New Year's Resolutions

Hi all!

Happy New Year!

Its the traditional time for making resolutions but instead of the usual "eat better, lose weight, and be more active", I'm making a few regarding model railroading and the layout.   The nice part about this is that my resolutions are all about having fun instead of being more self-disciplined!

Well, it will take a little self-discipline to meet some resolutions such as adding more ACI labels to my rolling stock.  Tasks like that can be a bit monotonous but yield satisfying results in the end...sort of like exercising...but I can snack while doing it!  :)   First obvious step will be to actually obtain a MicroScale ACI decal sheet at my local hobby shop.   Then I can add them to freight cars gradually over time.

Next resolution is to develop a small locomotive service area at West Mill Yard.   After expanding the yard last year with three long tracks, I'm planning to convert the two tracks that made up the original West Mill Float Yard into locomotive and caboose tracks.

I want to include a sand tower in the scene...something along these lines:

Since I'm operating with traditional DC I'll need to cut some power blocks to accommodate having more than one locomotive consist waiting for assignment on the loco track.

Speaking of which....I have already met one of the resolutions I was going to include in this post...creating a way for locomotives to escape the arrival yard track at West Mill.  As this picture illustrates, trains coming from the right side of West Mill Yard (from the north) roll into the yard and the consist is stuck behind its cars at the end of the stub ended yard.   

I recently solved that problem as described in the attached video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=523faMG-nEE

Other resolutions include continuing to make sure all rolling stock is reliable (i.e. free rolling, standard coupler heights, etc).  This is another of those not-quite-as-fun but definitely worthwhile resolutions that I'll be doing throughout the year.

I'd also like to develop a Kings Port & Western unit coal train using the decals I had printed last year to label the cars....and also make a string of KP&W stock cars.  I'm planning on obtaining the rolling stock at train sales if possible. 

Another thing I'd like to do is take a good long look at structures and scenes on the layout and see what I might be able to improve.    I've found that taking photos of the layout is a great way to get a more objective view of my work...one that often motivates improvements.

And finally, I resolve to continue to have fun and enjoy the camaraderie of the hobby!

Happy New Year and best wishes to all!