I have spent over 3 years creating a layout and now that everything is done for the most part I am finding myself wanting to start all over again not sure if anyone has had this same issue
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All the time. I keep finding ways to change it by adding and deleting things.
Charlie
Yes, I did. I found my interests went from running only in a circuit to running prototypical operations so I decided to tear down and rebuild. I'm almost ready to begin the new layout which will incorporate both. Plus, my old layout was of poor design - ie: switches and operating accessories in spots I couldn't reach from standing next to the layout. If what you have no longer "floats your boat" then by all means tear down and rebuild.
-Greg
I found out that building the layout was more fun than running it not sure how that came about so as I draw closer to completion I find that I have this profound feeling of wanting to try something else and start all over again, My friends were taking bets on how long it would be before I started all over again this will be the 3rd time I have done this
The "next layout" is always a tempting vision, even for those who hate building layouts - and that would be me. I have only had 3 layouts, and that includes the one built for me by my father in 1954 (it was "Hi-Rail", in the basic sense).
I am adding on to my layout right now; I'm kind of enjoying it, but it's taking me forever. I do something on it every day, but I can't work on it too long at one time. My mind wanders to the workbench projects I would rather be doing.
But, no - wanting a new one is not new - but if you never use them...then what's the point?
Oh, wait - maybe it's like all those loco/RS projects that I did (some complex), tested, then run around the layout a dozen times...then parked out of the way so I can do the next one.
Yeah - I do get it, it turns out.
Working on my sixth layout. #5 is still in the attic. 90% complete. Still have a few things to do on it. I started #6 in the basement. Everything can be reached in arms length. This is a switching layout. Something I could not do in the attic because of space limitations. This will no doubt be my last. Getting to old to get under the tables to do something. Plus going to be 72. I am enjoying the scenery aspect of it more then anything else and since i have been doing this layout I have not run trains very much.......Paul
I have a plan in place for a new layout design, but I have been busy with school and work to get to work on actually tearing up all my track. Though there is also some thing I would like to try out before I work on my layout again. Also my basement is somewhat cold in the winter months so, less drive to work on it in the winter.
I did mine three times. First to expand, second for house construction issues, final here we are but might do an add on.
Yep, got tired of a layout and had a carpet central for a few years.
I had a layout with 2 independent sections (U shaped) plus an elevated layout spanning the closed end of both sections. In January, I tore down 1 of the 2 independent sections and the upper layout so I could connect the independent sections into 1 grand design and then add back 2 more elevated layouts stacked on top of each other.
Couple of observations:
- Quick to tear it down, slow to put it back up, as in no progress.
- Missed running my trains this winter!
- Amazing how much storage space you need when you clear the layout of everything on it - foam board, track, trees, buildings, cars, trucks, people, landscaping materials, telephone poles, lights, wires, roads, signs, all the rolling stock that sits in the yards/spurs ...
- Torture tearing down favorite scenes painstakingly created on the layout that aren't a part of a new plan.
- Eyes bigger than my stomach - must be some parallel saying that reflects a layout plan that far outpaces one's ability to build it.
- Demolition remorse - old layout was pretty **** good!
I'm sure the new layout when I get around to it, will be even better than the last. So I tell myself. Until then I'm futzing with track plans that incorporate everything I own.
One final observation:
- I gotta sell some stuff!
If it’s not a terribly large layout by all means tear it down and build new. If large then change things around. Add a new route or remove an old route. Run trains in the opposite direction. If you only run loops it’s hard to keep the interest going.
I tear mine up quite a bit but it's not permanent. (It's on tables) I do try to finish what I started but once or twice just got it together enough to loop around it and then immediately started to rebuild - I like experimenting. To help with this I bought a dremel to easily cut track. I cut up long straights to make short pieces or in a few cases bend them to a curve that works (gargraves). So as you may have guessed this is because I found that I like tinkering with the track more than the trains. But this could change. I've also been considering moving to 2 rail, or just selling everything and starting over in another scale.
If you have the room, add an extension or a yard - anything new to break up the monotony. Get involved in prototypical operations. Try a different aspect of the hobby, like weathering all your structures, taking apart your passenger cars and adding lighting and people, or try hunting down and restoring old engines.
I’ve thought about it multiple times over the years and each time decided to expand what I had rather than tear down and start over.
I’m pretty much out of expansion room now though so; I pour a nice single malt scotch and spend about 30 minutes watching trains on the layout and talking myself out of any of this tear down and rebuild nonsense. 😁
Curt
I have built, tore down, built, tour down and built, all over a 15 year period. I am now in the "itch" to build mode since I am out of expansion space. I have lots of ideas that I want to build but no room. Sooner or later I will most likely tear down and build again.
