hello all---thanks for your feedback---it's always appreciated.hey andrew,one of the advantages of model railroading is you can stop time so my layout will always be in the late 50's,lots of steam and first generation diesels---no wonder people refer to this period as the golden age of railroading.dean ,you had a comment in one of your recent threads regarding doing research and reading all kinds of train related materials---i think i have at least 130 hardcover train books which give all kinds of inspiration,and yes ian wilson is one of my favourite authors---i have all his volumes---thanks again,happy railroading---nutbar