March 2001 ~The layout is in its first construction phase. The first phase of construction featured putting in closet maid shelves and bracket equipment. Only a horse-shoe shape was made until we figured a way to incorporate a rectangular shape into place.

June 2001~ Last couple of pieces are finally put into place. Those pieces were the 118 inch span on the left side of the room. It went across the room allowing the trains to crossover head, without a problem to complete a rectangular shape.

July 2001- I purchased several locomotives. At the time I was still using DC, I had 3 power packs hooked up to each other. Those were two Bachmann standard spectrum power packs and a Tech 4 220. That provided the layout with about 40VA.

2002~ Second Year Going Strong

January 2002- Acela 2003 was tested drastically. Just about everyday, the train was tested at high speeds on Bachmann's ez track System.  The train reached speeds of 195-200 with the throttle on 80%.

March 2002- The layout was expanded to 2 track operation. Now I had Superliners, Acela, and the AEM-7 with few amfleets, 2 F59PHIs and 5 AMD103s. I had more locos than passenger cars. It was a shame.

December 2002- Under the capital plan, the railroad acquired DCC, the finest technology in the business. We set a contract with digitrax to build and equip the layout with DCC. Even though still today it is an on going task, all engines will feature DCC soon. DCC allowed the layout to have a yard to store trains, and control each train.

2003~ Still Strong, with hurdles late in the year.

January 2003- 3 Acela Additional Acela Sets Delivered to the layout. With Acela #2003 enduring just about every aspect of being a test pilot for the remaining sets, it needed a break. 2003 started to break down by mid 2002, but was fixed just so testing could be finished. So with 2003 sidelined after an accident, wire contacts lose, trucks burnt out the layout decided to launch a High speed rail plan. That was to buy 10 HSR sets by the end of 2008 with an option order possible.

May 2003- That month, there was a regular maintained check and apparently there was to much weight on an unsupported shelf. The shelf was supported but not on the end where I had equipment. Due to that, the shelf fell from the wall causing a loud noise, and some cautionary measures. The shelf and brackets were taken down and placed else where.  The incident was a wakeup call to me. I now have a new view on how I am going to go about rebuilding. Later in the year the 118 inch piece in the middle of the room was taken down also.  With all that happening, all this gave me a chance to buy more equipment and plan the rebuilding process. So with that said that took the rest of the year and most of 2004.

2004~ Rebuilding, Restore, and the Better

August 2004- I introduced my first Foreign train to my layout. This train was the very rare Lima ICE-T. I actually imported this train from Europe. I got it from eBay Europe for a pretty good deal. With shipping I got it for 139 EURO witch was $170. It was the 5th high-speed trainset to be delivered to the layout.

December 2004 With it almost begin a year that the layout had not seen a moving train, I decided that all the stuff I was stocking up, need a place. So I went back to the drawing board and constructed two new sections of my layout.  With that I purchased new track and set a new track system. I also launched this new website. All of this put me in a good position for 2005.

2005~ Improvements and more improvements

January 2005- What can I say, January started on a good note. The JR500 bullet train has arrived after a little uncertainty. The train was not expected to be delivered at first. This is train-set #6 as part of the HSR plan. The train is still testing and getting use to the new system. Also other things like my layout link to the other side of the room is suppose to be completed this month along with more rolling stock purchases. They way things are going on 2005 things are looking up. Thanks for reading and stay tuned.

 February 2005- Through much of this month the layout was under going new looks. As a result I was developing new track plans. The only things the layout got was 3 Amfleet Cars.

March 2005- This month is the beginning of the new capital funding program. It includes complete destruction of the layout along with new ideas, and new layout look.. On March 12, 2005 I have finished a section or half a section of the layout. Its features Catenary and four track operation. Pictures are located at the bottom of the page.

April and May 2005 With the layout working ahead of schedule, the construction team has found a way to restore the layout, to full strength again. With time and patience, on 4/29/05 the layout was finally complete, well at least the mainline. Work on the station and other things are still under construction. The new design features a two track mainline, rather than a 4 track mainline. The Layouts new focus is to have a city with a railroad around it, not a railroad with a city featured on the side. Meaning that scenery will be ahead of rolling stock and locomotive purchases. The layout also got a new look, this is the current look. The layout added the city limits, and other things that have yet to be shown to the public. Keep checking back for more updates.

 Late May and June 2005- By the end of May, my layout was in good shape. I acquired more structures to improve the appearance of my layout. June started out with me planning two sections of my layout. The two sections are still in the first stage of production. Another part of the layout, that has been worked on extensively was the Union Station branch. Basic track work has been established for the branch. Even this is still in primary stages of development. Currently in the month of June, the Metrolink fleet has been reactivated.