GREAT DIVIDE LINE: A BUILD STORY

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August 15, 2021 --  This week the Great Divide Line lost a very special companion to the wild woods that surround its home. 

Scooter the cat was a fantastic companion and my good friend. His incredible, fun-loving presence here in the large workshop where he lived is now painfully missing. He was full of bright-eyed enthusiasm as each day in the layout room began, and his friendship helped me create each and every part of this project with the same infectious enthusiasm. After recently losing him, I now realize just how much the time we spent together really meant. He was fun to have around and made me laugh constantly.

The work here has just gotten to a point where some curious folks decided to make the trip to come see the resurrected Gorre & Daphetid in person. So, "visitors" were a new thing for Scooter. He did quite well with them and I was proud of how well he was with these new people who came to "his" space. With the recent arrival of a few fellow modelers and friends, Scooter became the official greeter for the project. He did not get underfoot, but was happy to accompany visitors inside and wait while conversations were had before offering his goodbyes on the steps outside the layout. 

The photo above shows Scooter on the steps of the layout's entrance. He was saying farewell to a friend and fellow G&D modeler/historian Jeff Witt after he took the journey here to New York to see the project's progress. Jeff took this picture of him as they had become fast friends during his two day visit. 

Scooter will always be the greeter for the layout and his bright eyed picture will hang here above the guest book. He loved living here and my time with him was priceless. Don't forget to say hello to him if you come. He would have loved the attention from all the modelers that will eventually make the journey to the new Great Divide Line.  

Thank you Scooter, your contribution of spirit and enthusiasm will never be forgotten. 

Randy Decker