I LOVED playing with my HO scale set when I was a kid. Have a HUGE layout. Two pieces of 4x8 plywood sized town. Had a whole room just for it.

One of my kids is into it today and has a decent sized layout.

I dig it still, but just have other pursuits that take my attention and time, but I still have a great appreciation for model train layouts and would go see one of the exhibition shows if it were in front of me

Looks like it is closing.

NOTE: Our building is being sold and the Center is closing permanently.  The displays will be sold off individually.  If you know someone who many interested in acquiring one of them please reach out to us.  Contact info is here on this site. https://www.finescalemodeling.org/

LOLOLOLOL!  
I flew RC back in the ‘90’s when I was 28-38 yo. I went to the meetings.  It was a hoot watching everyone stick to Roberts Rules.  I laughed, but after hearing about all the latest school board meetings and county council meetings where the majority were voted in because of the demographics changing in the area, I was glad those rules were put in place.  
“I’m gonna cut yo ass when we get to the parking lot!”
“Can we get a motion on that?”
So glad to leave Richland county.


But back to model railroads.  I got into O gauge a few years back with a Christmas set from Lionel.  I wanted to build an outdoor display and started buying straight track sections. Never happened, we moved. Not sure how I could make it happen in the new place. But one thing is for sure. Nicer stuff isn’t cheap.

Sorry about your Dad, looks like he was an incredibly talented man. Awesome layout.

Thats sad.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadside_America

That place was a favorite of mine growing up. It was amazingly complex and detailed. It was like the ultimate (unachievable) end goal for anybody who ever collected model trains, like how Jay Leno's garage relates to average car guys.

Yep.

Yes. The decals came from a set for either a 36' wood sheathed boxcar or reefer. I cut them up and used them for the hopper, based on a photo I found of a Seaboard hopper from the 60s. I used an Accurail Data Only covered hopper. I also did a DG&H boxcar using a data only boxcar. The DG&H was the narrow gauge line on the Gorre and Daphetid. I imagined that it eventually switched to standard gauge, like the Saint Louis Southwestern did, and continued to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of the G&D.

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I'm also sure the G&D would have been forced to modernize and purchase more up to date equipment, especially when flush with cash after WWII. I decaled up a small fleet of these boxcars. Some of them, and one of the DG&H boxcars wound up with John Allen style track cleaning pads underneath them.

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The Data Only hoppers are available with two different build dates. I did the cars with 1960s build dates with the diamond, and the cars from the 80s with the lettering.

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There's a covered hopper sitting on a siding in town right now with weathering a lot like 15033's, except that car is almost bright orange. from either rust or red dirt.

I logged in just to tell you thanks for the laugh.  That is FU**ING hilarious.