I could not have done any of this without the invaluable help and support of some key people; I am for ever grateful. If I have missed anyone I apologise sincerely. Those key people are:

• Andrew Cocker - ex Calgary now of London SE somewhere
  For helping with the initial layout ideas, wiring of the entire layout into 10 operational blocks, continuing encouragement, and passing on almost 200 cans and bottles of paint that he couldn't take with him to England
  
  
• Michael Willis - Calgary neighbour and close friend
  For building the baseboard framework, many of the trees, and some fiddly bits (he's famous for those), especially the narrow gauge crossing of the standard gauge siding, and for all the digital photographs.
  
  
• Brian Allen - Bluebell Railway volunteer
  For finding those Myers Architect's drawings and making sure I received copies, and for all those letters patiently in reply to my sometimes tardy Annual Reports
  
  
• Peter Richards - Bluebell Railway volunteer signalman
  For taking and sending detailed photographs of some buildings, for general historical information, and for allowing the first articles about this layout onto the SEMG website
  
  
• Tim Dorscher - co-worker and AutoCAD guru
  For taking my less than adequate sketches and turning them into detailed AutoCAD drawings that became the basis for wood framing on the main station building gables. (Check out the photographs.)
  
  

Despite all of the above, this model of Sheffield Park will never be finished. The layout was demolished, along with the house, in the summer of 2006. However, all the buildings were rescued and have been passed along to Andrew Cocker somewhere in London SE. He has promised space for them on an exhibition layout that could be ready as early as 2010.

But... when I embarked upon this new found hobby I had no idea just what I was getting myself into. I work on the layout only on weekends, so it has taken a lot longer to get to where I am now than I had anticipated; however, whenever I am working on the layout, whether it is modelling, researching, getting frustrated, or trying to find something in the many boxes I have acquired over time, everything else disappears from my mind. This kind of focus helps tremendously, especially when I am painting eyeballs or fixing some small bit to another small bit. This will be a hobby for the rest of my life.

Also, I have made some wonderful acquaintances and friends along the way and I have experienced generosity beyond words. So many people in this hobby have given freely of their time and sometimes material. I am amazed at the railway modelling fraternity; long may it flourish.

Roger Marler, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, February 2006.