I’m waking up with a cup of coffee, looking around at the new place and surveying my potential layout space. This morning I woke up with a new dose of excitement for my hobby, a renewed vigor to build a small layout to showcase my beautiful little trains. Among the post-move cluster of boxes downstairs is a project I have long been meaning to finish is a Z-8 Challenger that, while intended originally to be an NP locomotive, I have decided will fly the flag of SP&S! Much to be done there, including installing DCC and sound, but for now it’s in pieces trying to get that old Con-Cor mechanism back up to snuff.

I have, in all, about 10 locomotive projects in some stage of completion or disrepair. Nevermind that for the moment, because I have nary a layout to run my running trains on! That will change quite soon. I’ve got a custom cabinet coming to store all my little N-gauge jewels, being made by a good friend/woodsmith who works for cheap beer and burritos! Once that’s done, the layout will be build on top. In the meantime, my other diesel projects include an SP&S FA-2 AB pair that need oxide red roofs, and modernized chassis. I’ve got a Milwaukee F-7 4-6-4 to build too, but the GHQ kits are best handled one-at-a-time haha….

All in all, the list could go on forever, but today I will start by simply picking up a decal sheet and making that challenger Seattle-ready. Wish me luck!

Marshall53Z8911