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:: ABOUT THE SITE ::
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It's hard for me to believe, but it's been about 10 years now since I
made the first version of this site. I was attending
College for business management, but spending most nights teaching
myself how to make web graphics and design websites. I was
away from home, which is where my first layout was, so I would
travel back to work on the layout on weekends and then work on this
site during the week. I got a lot of inspiration from James
Powell, who at the time had a great site himself. Couple that
inspiration with the sheer awe I had (and still have) for George
Sellios' work and you get this site.
Many things have changed in my life and
this site has changed right along with me. For a while I posted as
many F&SM pictures as I could; so I could share George's amazing work
with everyone. Then I started to post some of my own projects.
Now, I have my hands full most of the time with other responsibilities
and don't have time to do as much modeling - or posting- but I do get to
travel more. I've been taking a lot more prototype pictures and
trying to visit as many great layouts as I can. I'm looking
forward to being able to share pictures of those adventures as well!
As busy as I seem to get, I love to meet new people, so email and say
"Hi!"
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:: ABOUT THE LAYOUT ::
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I managed to move from shoe box
buildings to a 4X8 layout before I moved to Iowa. The 4X8
was a simple layout, but I was proud of it. The move to
Iowa gave me space above a three car garage to start a layout.
What you see at right is the original track plan and pictures of
this layout can be seen in the construction gallery. I plan to
cut up most of this layout and move pieces to the new layout I
am working on.
The new house/church has given me a
large area to plan a new railroad and that's where I sit right now.
Lots of planning... It is going to be a giant "O" or U shaped
layout and will be set in the mid 1990's. The inside of the layout
will be city/industrial and the outside will be a rough model of SP's
Donner crossing. I'd like to try writing an article or two for a
magazine, so I'll try to tie that in with building the new layout.
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:: ABOUT THE
AUTHOR ::
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My name is Matt Gidley and I live in Waverly, Iowa. I am not
Matt Gidley the famous Australian soccer player - he stole my name.
As of March 2009, I am 30 years young and in case you were wondering -
Yes, I am looking forward to retirement already! My wife Angela and I
live out of town in an old church that seems to take more time and money
than I could have ever imagined. Both Angela and I love to travel
and I usually can talk her into hitting a few train hot-spots on any
given trip (as long as a trip to the local mall is also on the
schedule.)
Like so many, my modeling started with a train
set for Christmas long long ago... and I have been active in the
hobby ever since. I spent the first 14 years of my life in
San Jose, California- which is where I developed my love for the
Southern Pacific. I have always modeled in HO scale, and
probably always will - although the realism of large scale is really
enticing! When I am not modeling or working on this site, I am usually
working at home, playing guitar, or working at home. This is
an excellent hobby and I've met so many great modelers and have many
more to meet! |
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<<
Angela in the shop at Jamestown, CA.
Angela
hanging out on the UP Centennial at Portola, CA. >> |
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<< Me
posing on a Cadillac that needs some TLC.
Ang
and I on the 2873 (GP9E) after operating it for an hour at
Portola. >> |
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<<
Angela is a great pianist, so she had to pose with the
musical UP sign.
Me,
She, and the SP >> |
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