A railroad in hibernation

The GRT is pretty inactive right now. I have been working on a few projects to improve the layout, which makes it unlikely that we will operate until the projects are wrapped up. Here is what's going on:

1. Electrical rearrangements, including moving Easy DCC command station to under Hughart Yard and rewiring the phone system. Command station moved, but phones still down.

2. More DCC engines: PRR now has a Baldwin DS-4-4-1000 and the NYC has a new GP7. Still working on a couple sound engines and a C&O GP30.

3. Sound. I have a couple sound engines now, but I don't think the layout will be going all sound anytime soon. The sound systems draw more current than plain DCC engines, and require very clean track. Plus they make noise, which some people find irritating. Oh, the cost of progress.

4. Car Cars. I read an article in the Ops Sig journal about "Raybills", which treat intergate a model railroad's operations. I am copying some of the ideas from the article, since it helped me grasp that the waybill system is an information system, and therefore it has to be easy to read and present user relevant information. Tha t means I had to rework everyting from the Old Line Graphics systen formerly used, although it really doesn't look too different. This tast is mostly complete, but there are a few new cars to add to the system due to expansion.

5. Backdrop. This is the big project right now, as I am trying to complete the backdrop between the Grand River Bridge and Pleasant St. This is about 18 feet, more or less. I have some 060 styrene sheet to use as material, and am putting up the framework for it. This is an irregular part of the railroad in terms of having windows and other obstacles, so it's slow going.

6. Other projects. Assembled a little oval of Atlas True Track as a portable layout and a test track. Even the simplest stuff takes me a while. Not to mention the wonderful kids, spouse and the rest of my life.

7. The future. After watching kids chase trains in circles at Staver Locomotive, I think the layout would benefit from being a big oval. (Change of Philosophy!) Have plenty of left over plywood from the meetinghouse remodel. But first I have a few little projects to complete.