for layout expectations -- I really think we shouldn't have any. Lots of guys draw up an intricate plan, start building it at breakneck speed, get a lot of track down -- then have doubts that stop them dead. Yeah, I had a plan -- it went through dozens of variations and reworkings to get the one I'm building -- but I always keep in mind the fact that something is bound to change it, or I'll find a better way as time goes on. In every one of the 8+ layouts I've built, halfway through construction something came along that instantly made half of the layout obsolete. Dave V. knows this feeling from building the JD with Code 80 and then reliable Code 55 unexpectedly comes along with Atlas and Fast Jigs.
I think diverging from our plans is the most fun and rewarding layout building. Having to re-activate thought processes to solve a new problem is a change of pace from just following a pre-made plan.  It can rekindle your interest in the layout. You might even find a better version of some part you'd thought was already planned out. Hey, this is YOUR world -- you can make it any way you want!!
The best aspect of a layout of moderate size is to break down each area into "construction zones". Have a town where some buildings are done but others need to be built or kitbashed. An interesting industrial switching area you can fool  around with by moving buildings, track, roads, etc, to see how it looks best (let's face it, drawings on paper don't come close to representing mock-ups). Even scenery can be adjusted or rearranged as to ground height, foliage cover, amount of man-made structures, watercourses, etc. This way if you get bored with one area, you can move to another.
Once you have the space figured out, build a secure, stable framework. Have a general layout plan; roundy-round, point-to-point, dogbone -- but DON'T micro-plan each junction, factory spur, town, yard ... let them flow out of your work and evaluations of each scene. A layout becomes more organic that way.
Oh... and build city grids of urban areas. Industries and city structures in the real world aren't dumped helter-skelter here and there as the railroad finds convenient. The industries buy the land first and it's up to the railroad to figure out how to get the spurs where the industry wants them. Too many layouts work it the other way around.
And to those of you who believe in or practice it...Merry Xmas.

[Kentuckian]

Really glad to see DKS back, too. 

[delamaize]

DKS Speaks Wisdom, As always! Myself, I took almost a 5 year break from trains completely, then when I did come back, I really got into vintage O scale for a while. That ended up being a blessing when I got back into N scale, and got focused on an era and sub-division. I managed to inadvertently buy some really valuable locomotives (Lionel F3 AA warbonnets set, 1958 model, with box, and documents for $20 being one of those.  ) from various swap meets, and yard sales. I also managed to start selling at the top of the Vintage O scale market. The break really focused me, and provided me an opportunity to kinda become an outsider to what I had been doing, and look in with fresh eyes. More recently, I have been shying away from the NP, and taking an interest in the DB (Deutsche Bahn). But I have noticed that when I do go back to the NP, it seems to feel new and exciting again. So, Yes, taking a break is a good thing, I would say don't walk away from it totally.

Also, DKS, It's really good to hear from you and I hope you are still doing well! These days, I envy the fact that you are able to be off the grid, and back to basics as it seems.

[PRRATSF]

"It's the Journey, not the Destination" That sums up so many things in our chaotic world. Its nice that Dr. Dave needing the wisdom of DKS was the catalyst to DKS making an appearance, and putting a smile on so many faces. Its the "being here to help each other", that makes this forum a great place to visit. 

Sam 

[GimpLizard]

Model whenever the mood strikes. Model whatever makes the adrenaline rush. Otherwise, have a glass of wine, sit back, and laugh at all the silly posts on Railwire.

Ya just can't purchase that kind of wisdom.

Welcome back David.

[Dave V]

Indeed, DKS is wise.  I'm in a much better place hobby-wise now.  I haven't been this enthusiastic about modeling since the GMR photo shoot.  The JD will be there if/when I need a break from the Colorado Midland.

[Bsklarski]

The JD will be there if/when I need a break from the Colorado Midland.

And when you need a break from both??