Maybe I'm risking a jinx, but oh well...
On August 12, 2014, I ran the very first movement of a locomotive on my layout, using ET&WNC # 12 on a small section of the layout with a spur in place. My friend Robert Scott and I started laying track from one end to the other and had maybe gotten 4 feet of mainline in at this point, on plywood bench work. I didn't have a lot of confidence in my modeling ability at the time, having been out of the hobby for many years. I didn't think much would come from this other than a way to have fun running my own trains instead of waiting for op session on other layouts.
Within two years of this photo, scenery was in place and I've been improving stuff ever since.

Ten years later exactly, here's the same locomotive. This area is more of staging area with scenery. But had someone told me the layout would be in almost two dozen magazine articles, three commercial videos (including a Blu-Ray) and many dozens of visitors over the years, I'd have told that person they were nuts!

It's been an amazing journey to get to where it is today. I am continually surprised at how well my work has been received over the years.

Lee, your layout ranks among my top favorite layouts, right along-side with David Popp's Olympia, Dave Meek's Thunder Mesa and Garry Beatty's Puerto Borracho. I always enjoy seeing pictures of your layout and it continues to inspire me even after 10 years. Looking forward to seeing more articles.

Quote from: Fred Klein on August 15, 2024, 12:21:58 AMLee, your layout ranks among my top favorite layouts, right along-side with David Popp's Olympia, Dave Meek's Thunder Mesa and Garry Beatty's Puerto Borracho. I always enjoy seeing pictures of your layout and it continues to inspire me even after 10 years. Looking forward to seeing more articles.

Thank you very much, Fred. That means a great deal to me.

Here's the only other ten year apart shot on the layout, of the first run of the mainline. The turntables weren't in at that time.
This is the same locomotive and cars.

Lee, it looks great! Let's go for another ten years.
Fred

Quote from: p51 on August 14, 2024, 06:15:13 PM... On August 12, 2014, I ran the very first movement of a locomotive on my layout, using ET&WNC # 12 ...
It's been an amazing journey to get to where it is today. I am continually surprised at how well my work has been received over the years.

Wow! I just joined the forum, and the first post I saw was yours. Waiting for my ET&WNC #12 to arrive today or tomorrow!

I have really enjoyed your videos, and thank you for the good advice you've given me on Facebook.

Congratulations on 10 awesome years!

Hi Linda! Welcome to the forum. If you get a chance, dig up some of the past On30 Annuals (which year(s) escapes me at the moment) and you will find some excellent articles by Lee.One of my favorites is one describing on how to create an alternate universe for a layout - it really helped me with mine. I think you will find them very interesting.