Okay, so the shop calls me to say the HO track has arrived, but I wanted N scale. The track that would take 5-6 weeks back in April. So a special order that should only take "2-3 weeks." So here I am trying to support Australian hobby shops but I have to say the results have not been in my favour. More news when the track fianlly arrives but not a great experience so far.
As for the model railway group, I have to say my experience was okay but I will not be joining just yet. Why? To avoid having to keep up with the Joneses in terms of moving to DCC, upgrading all my equipment to fully detailed replicas and so on: the majority of guys there are much closer to retirement than I and so don't have the kids/mortgage/space issues I do at present. Good to try, not willing to buy juast yet, but I will keep it in mind.
But, here is the issue: I have been reading about the loss of skills associated with steam engines etc. Trains and model trains tend to be hobbies of older, well, men mostly. Younger guys do not have the time money and so on to carry the torch which may burn out before they get their lives together to do some carrying. Food for thought perhaps.
Those who care about trains and especially steam probably already know about this but passed through Maitland recently and discovered they have an annual steamfest that has multiple, multiple, steam engines! So book your holidays for April next year folks.
And becuase I've been a little short on the pics in recent posts, but also because we have a new camera that is quite good (for our budget anyway), enjoy some westinghouse pump shots of 2-4-0 1042 currently under cover in Maitland but set for restoration and much goodness.
