Quite sad really, I have been running errands for a 85 year old friend for about 2 years now, as he cant get out and about these days my job was to go shopping for some model railway equipment, has was previously interested in building plastic kits but decided to take up the model railway hobby.
Sadly he and his Wife have to go to a nursing home as they are having trouble looking after themselves, I went to his place today and he handed me a package, he said he had no more use for the contents which were.
1 x Farish Class 37 diesel, BR Green
1 x Farish Class 55 diesel also BR Green
1 x Farish Class 25/3 diesel also BR Green
2 x Pass Carriages
Assorted goods wagons
Card Kits, a Church, 2 x Loco Sheds.
The only hitch is he would like me to continue his dream and build a British layout, he knows I still like British Railways but I just came up with a new idea for my own setup, my layout is quite mountainous with deep gorges and loads of Pine Trees, it hardly looks like the Britain I remember, what would you do?.
Could you combine the two ideas and do a Scottish route. The 37 and 25 would fit in well.
What sad news for your friends. Lovely that the gentleman would rather you have them than sell them. I'd explain to him that you had just started to plan a mountainous layout, and you'd find it hard to make a British one. Maybe you could just make a small circular layout with a singular platform. I do like Michael's idea. :)
Obviously I don't know what the circumstances are in his new home and how much room he has but would he appreciate a little, say 2ft long, diorama with a couple of his items on?
Quote from: SD35 on June 23, 2012, 10:22:17 AM
Obviously I don't know what the circumstances are in his new home and how much room he has but would he appreciate a little, say 2ft long, diorama with a couple of his items on?
Or even an Inglenook Sidings layout that he can do some (semi automated) shunting on.
Hi Dave,
Both ideas above are excellent, another idea is to have a museum type setting as i have in mind with a turntable where the British locos could live or be on show & run them through your layout as & when you feel the turntable if you dont have one or another would come in handy will prove useful of course, an engine shed with the turntable & associated items would make a good scene.
There are some good ideas on this layout you may be able to incorporate on yours as Neil has varied enviroments.. http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6325&hl= (http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6325&hl=)
Or as has been suggested do the above on a board with a cover to keep it clean for your friend & he could have some input & say how he'd like it to be personalising it.
Personally I like Michael's idea of using the 37 and the 25 for that Scottish feel. You could run the Deltic as an excursion ;)
It's a lovely gift from your friend and might provide you a small fix of Blighty :thumbsup:
A little microlayout might work, depends on the space they now have but something long enough for two coaches, loco runaround and a siding type arrangement will fit into about a metre, plus a plug on (or fold over) fiddle, even a single track fiddle depending upon railing stuff.
The other trick perhaps would be a webcam and internet control so it can be run from elsewhere 8)
Alan
On a similar theme to EP, how about a 'suitcase' layout. you could take it in then so that your ol' friend can play trains too.
[smg id=1270 type=av align=center caption="model railway in a suitcase"]
I know where my misses' works as a Staff Nurse in a Care Home, they try to encourage the folks to have some interests of their own.
Thanks everybody for your suggestions, I will be going to see my friend on Tuesday and will put your ideas to him then, I also thought I would visit the Nursing Home on Monday and ask them what they think would be suitable for his and his wifes accommodation.
Once again thank you all.
Hi Dave,
Do Keep us uptodate on progress of this project :thumbsup:
Sad that your friend and his wife have to go to a nursing home but a lovely gesture by him to give you his models. Some good suggestions from the members on what to do with them and I think Michael's suggestion is very good. Good luck with whatever you decide!
Marty
Quote from: upnick on June 23, 2012, 11:09:40 PM
Hi Dave,
Do Keep us uptodate on progress of this project :thumbsup:
Will do Nick, I am quite happy to do whatever my friend want as he has been a good friend for several years even though he has only been into model trains for a few months.
We all hope to make it to his age and my aim is to see him happy in his twilight years.
Some really good ideas, I like the one of building your friend a small layout he can use in the home. I built a small layout for a friend in a similar situation, the staff at the home were very keen on the idea and there were lots of visitors to his room when it was running. He had very poor eyesight and Altzheimers but was a keen modeller all his life, I think he would have been very unhappy in the home had it not been for the railway.
:NGaugeForum:
Quote from: silly moo on June 24, 2012, 11:22:59 AM
Some really good ideas, I like the one of building your friend a small layout he can use in the home. I built a small layout for a friend in a similar situation, the staff at the home were very keen on the idea and there were lots of visitors to his room when it was running. He had very poor eyesight and Altzheimers but was a keen modeller all his life, I think he would have been very unhappy in the home had it not been for the railway.
:NGaugeForum:
Yeah, maybe make him a timesaver, or other shunting puzzle to keep the grey matter going; & perhaps in a bigger scale (easier on the eyes & hands...)
:thumbsup: Gerard
Went to the Nursing Home today, not much room in the room they will be sharing with two single beds a small table and two chairs plus a built in wardrobe with a small chest of draws section.
I did talk to the manageress who told me that a small layout could go in one corner of the recreation room but no responsibility could be taken for it as some patients suffer from dementia and sometimes get a bit rough with things.
Seeing my mate tomorrow afternoon so I will sort things out with him then, further post with plans tomorrow.