For Immediate Release:12/23/2000
All Railroads and the Government of Model Railroaders
Greetings,
The Santa Fe and Southwestern Railroad wishes all of you the happiest of Holiday Seasons!! Happy Modeling!!
John
President SFSW RR
------------------
The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!
[This message has been edited by jcater (edited 12-23-2000).]
------------------
Keep them on track :-)
John, Happy Holiday, to you also. When are you going to start on the, N-scale layout? Is this the one you and your daughter are anticipating???? Is it going to be, DCC?? Or--------Cab? 
Just wondered if the, "OLD *** ", changed it's mind about the power control, or not. I'm eventually going to try DCC on one of my mainlines, only because the, "temptation", is to great; and I don't want to live with, "what would DCC have been like", the rest of my life!!!! I've started buying more and more, Sante Fe, Engines and passenger consists, as well as more freight cars........ Cheers! ......Richard
!! The general layout is basically a giant "E" shape with a short tail on the end. It is 10 by 22 feet along the wall with two 4 x 8 peninsulas 
. Santa-wife got us enough track to finish the layout and I have a Walthers tuentable kit and some manual switch controls on the way. Just need a bunch of turnouts and YES a Digitrax Chief II DCC system (I just can't resist any longer 
!!). Happy Modeling!!------------------
The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!
John, if you are building this size layout in, N-scale, that's going to be a fabulous accomplishment!!!I have been toying with the idea of building some sort of a coffee-table, N-scale deal, or perhaps a book case or book shelf, layout! It is amazing how much you can do in a limited space! I have always done, HO, up 'till now, but I am really wanting to do a smaller layout, somewhere in the living area of the house. Do you plan on may elevated areas on your layout; if so, how much of a grade should, N-scale climb? I'm glad you decided to go to, DCC, when you finish laying & wiring the track, let me know how the DCC works for you. Like I said in a previous note, I'm going to add some more 22GA; single strand, feeder wires to one of my mainlines and try the, ATLAS system, first.(The cost is real reasonable, don't you agree?) For all I need, right now, the Atlas unit should work, just fine. Happy modeling, to you, too! ......Richard
!! I wanted something simple this time around. There will be enough below and above track detail to give the impression of grade without actually building it in . I do like the Atlas system, and have heard a lot of good things about it. I think for a smaller layout, like you are talking about, it should be fine. As for mine...well I think I better get something that I know will power it and any further extensions in the future (I hope to make this DCC purchase a one time shot!!). If we ever "finish" the layout it will be great...the largest I have ever built !! Happy Modeling!!------------------
The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!