I’m Jake. I live in Georgia (the state, not the country). I’m new to the hobby, thought we had HO trains when I was growing up.

I have become obsessed with the hobby recently, and my wife has graciously ceded the spare bedroom, that was also my office. We got rid of the bed and I’ve moved everything out. I’ve bought a workbench to go in there as well.

I’ve been planning a layout in N scale, freelance, but based on a fictional shortline in the Rocky Mountains, with a silver mine on a mountain with switchbacks to the mine, tunnels under the mountain and a few industries, a smelter, a lumber mill, and a fuel depot. Beside the dramatic climb to the mine, the main feature is the gorge carved out from a river descending from the mountain.

There is a mountain town that grew up with the railroad and the gorge and mountains were the perfect place for a national park.

A railroad yard allows for some switching and intermodal activities as it connects to the D&RGW class I and the points beyond. The park also gives the railroad an opportunity to have a scenic passenger route as well.

I am (finally) buying the wood for the bench work this weekend. I have been planning this it seems forever. I’ve thought through every aspect of it that I can think of, scenics, power and wiring, operational issues, etc. I’ve landed on DCC using the DCC-EX CSB1 and a salvaged android running Engine Driver, along with a laptop getting a second life for JMRI.

I’m anxious to get started. I also understand this is a marathon, not a sprint. I also have the philosophy that the layout isn’t finished until you dismantle it to build the next one.

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