Finished Layout Depression!

Congrats.  That's a big achievement. 

One way to fill that void is to help out others who need to finish theirs.

You are welcome to come over and kickstart ours! We seem to have more of the keep buying stuff and put off the work.

we are a few months from finishing our layout.  I know their will all ways be something to do or dust.  When you do finish it then you can run some trains, sit back and enjoy a beer or soda water.  I am looking forward to that day.

Get out there and run your trains,watching them travel through your own creation should inspire you. You can always find something to tinker with on it, whether you're  changing whole trains on the layout or just rolling stock on sidings, or maybe just one more item to fit on the layout in that perfect spot. I envy you, I've got a long way to go on my layout yet. One day at a time with it whenever I can. That's why it's named Slackerville, sometimes not much happens on it with working two jobs, but it's fun and relaxing to get away with it from stress in life. Enjoy your freedom to run your trains!

I kind of feel your pain but smile at the same time.  Never heard of PCDS, but it seems many folks do get somewhat bored after X amount of time, post-completion.  And many builders also see things they should have done differently.

But now you can pick up ideas from all the great photos that appear here, and make additions and changes. 

I'm actually happy my layout is finished. No more worrying about projects that need to be done and there's always some little thing you can tweak or change. What I'm really depressed about is the fact that we're moving in the near future, so it'll all have to come down.

  My layout is finished and I have a lot of fun with Operating Session on my layout and I am now working on a roll around yard for overflow and a Korber 320 roundhouse to be the focal point of it.

Hi Paul,

I pretty much finished my layout about 7 months ago. It took about 7 years, but there's always something to do.Maintenance on the layout and engines, if your buildings aren't weathered you can start doing that.You also can just enjoy running trains.

Alex

Paul...now is the time to plan for a get together for some of the Mid America 3-Railers to see your masterpiece!!!  I have a feeling that you will be constantly tweaking parts of the layout and I bet you will figure out a way to expand!!

Alan

I don't believe a layout is ever really done, give it a few weeks and you'll find something that needs changing, or you'll find a way to improve operational interest, scenery changes, a new bldg ect.....take this time to hoist a cold one and admire your work......cuz it ain't done.....

I have yet to see a truly finished layout, and I've personally visited hundreds of layouts over the years.  I'm looking forward to seeing a "finished" one some day!  

I'm looking forward to see pics of an Alan Miller layout. No excuses.

Bob

There is always ways to improve the layout and the fun of operating the layout with friends.

The friendships are a big part of this hobby.

Plus you should have several very active hobbies not just one.

For me it is fly fishing, cowboy action shooting [SASS], b-western movies and railfanning.

After retiring, could not figure out how I ever had time for going to work.

You could install a operating signal system,build some craftsman style structures.I am sure you would get a lot of enjoyment out of super detailing your layout.A layout is never truly finished.

Personally,aside from a temporary 10 X 12 test layout,my layout is still years away.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of your layout in the future.

Ricky

Building a layout is only the first phase. 

The next phase is utilizing it in the way (hopefully) your plans projected whether it be enjoying display running  or operations.

Proper planning can preempt depression in any aspect of life.

As several readers have posted above.  A layout is never "done".  There is always something to do to make it better or more user friendly.  Maintenance will also occupy some of your time as well as installing the latest technology gizmos that come on the market.   Just enjoy it and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.  Congrats!!!!

Hi Paul:

Fear not, it is now time to look at areas that you can super detail. We all have them on our layouts and the good news is the fact that you can now take your time doing it.

Please post some pictures of your layout accomplishments.

You will find things you want to add or change.  I figure as big as my layout is the greatgrand kids will have to finish it......CONGRATULATIONS on the completion.

There are always more details to add..but it looks great the way it is. I essentially did the same thing in terms of starting over,  and life being sort of being semi-permanent all layouts will more than likely be redone, reworked, moved or disassembled at some future time, or..your interests  could change in equipment or aims. Sometimes stepping back to take a breather from constant activity allows a better perspective. I think we all suffer more or less from restless layout syndrome. Tackled this project...now what? A club might be a solution...in addition to your home layout..it might an an appreciation that yours is complete. I found that taking apart a layout carefully for whatever reason can be a pain unless you have some grander plan in mind or a change of pace or even a change of scale..sometimes you don't know what you have until it's history. My diagnosis is your malady is temporary.

One of the reasons my layout has taken 12 years so far is I got it to a point early on where I could play with it.  Many working sessions are stopped by sessions of running and switching trains.

I have other excuses, such as going to Florida for the winter, and doing my own yard work, and playing a lot of golf.  I figure if I ever finish it, I will really enjoy playing with it. Not only that, there is always the other half of the basement. 

.....

