The Grizzly & Dilapidated Ry.

[Larry C]

Kyle even though the different elevations look good, better to make the changes now instead of having to rip everything apart again.

[Philip]

  Pleasing to my eyes!

[kyle creel]

Howdy fellas.....         .....been awhile............

Thanx to everybody that follows along by having a little 'look-see'; and Thanx to Mike, thanx to Larry C*., and thanx to Phillip...........all the comments and suggestions are absolutely appreciated and wanted.....it's how I get a lot of inspiration and direction........    

Guess what this is........        


Time's up   ........if you guessed .....Kyles' 4 x 8 On30 version of the great John Allens' Gorre & Dahpetid ....you would be 100% correct.......why? you ask (or maybe you don't)   would such a thing be of any importance          ok,ok, here's the scoop..........    

After re-reading my copy of "Model Railroading with John Allen"....I got the same old pang of longing        ...to get back to the reason I'm in On30 to begin with   ...

In 2012 I decided I'd heard and read  "You can't do the G&D in 4 x 8 in On30....the clearances will kill the project and the grades would have to approach 6%!!!".....to which I thought to myself...."REALLY ??  " "BULLSHIT"                 ..."I'll do it and show 'em"   ....so I did.....it turned out to be a little more daunting than I'd figured, but I did it and I had 18" radius, 4% grades and a HELL OF A LOT OF FUN !!!         ....

Then the 'bug' bit me!...     "I have to move forward into uncharted terrritory", ..."I'll EXPAND !!!"      ......and so I did...over and over again till I'd built 3 Grizzly & Dilapidated Ry's.....each in a new location and with more expansion......I was a real "ROBBER BARON"             ....

Then I got tired of that series of 4 X 8 G&D builds, and started on all the different plans and versions of the Grizzly & Dilapidated Ry. ya'll have witnessed.....       all the while not realizing that I was getting FURTHER and FURTHER  from my original quest and inspiration...         ....

I'd gotten so caught up in the 'imaginary world' of this 'really cool railroad', that I totally forgot that the G & D is supposed to be a VERY small short line between Grizzly and Dilapidated, passing through Po-Dunk Jct. on the way....   ...no more no less....     ....

So the other day as I was getting ready to begin laying track on the current project.....it hit me...       ....this isn't going to work out, because it's NOT the G&D Ry. Co...not the one I want....     .....Kinda like the time you realized that the girl you've told yourself "is absolutely it".....AIN'T !!!! and now you better get yourself out before you sink further.... ...so that's what I did........   ....

I've re-drawn the old plan and made the modifications I wished I'd made back in 2012; and added a little 'spice'...an interchange with the D&RGW at Grizzly.....14"TT instead of 16"; my scratch built sector plate for turning locomotives in Dilapidated, 17" radius curves, 4% grades, a way to fold up the railroad against the wall when not in use, and NO FUTURE EXPANSION !!!!!   ...that's the secret I missed ....it's a rinky-dink short line and it ain't goin' any place else...       ....

I discussed this with Patrice, Gage, and Mark....all said that I should probably get started on it ....The actual space it takes up is less than the current layout, that's a biggie...I asked Gage if he'd noticed that I've not 'run any trains' in a couple of years ?...he said yes, but he "figured that I'd run some - some day" .....SOME DAY...     .....that was it.....

So the packing up of all the RR locos, and rolling stock begins this weekend, and all the bldgs. and scenery will be packed up next week....           .....the track (which ironically) isn't glued or soldered will be packed up, and lastly the Woodland Scenics 4% incline / decline sets will be packed....     ....the backdrop will remain in its' current location and configuration, the new G&D will be at 48" height, and I just can't wait......       ....I feel as if a great weight has been lifted; and the curtain blocking my creative inspirations has been YANKED DOWN !!!!       .....I feel cool.....     ....

Here's how it 'fits' in the room,..the 2 chairs and table along with the short (29" tall) 4 drawer chest are under the layout when it's in use....     ....the drawing shows the footprint of the RR versus the furniture in the room......          


This is it folded out/down'............


All for now, .....ya'll stay tuned.....and thanx again for all the support and encouragement......see ya....        

KYLE CREEL
G&D Ry. Co. 

[Larry C]

Kyle nice you realized your dream now before you went any further; hope this one works out for you.

[Jerry]

Kyle I wish you all the luck in the world that you  get this dream finished.

Jerry

[Michael Hohn]

Ya know, I never tried that line when I wanted to end a relationship:  "Girl, you're like a model railroad . . . "