Jumping Back In

I have definite ebbs and flows with the hobby and I typically take a break over the summer. First, who wants to be in the basement with the weather is so nice outside? Add to that our oldest son's graduation from high school, the annual church festival, a couple of family trips, a couple of business trips and Webelos Residence Camp with the twins ... who has time for trains!

Even the magazines were piling up on the reading table - Model Railroader, Rail Model Craftsman, Dispatcher's Office and Model Railroad Hobbyist. The great weather just kept calling me outside. Last week, I picked up one of the magazines and it became my inspiration to get back into things. I read all my back issues and then started some planning for the weekend. Besides painting the porch railing, I cleaned up some of the scenery in the west staging yard and added ballast down the center of the tracks throughout East McKeesport and continuing around to Irwin Yard (still have to ballast the sides of the roadbed).

The big change, though, was finally finishing the light valance around the layout. Over the weekend I installed 2 eight foot valences, each with 2 four foot fixtures. Below, you can see the fixtures as the pass behind the Irwin Yard. After I took the photo, I removed the old hanging lights and I really like the even balanced light around the whole layout.

I have to install 2 more valances, one over the east staging and one over Herminie. Next, I'll paint the masonite fascia sky blue and it should blend in very nice. I hope my interest and enthusiasm continues for a while!