Model Railroad project layout

[BobLI]

After seeing the project layout in the January issue I am a bit disappointed. This just doesn’t seem to be on the par as with other project layouts in the past. Any comments?

[Backshophoss]

They seem to cycle between 3 kind of projects, Display layout,1: A few steps above a "figure 8" type layout, a little switching on 1-3 sidings.
2:A switching layout, based on some prototype RR switching district or major industry switching,
3: A exisiting layout Expansion or Upgrade,needing to add or change part of the exisiting layout to add switching.

[CNJ999]

I agree that the Canyons project layout is particularly lackluster in comparison to many of MR's previous project layouts. It really doesn't seem to have much operating purpose. I really don't consider the current staff as near so creative as pre-2000 individual came up with original ideas for layouts back in the day and that is why the new guy give us these disappointing examples currently. Even a beginner would tire of the Canyon's layout in short order in my opinion.

CNJ999

[umtrr-author]

I was also underwhelmed by MR's latest choice.

In a somewhat related story, a couple of my friends were so sick and tired of reading about MR's "Beer Line" that I couldn't resist lettering a car "Beer Line" for each of them . One of them was placed on one friend's large layout and he didn't find it for hours.