I thought about rebuilding and starting from scratch but fortunately the thought quickly dissipates. Frankly, I've got a pretty neat 25x18 layout, if I do say so myself, with a fairly intricate (maybe too intricate) track plan and lots of room for expansion, if I choose to do that. Instead I've very satisfactorily been adding on little by little...a branch line here, a siding there, or installing some kind of operating accessory. That satisfies the building urge in me, which is the part of the hobby I enjoy the most, and most importantly for both me and my grandchildren when they visit, something to play with. They're all young and want to see the trains the minute they come in the door so to completely tear down and rebuild would render the actual "playing with the trains" part pretty difficult, making them as well as me, pretty unhappy.
At this point in time I've still got a little bit of scenery left to create, which is the part of the hobby I like the least, but at the same time I'm planning an industrial siding and and also doodling on a piece of paper figuring where I can add a double ended 6 track yard so that a train can pull in and park and an entirely different train, either passenger or freight, can pull out. This is something that can be done simultaneously to keeping the trains running which to me is the whole point.
Now having said all that, train activities take place in the late fall into spring. Once the weather gets nice, the trains get a rest and I'm off doing other stuff.
All the time but given the space constraints a tear down and re build to my satisfaction would require a remodel of the basement. Since I plan on leaving the Soviet Republic of New Jersey in the next 2 years it isn't worth the effort.
As was mentioned above i to enjoy building a layout more than running trains ,although this is only my second layout ,i don't know if i have the time to do a complete rebuild ,i am 76 so time really isn't on my side ,,on the plus side i feel great as far as my health goes but i do have heart disease ,with one of my arteries 100% blocked ,lucky for me it isn't a main artery & it's been that way for the past 24 years i never had to have anything done, just watch my diet ,exercise & medicine so i do think about doing one more rebuild but we will see what happens .
In the 80's I built a 3.5' x 5.5' roll-away-under-the-bed layout for my boys. Texas - no basements, and you don't wanna be in the attic between February and November! When #2 son moved out after college, I claimed his room. Dug out the old layout board, added about 10" on one side and set it up for 2-train operation. Atlas 036.
Too small.
Added onto it a bit, taking it to 8' long, same width when we got rid of a loveseat on one end of the room. Still too small.
Got rid of more stuff from the room and put up an 8x12 folded dogbone. Decent; 2 train operation if you counted a small 3x4 036 loop on one end. Had 054's, but not on the entire mainline and I grew tired of not being able to run my 1990 scale hudson.
Bridging the gap between the two end loops to make a double main wtih 054 and 045 loops. Kept the end piece to allow an L shape if I want to run 045-limited / postwar stuff on something other than a simple loop.
I started mine a year ago today. Happy Birthday train room. My space was limited but it was a very unsquared 20x20 fully concrete room with four columns strategically located about the room holding up my garage floor. It was a water cistern until I got city water.
I haven't had the desire to start over, because what I have is about all I could do. But now that I have what I have, my thoughts have been more toward, "now if I had the room to do so, this is how I would have done it."
Yup, going to tubular and going Postwar display style with all my accessories. Extending the table out another 3 inches to accommodate 042 curves. Keeping TMCC but will wire a bypass to switch to using one of my ZeeDubs when the old school urge comes along.
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Yep, more than once. During the seventies and eighties, I had an "O" gauge layout in the cellar. It became a bit of humor, among my wife and brother, whenever I was changing my layout.
My wife just looks at people and says, "I'm just glad he finally has a hobby."
Built a RR in a spare bedroom. Wife complained. So I divorced her and extended the RR into the remaining bedrooms + living room, dining room and kitchen.
Met a lady when single and she heard a steam engine blowing a whistle & chugging by the phone and asked "Where in the world do you live?" After I explained I have not heard from her in years. Happily married now to someone who demanded that our RE agent only showed us ranch houses with full basements.
Proceeded to build a large RR only to realize there is such a thing as too big. Had to disassemble much of it twice to pare it down to a somewhat more manageable size. Big can be too big.
Nope. I hate building the layout. I find no joy in it. After 6 years it's still hasn't gotten past a single powered loop. It took becoming unemployed 7 months ago with nothing better to do to actually lay the rest of the track down so as to be able to glue the cork roadbed in place. I just want to wake up and it be all done so I can run my trains. But sadly that'll never happen. My brother has been bitten by the model train bug, but in N gauge. But it's enough that I have since slowly worked a little more on the layout, every time he comes over he looks to see what progress I've made. Once done the only way I'll tear it down and start over is if we move.
Mine sits directly on the floor. 20 x 20 is nice, but when you can't bring yourself to cut slits in the carpet to hide the wires, it makes for a unique look to your track layout as the wire have run along beside the track to the cabinet, running under other track through specially knawed out cuts using a Dremel, then into the cabinet under the bottom shelf, removeable bottom shelf I might add, and then painfully through more holes up the wall behind the false back to the third shelf where they finally connect to the AIU. That's just the switches. The booster drops stay under the bottom shelf hooked to a terminal block. The wires are velcroed to the carpet using strap Velcro. In this case it's not big that was the problem, it was room design that eliminated building a big enough table. Layout makes for interesting walk ways when trying to walk amongst the cars. If I had it all to do again, I'd build a room with a floor that had an under that floor access which would let me hide the wires under the floor and run to an operations cabinet. Then i'd have walk ways "overpasses" with tunnel cuts. That way I could utilize the floor area for large ovals, and still walk amongst the railyard to move and reset cars. I'd have a balcony for curious onlookers to come and watch if they wanted to see it. So a very deep grate room off the main floor.
