A Sow's Ear: transitioning from Toy Trains to Model Railroad, a story in many parts.

PROLOGUE:

This will be, as my granddaughter tells it, a"chapter book", a long tale told in multiple posts. It describes my incremental conversion from box-stock, RTR, generic, DC train sets in HO to something with enhanced detail,  accuracy, and function, built on/with/over my collection of vintage train and tracks. I have a direction, but no final goal beyond look, work, sound better; and no firm timeline. 

.........

I have in my attic a 4x8 train layout built in my youth, enjoyed for years, neglected for many more, cut in half, moved, reassembled, a used a bit, and neglected some more.  Recently,  my desire to clean, fix, repair, and renew old kits has morphed into doing the same to this layout. Some chapters have been covered previously, and many more will be written. It will cover all aspects of the upgrade. This will include layout, track, wiring, power, rolling stock. This will serve as the intro, and contain the index to individual project posts. All Aboard!

Project goals:

1. Handsfree operation (no unplanned stoppage, uncoupling, derailing).

2. DCC with sound on most locos

3. Scenery up to my current diorama standards.

4. Improve fidelity of locos and rolling stock to more closely resemble actual prototype examples.

Caveat 1: why not build new? It would be in many ways simpler. I have accepted that I'll never have the space, nor be able to justify the expense of that approach. Making the old girl work is enough for me.

Caveat 2: the only way to go full accuracy on models is to chuck the lot and start from scratch. Ain't gonna happen. 3 reasons - Too costly; I enjoy making old, new; I've grown attached to my Old Stuff. Too many memories.

Addenda: As my space,  collection, interests, and limitations will not allow a too-faithful recreation of a specific time and place, the layout will represent a fictional RR, the Southwest Short Line, a local connector northwest of Denver, bordered by ATSF, UP, and DRGW. As the "poor relations", it will often see motive power and rolling stock from it's larger neighbors, as well as lots of hand-me-downs on its roster. Most of its organic traffic will be mining related, primarily coal.