The Columbia Branch Book

Marty Paten has written a book on the Columbia branch. The timing couldn't be more....interesting. Just as I thought I was ready to move on to new theme for the next layout something like this comes along and makes me think about the possibility of Wabash Columbia Branch layout V3.0. I have my copy on order and anxiously wait.

Braking the analysis paralysis

Over the last year or so I have been researching and thinking about different themes for my next layout. Sketching track plans, collecting some rolling stock, misc. building kits, reading forums and websites, etc. But very little actual modeling.  My goal was to have the next layout come out at least as good as the finished portion of the last one. The down side is that in the same amount of time I could of built two or three bad layouts and learned more and at least had a layout while I did it.  So with that said, I think it is time to build something, anything, while I contain to work on the bigger plan. Something simple, something small, but something that gets built and runs and I can experiment with different construction techniques.  I spent Sunday along the Michigan Southern, a short line in south central Michigan. It seems to be a little line just begging to be modeled. I think it is time to start building.