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Negativity & Club Morale
I beleive this is the comments that Bill is referring to:
"And, yes, I am comparing this to the 45 degree corners. We discussed them for
several years, then suddenly rushed into implementing them without
fully understanding the implications, including the fact that we need a
much larger space for the layout when using the new corner modules and
that they take up more space in our already packed trailer. Also, we
currently have only two pairs of the 45 degree modules. Even though
they look nice, they don't provide any improvement in operating large
trains since we still have to use at least two of the older corners, which
have smaller radii tracks. Also, using a pair of the new corners for the
inside corner of an L-shaped layout didn't completely solve the problem
of track 1 being the inside (i.e. smallest radius) track since we still
have collisions between trains on tracks 1 and 2. In my opinion, the
design for these modules was rushed into the implementation phase
without fully considering how they would perform in our layout.
I don't want to see the same thing happen with a bridge module."
This is negative and bordering on snide in my opnion. You could have made the same points without pointing fingers and singling out members or certain projects. By doing so it would have been more constructive rather than destructive. Everyone is well aware of your opinion now. However, the board has approved them and its time to move on. Stop it with the constant side jabes.
Now, one could make the same arguements about several other projects we have done. No one is perfect and no project is perfect but we continue to learn from them and improve the layout. One example of this is the implementation of the MTH DCS system to our layout. On more occasions than I can count DCS has caused many headaches and has impaired the running of trains on the layout. We continue to muddle thru this issue as time goes on.
One could also make the same arguements concerning the new 90 degree corners. The track laying was rushed and this caused track centering issues on the tracks 1 and 2. Track spacing is critical when running big trains. Club standard are a minimum of 4 1/4". This was not closely followed and spacing in some spots are 3 3/4." In building the 45's we took great pains to get the spacing right and even went beyond 4 1/4." One does have to compromise in wide curves and layout size and we felt we struck a good medium between the two that compliments the entire layout. The issues with the 90* corners is being dealt with as well. Once its done its done and does not need to brought up again and thrown in anyone's face.
In the two times we have setup a big layout with the 45's there have been NO collisions between tracks one and two that I am aware of in the inside portion of the L. I personally think for aesthetic reasons we should have the transition track seperate them as we have done before. Perhaps a third pair should be built.
Negative attitudes and comments can bring morale down. This will only hurt the club as older members may get tired of it and new members may get scared off by it. One thing I learned in scouts is that a good leader should always praise in public and critiscize in private. Take a moment and think before you speak. Be polite and considerate. If you have a problem with someone speak with them in private
Complaining about table hogging is critiscizing and petty. Complaining about hogging track time is also petty. Getting upset and giving someone a dissapproving look when they use the halt function for what it was intended for (stopping trains collisions) is negative and not good for the clubs morale. Always saying no and throwing road blocks in front of people's ideas is not good for the club morale. Getting upset, losing ones temper and threatening to take your trains home is not good for morale either.
Playing trains is supposed to be fun. Why the hell else are we all here? So keep talking about improvements to the layout like this lift bridge module idea, like scenicing the layout more, etc. That is what Jim would want and expect us to do.
Ricky