Unofficially Official

Bigger than the U.S. Capitol rotunda!

     It appears that I will soon be moving to a new workplace, above ground, in an executive office. I've seen the workspace for my group (which is still being corralled) and it's nice. View of the City Hall rotunda, brand new Mac computers, carpet, water cooler, and for once in my life, I won't be overdressed. Hooray!

     Unfortunately, it means that the Topdown & Drywater Railroad, as it currently exists (in the benchwork stage) must be abandoned. The shakeup comes at a good time, before I have spiked a single rail, and having laid only a few strips of cork roadbed. I did learn a lot about fine-tuning grades, so the experience is far from a loss. Besides, it was fun! And the fun doesn't stop just because I'm shifting digs. So I will take the 8' shelf layout to the junk heap (they have a great junk heap out back of the toy shop) and I will take myself downtown!

     So what's to become of The Delirium Route? It will simply have to be realized in a smaller space, that's all. I can manage a smaller shelf on a foamcore base, something that can be moved around the apartment and stood up in the closet when needed. I'm sticking with HO, so I can continue to build my roster as I have begun. I think I'll focus on operations at the Topdown Delirium Mine No. 3, and include some switching in the Drywater yard. I've been re-visiting Carl Arendt's Micro Layouts Website for inspiration, and there is much to be found.

     Another benefit to the shake-up is that I will receive a substantial pay raise. In future, the T&D will be much better funded. Not that that means bright and shiny new engines--far from it. Dilapidation and unchecked rust will still be the uniform of the day.