Sinclair
My train layout started the same way. I had no desire to build the Colorado Train Museum layout, I just wanted a room big enough to lay a giant oval or 3 and some parking tracks to store the trains when they weren't going round and round the first two tracks. Other than some signage my daughter made me to document switches, stop signs, and End Of Train markers, I have a stupid looking control tower I built out of an old girder and panel building set I got for Christmas, and two old Lionel buildings I got the year santa brought me my first train. No mountains, no grass, no trees, no people, unless you count my grandson's transformers going for a ride one morning on the CSX train. Mainly it's a train themed man cave under my garage with a chair, a cup holder, and a place to store my trains besides a box in a closet.
with me I am my biggest critic so you have someone you keeps looking at something he has done and thinks he can do it better and you have someone who wants to keep changing
In my case, NEVER! I started my layout more than 20 years ago, and spent three years just planning. I love the construction, the design and the track laying aspects of the hobby, but those things are done on this layout.
My secret to not wanting to start over is that the layout still has an unfulfilled purpose, which is to simulate local railroad operations. I am far from bored by this layout. I still have scenery, structures, signals, and computer control left to finish, and then there's actually operating it.
To me, just running trains in circles doesn't cut it. Real trains have a purpose. Why shouldn't model trains?
Elliot,
You are blessed to have the space, time, talent, and resources to build what you have! Having said that, it's more than I want. But it's your railroad and your dream. Keep living it!
Chris
LVHR
been there, done that!!!!!! Had an 8'x 12' traveling O gauge train board that I took to shows to run O and O27 trains. The original board was made entirely out of scrap materials I scavenged. after about 10-15 years of setting up and tearing down at shows. the board itself was beyond repair. I was spending lots of time at the shows fixing small details and repairing breaks. Lots of screws, glue and elbow grease.
a year ago I "pulled the trigger" and bought new material and rebuilt the board. new pine, plywood and play carpet for the surface. The old board made its way to the burn pile. it made for a nice bonfire. 
I do not feel that way. I enjoy running trains and I seem to have "gotten it right" for the most part. My layout can run everything from per-war O gauge to Legacy locomotives. I can run more than one train at once on the same track as long as I'm running TMCC or Legacy locomotives. Train lengths on my layout can reach 15 cars. I have switching possibilities also. Having said that, I sometimes see a layout plan that I would like to try just to see what is like to run trains over it.
Yardmaster96 posted:My wife just looks at people and says, "I'm just glad he finally has a hobby."
My wife says the same thing I tell her it beats me going to the casino
Broke my heart when I had to take down my layout. I can still see the flames as I burned the benchwork in the fire pit. I will observe a moment of silence.
Moving on now...
I've had 7 different layouts and my 1st was in 2012. However I'm hoping my current plan lasts for at least 2 years
lehighline posted:Elliot,
You are blessed to have the space, time, talent, and resources to build what you have! Having said that, it's more than I want. But it's your railroad and your dream. Keep living it!
Chris
LVHR
Guilty as charged on all counts Chris, and thank you. While my situation is rather unique, it still doesn't mean that people with more modest space and or means can't create personally satisfying layouts.
Even before I started planning my current layout, I read a ton of magazines and books. I was also in train clubs, an operating group, and helped people build their home layouts. I got my first subscription to Model Railroader magazine in 1973. I went 20+ years without having my own layout.
I was on my way to building a layout half the size of my current layout when we decided to build another house. That's how I ended up with the space, but I liked my plan so much, that I just expanded it rather than change the concept.
One thing that I have done, that few 3 railers do, is follow the prototype. I have taken my track plan very directly from the real railroads in the area. I'm representing about 60 miles of heavy mainline at about 10 to 1 compression.
There are plenty of interesting sections of real railroads out there to be modeled. My advice to everyone here is, don't let your love of 3 rail trap you into "toy" layout design. There's a whole other world out there for the taking.
GREAT scenes Frank, before and after, they always look good !!!
briansilvermustang posted:
GREAT scenes Frank, before and after, they always look good !!!
Thanks, Brian. I don't know what gets into me when I decide to change an area, and then, go ahead and actually do so. Usually, I don't even have any plan in mind whatsoever; rather, my imagination simply reacts to a new building or other miniatures new to me , like the myriad products available through Jim Elster's Scenic Express, and Viola! A new scene appears!...
FrankM
Yes I have been there.My layout is what you would call a self layout.I used a type of boards you would use to build a book chase.It was fine for a while but I have noticed its has warped some.Any way long story short.I am gonna start over this time I am gonna use 4x8 plywood boards that will be braced and blue foam board to cut down the noise.I think we have all be here at one time or another.Remember its your trains to do with you see fit.
