As years have passed and operations on the Onondaga Cutoff have grown, so has the option to attend sessions at other's homes, and to be part of other communities around the country.
A recent photo that came across email to me brought a smile to my face. There are friends you meet along the road who are there to help you learn, and to help guide us forward. These friends grow to become close to us and our families too, indeed becoming friends both within and outside of this hobby. Doug Watts is a person who has always been willing to offer an ear and to be part of what we are working to build on the OC.
Here's a fun image of Doug and I at an operating session on Tony Koester's famous Nickel Plate Road back in 2023. We are both fortunate to be within a reasonable drive of this operation, it's a great experience to share! Thanks to Rich Wisneski for the image.
Operating a model railroad is a truly compelling part of this hobby of ours. It becomes a bit of a lifestyle, too, one where you have to stay flexible in being surprised, be willing to take a risk and make mistakes, and have fun in a spot where you're the new guy and everyone else knows what they are doing. (Or, at least, they seem to know what they are doing.)
Take a chance on operations! There are a variety of ways to get started, including open events that surround many National Model Railroad Association conventions and meets, as well as around Railway Prototype Modeler meets (RPMs) and even some train shows such as the big expo each year at Springfield MA.
Operations keeps the good times going.
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