Charlie - Thank you very much for the kind welcome. It's always good to find new and exciting ways to enjoy this hobby. A bit about myself. I am a recently retired electrical engineer. I graduated from Texas Tech in 1994 and immediately went to work in the defense industry. By chance the company that I worked for in Richardson, TX was acquired shortly after I started by E-Systems of Garland, TX, who was then acquired within a couple of years by Raytheon. So, I am considered to be a Raytheon retiree after about a 30 year career. I did secure communications for the DoD and White House for about 11 of those years and then I transitioned to a systems engineering role on various radar systems, both ground and air based. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and the fine folks that I got to work with. I received my first train when I was 3 1/2 years old, just before my father, who was in the U.S Air Force at the time, was deployed to Vietnam for a one year stint. Fortunately, he came home after just under one year and became a college professor in business administration, first at Virginia Tech, then for 30 plus years at Texas Tech. I have always had a fascination for trains since I was a child, not only the model variety, but the full scale ones as well, and still do to this day. My first set (unfortunately I don't know the exact name of the set) contained an "O" scale 1952 Lionel 726/RR and tender, some rolling stock and a caboose. I still have that set, along with much of the original track and transformer. As I grew, got older and matured, I realized what I had, but never had a home that I could actually build a layout of any sort that I could run it. Finally, in the last eight years, we purchased a home in Allen, TX where we have a large media room (25' x 18') that if first and foremost, a media room. I decided I would never have the patience to be one of those who built intricate scenes and placed blades of grass one at a time. So, I decided to build a dual track shelf layout in the media room, just below the ceiling the runs the perimeter. It is basically a rectangle, with 72" turns in each corner. A few years ago it became obvious that my wonder 726/RR from my childhood would have to go on static display. It still runs great, but lacks the magnatraction of the post-war era due to the Korean conflict. I purchased a 736 and tender to replace it (I like the Berkshire look). Then, about seven years ago, my wife gave me a 1951 Lionel 2343 Santa Fe locomotive set and a few of the "Silver" line of passenger cars. I have continued to add to that set, as well as the 736. The 736 now pulls a total of 17 cars, almost effortlessly around the track, while the 2343 yanks the passenger cars around the dual track layout without skipping a beat. If permitted (I won't directly link to it), but you can see videos of my two trains, along with a 1988 Amtrak that I recently acquired on my Facebook page. Search for "scottwilkes0612". I rarely post anything on FB, but it is a good place to host large videos. So with that, you are pretty much up to date on my train journey. I also am a semi-pro landscape and wildlife photographer, I do woodworking and fly model airplanes. One day, I hope to graduate from sport props into jets, but that may still be a few years down the road. I still have much to learn, but am looking forward to being part of your community. Interesting enough, the town that we live in is a suburb of Dallas, TX. One of our neighboring suburbs is, in fact, Frisco, TX, so I am working on restoring two 1950-51 Lionel F-3 shells ("A" units and a "B" unit) and changing the livery from a Santa Fe scheme to a custom Frisco theme. I may have questions regarding paints and appropriate decals as I do this transformation. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have. I will certainly do my best to answer them and contribute to your forum community. Thank you again for the welcome. Scott W. (a.k.a, alliesdad) Note: alliesdad refers to my three year old female Labrador retriever (Allie) who is also my full time service dog.
Welcome Scott! We all find our enjoyment in model trains in different ways. There is no "wrong" way to have fun with our trains. I too, have an affection for Lionel (and other) 3-rail trains and have a very modest mini-collection of them, both Lionel and Marx. I recently purchased a 736 from the grandson of my long time friend that passed last year. It is proudly displayed upon the fireplace mantle. Every time my eyes fall upon his engine, I am flooded with with wonderful memories of my late friend David McDonald. A set of Lionel F3's painted in the Frisco black and yellow scheme would be spectacular. O sized trains have a "presence" to them HO will never have. Enjoy your trains, and most importantly, have fun! Andre
Scott, by all means, Welcome Aboard. There has been plenty of discussion about painting on the forum and don't hesitate to ask questions.