staying focused!
Gus
I lived in Clarksville for 10 years before encountering another model railroader (Clarksville @ that time had a population 68,000). Tom was The first modeler I ran into, and our railroads were both pretty much fully conceptualized @ that time. The biggest change to our concepts; which happened independently, but simultaniously, was the desicsion to back date our era from the late 30's to the late 20's. That change was inspired by our operations, wanting to acurately reflect the busy heyday of these RR's in Eastern Tn., instead of the lazy decline, as the railroads creep toward Cutout, and the inevitable colsure of the mill, and scrapping of the line.
After Tom and I started working together, it was probably another ten years before we were there to help found our club. When our club abandoned modules, and built a permanant layout, Tom built a logging area. I was absent for a while, due to the chronic illness of a child, But now I'm back I'm working to consolidate the clubs coal mines and logging operations into The J. E. Patterson Coal and Lumber Co. , named in honor of a club member who shared our interests, and who has passed away. The J.E. Patterson Coal and Lumber Co. is largely based on the operations of the Sterns Coal and Lumber co, of Stern's Ky., and their Kentucky and Tennesee railroad.
Under the clever disquise of a memorial, we have embarked on a vicious campaign of land grabbing; staking claim to large tracts of underutilzed territory, and working to make the J E P C & L Co a if not the dominant theme of the railroad. This is made easier, as the rest of the Guys, excepting Dave, who is a rabid L & N guy, are not focused.
Tom came to his interest in logging from living in the mountains, and hiking the trails; I came to it from my father's personal experience, and his collection of books. There is no telling how much we have learned from each other over the years.
Tom and I have different artistic styles, He works fast, making things happen now; I work slow trying to get every last tiny thing right, so nothing is ever finnished, but when I get close , it starts to look good. This difference helps inspire us as well, as Tom over the years has focused in tighter on details, and I have actually made an effort to get whole scenes closer to finished
Bill Nelson