Dennis

Stop by my local landfill any day but Sunday to see my truly finished layout. 

What are you talking about? Haven't you noticed that Milwaukee Road sign on the side of the Bus Station keeps slipping into a croked position. You'll be straightening that every day for as long as you have that layout. It'll never be done there will always be something to tinker with.

I think Allan said it best- a layout is never done but that's part of the fun.

After hammering in that last nail 7 years from the start, I was glad to call it 'DONE' and move on to other projects, some of which are still train related.

However, you should know that Mr. T-Rex lives on and that neither he nor I suffer any signs of depression.

I can't imagine I will ever finish mine ... whenever I head down to the basement to work on it I end up running trains instead!

Oh well,  my newest idea is to work on this layout till I retire, then build a bigger layout with O72 and wider curves.  So there is really no pressure to get this one "finished".  Lots of fun stuff to do.

A layout that you build for someone else for pay is finished when the one year warranty on parts and labor is over.  Or not...

a layout is never done but that's part of the fun.

I truly feel this way.

It looks like you have a good sized layout.  My suggestion would be to go out and acquire a comparably sized fridge, stock it with lots of beer, run trains for hours on end and be happy. 

It's time to take a break from layout building and work on some other projects. How about redecorating, modifying, or kitbashing some locomotives and/or cars for the Milwaukee Road, or for your own mythical road if you have one. This is going to the top of my list when I get a bit farther along on my layout. I've already redecorated a Shay (yes, the Milwaukee Road owned them), kitbashed some Lionel stuff into a traditional sized Milwaukee Road SD-9 with TMCC, and repainted a Lionel transfer caboose to mimic a similar car owned by the Milwaukee. The queue for "when I have time" includes redecorating a K-Line scale USRA Mikado, renumbering my Weaver Little Joe (it has a freight number, and the Weaver units are detailed as passenger motors), putting 6-wheel trucks on the K-Line Super Domes, and creating a herald for the Chicago, Milwaukee and Southwestern (Route of the Southwest Hiawatha). I've also got at least half a dozen Standard Gauge projects, a damaged brass Dreyfuss Hudson that needs to be rebuilt and repainted to match my Rail Chief set, and a million or so other things. If "finishing" the layout is such a psychological issue, go ahead and finish it, announce to yourself that further construction is on hold in order to pursue other projects, and probably in six months or a year you'll have some ideas for things you want to change. 

You are not at an end point, just a change point. In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, when you get to a fork in the road, take it!

About to complete my layout also in a few days - I think some of us get depressed when it's done because we enjoy the building, wiring and planning aspect of layout construction.  I feel the same way Paul.

But enjoy the layout, run your trains, kick up your heels and do some maintenance.

I just saw the pics of your layout on the other thread. First of all, it is a very nice layout, very well done. I think I can somewhat relate to you because when I was in the smaller scales as a teenager every time I got a layout "done"-- well not really done just a track plan with running trains and no scenery I always took it down and started all over but like you said you have a finished product here why not just enjoy it? Or is there some operating issue of your layout that does not excite you or does not operate as you intended it to?

I hope you keep it but if the way you enjoy this hobby is building a layout then by all means tear it down and start anew. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

I can't finish my layout....ever. When I started building it my wife asked me to clean the garage and the attic.  I told her soon as I finish this layout I will clean them both top to bottom. She agreeed. Silly girl....lol

Being a goal-oriented person I set myself a target date to “finish” my layout and then completed it within a year. Lots of hours went into it each day (after work) and many more over the weekends. It was very satisfying to step back and observe/admire a completed layout but as many have alluded to I find myself going back to it and tweaking little things here and there. I am currently in the process of pulling off each building one at a time and weathering/detailing them (oil washes, flat coats, etc). In addition, while I put in extensive knowledge and research before I started the layout of course I am realizing there are many things I should/could have done different. Ideas run through my head as to how I can modify things now that the layout is complete. But, in the end, I enjoy having a completed layout with little things to tweak here and there over time. After perusing all the topics here on the forum I find I enjoy going into my train room and just running the trains…very, very relaxing. Now, if I can just keep at bay those ideas that run through my head about what I would do if I were to start over…which I will most probably do at some point in the future.  -Len

Paul Its just how you are built.I am the same way.The charge you get out of this is creating and building.Not admiring.I have now learned to cut down on the amount of glue screws and nails.

They are NEVER finished. You can always add or change something!

Count your blessings:

You have a layout.

You can tweak certain areas or add smaller details.

Your money and time is freed up for other things such as maybe some new engines or rolling stock.

I could go on and on.

Lets face it, well at least with me.Depression is when it all has to come down for one reason or another.

Do you have scale toilet paper on it yet?