The EL Southern Tier Division files for abandonment

[R L Smith]

After 6 years of work and about 85% completion, the N Scale Southern Tier Division will soon be history.  I have accepted a job offer in a town near DuBois PA and start there January 3rd.

I intend to have a last run either Sunday afternoon Jan 1, or the following Saturday Jan 7, depending on what my CFO (Ruth) says.  Once that date is known I'll post it so Harrisburg-area members can drop in if available.







Eventually, once a new train room with a thick roof is acquired, I will start a Layout Engineering thread.  That might be awhile though...

Ron

[wm3798]

I can tell you it's a bittersweet excursion on which you're about to embark.  As much as I miss my old layout, I don't miss the design flaws, the operational nightmares, and the seemingly endless climb to make it feel finished.

You've got a great layout, and it seems to me it should come apart in pretty portable sections, which will help the rebuild, whenever that might be, go a lot faster than you might think.

Good luck with the new position and with the move!
Lee

[Philip H]

Glad I got to see it before I moved and before it moved. I agree with Lee - unless you really want to start over salvage the thing. It's a solid layout.

[w neal]

God speed Mr. Smith.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh man, glad we didn't make plans for January!

Let me know which day!

Congrats on the new gig though. At least you'll likely get a larger thick roof up there.

[Blazeman]

Good luck with the changes.

You'll be in Randgust territory, won't you?

[Chris333]

Re-build bigger and better!

[mu26aeh]

 

I will need to find a new local N scaler to interchange with .   

As for future construction, you'll be closer to Mr Treaster.  Maybe you could tie onto one of his branch lines and have joint ops sessions/interchange with him, running EL patch outs in early Conrail era 

Good luck.  I will volunteer my services for tear down .

[R L Smith]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. It's been a fun build with plenty of "I won't do THAT on the next layout" moments... 

The last "Open House" will be Saturday January 7th from 1 to 4 PM. I am just outside of Harrisburg PA, convenient to the turnpike and US 15.  If anyone would like to stop by that day, please PM me so I can plan for snax.  If you've not been here before, PM me for directions.

Ron

[w neal]

Tempting...

[LIRR]

Been there, doing that. I just demo'd 10 linear feet of my N scale railroad to switch to HO...it was a tough decision. I thought I was looking at a move, in which case - as in your case - the decision would have been made for me. On the one hand it hurts to make that first cut but on the other hand starting fresh can be a good thing.

good luck with your move.

[randgust]

I'm about an hour and a half north.    Mike Winicki is up this way as well.

It's not a complete N scale wilderness up here, but we're definitely off the grid.  But for EL fans you've come much closer to home than Harrisburg!

The EL main sliced across the corner of Warren County, and I got to know it in the 70's.   Very fond memories.  Rode EL out to Dearborn as a kid in 1965 out of Corry.    A lot more sympathy around here for EL than PRR, just sayin! PRR to PC was the weedy branches, E-L was the real main line railroad in the 1970's.   NY99 and NY100 were still ballast scorchers of the first order.

I lived within two stones throw of Waterboro Jct. on EL between 1983 and 1992.   I'm definitely an EL fan, just don't have an EL layout.  Welcome!

[R L Smith]

Bump - just a friendly reminder that my layout will be open for visitors this Saturday from 1 to 4 PM. The forecast is for chilly but dry weather.

I currently have limited access to e-mail, but PM me if you need directions and I'll try to respond by Friday night. DCC-equipped visiting power is welcome too.

Ron

[crrcoal]

Hopefully those who visit will take lots of pics and post em here.  I would love to see more of this layout and I'm sure other folks would too!

Bump - just a friendly reminder that my layout will be open for visitors this Saturday from 1 to 4 PM. The forecast is for chilly but dry weather.

I currently have limited access to e-mail, but PM me if you need directions and I'll try to respond by Friday night. DCC-equipped visiting power is welcome too.

Ron

[mu26aeh]

Bump - just a friendly reminder that my layout will be open for visitors this Saturday from 1 to 4 PM. The forecast is for chilly but dry weather.

I currently have limited access to e-mail, but PM me if you need directions and I'll try to respond by Friday night. DCC-equipped visiting power is welcome too.

Ron

If my IM SD40-2's arrive, this might be a breaking in run for them