The new space for RPI Students’ Railroad layout was actually not big enough to fit the layout as it was, which would have required wholesale rebuilding.

Some sections would have had to be replaced with new ones built from scratch, likely taking years or even decades to get the layout presentable again.

Initially, it had been hoped that the old layout could have been made presentable to participate in the celebration, if there had been one, of RPI’s 200th birthday, including trumpeting Rensselaer’s long claim to mastery and blending of both knowledge and thoroughness, and being able to reach out to the many disaffiliated alumni and reignite their participation.

This would have been especially appropriate to highlight Rensselaer’s long pioneering triumphs of engineering, including industry and railroading.

With the firing of the project coordinator, all planning was put in the hands of college administrators, with limited interest and no knowledge of model railroading or what was required for this specific project, while rejecting all offers of help from outside the student base.

This included the suitability of the new site, the expertise, skills, and artistry in rebuilding such a model railroad layout with the historical and architectural research on........

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