dante
<SNIP>
In the interest of full disclosure, I have no experience with foam or cork or spline, etc., but after researching the options, I chose what I did primarily for the reasons stated above. So far, all is well. The only changes have been to make some minor adjustments to track alignment and replace or repair a couple of turnouts. The spiking made that very easy (no ballast yet).
Dante & Others
As others have stated it is easier to make changes to the trackwork as I can add a turnout and track and NOT have to wait for the Caulk to dry to begin running trains!
While this is a minor thing it makes the changes a whole lot easier as I do not have all of my track ballasted. The long sections between towns is Ballasted, as I figure I am not going to make random changes to these areas, as I am doing a prototypical layout of the Conrail Lowgrade in Western PA - so my towns and overall layout of the track is pretty much set!
Although NOT making changes to the layout to eliminate bottlenecks and difficult switching is where a lot of Layouts I and others from our OPs Group see all too often!
The Layout owner seems to think once the track is down there is NO WAY he is going to change the layout to make things better and then soon wonders WHY NO ONE is coming back to Run!!
I have also visited layouts years apart and the Layout has NOT CHANGED! When ask the Owner stated he doesn't come down much anymore!
WHY?
Has He has lost interest in the layout because he figures it is done?
So he either quits altogether or tears it down never to build another!
It is sad as we just lost another modeler due to boredom!
I on the other hand - look forward to the next OPs Session and work the next week or so in making changes to the layout to better the Operators experience in adding more buildings, scenery or making changes to the track layout to smooth things out or speed up the switching at Industries.
WHY?
So we can run a few more trains or have another place to sit out cars in a different configuration at an Industry.
This keeps the Operators coming back as the want to see what is NEW!
This is the same thing we try to accomplish when our I-80 OPs Group meets once a month.
The Layout owner wants everyone to see something new (as we all know the layout is never done) and make the OPs Session a great experience - as we usually get one or two new Operators attending this layout for the first time!
Being satisfied with your layout is a sure sign of the beginnings of Boredom!
Been there once or twice! I don't want to go back there! ;-)
BOB H - Clarion, PA
