How/how often do you enjoy your trains?

Most of the fun for me is in track layout.  I plan to try my hand at some scenery as time and space allow.  As for running my trains, I get more enjoyment out of watching my nephews run them than I do running them myself.  (This is a sacrilege, I know!)  I try to watch it run through their eyes and I remember the wide-eyed wonderment I had when I was that age.  It's a lot more fun for me, at least until they run a loco around a corner at full speed and my heart nearly stops!

Oh, and an adult beverage or two definitely helps!

Truthfully I only run my trains couple times a week. I downsized from a rather large layout to a smaller 5'x10' with four loops. Also seem to be more into building a collection of postwar Lionel and couple Flyer. So I swap out different engines couple times a week to give each a little run time.

Anytime I visit the basement.  Right now I am working on a slot car track, I know, I know.  But a short CNJ passenger train makes the rounds every 3 minutes while that work is going on.  Reminds me what my primary hobby is.

@necrails posted:

Anytime I visit the basement.  Right now I am working on a slot car track, I know, I know.  But a short CNJ passenger train makes the rounds every 3 minutes while that work is going on.  Reminds me what my primary hobby is.

Right next to the train layout. Nothing elaborate but nice way to enjoy both.

I haven't run my trains since last summer i think and usually i just make a 40 x 70 inch loop on the floor but now i have no room.

but i'm anxious to play again and wish i could sprawl out in the living room with my trains

plus i know i want to atleast add a polar express with all the cars and a railking gevo for my MKE project (post coming soon) or a semi scale k4 just don't know what to go for first

when i do build my layout i want it to be similar in size to Trainworld's o gauge layout

I honestly spend more time looking at my layout than I do running it. I can go weeks without running the trains, but I rarely walk down the steps without stopping to stare at my layout. Just thinking about things I like, and things I might add or change.

I can go weeks at a time without working on it or running it. I just enjoy knowing it exists.

Not often enough

Not as often as I’d like right now. Had a lot of home renovation work to do on a rental property of mine and so I’ve neglected my layout. Hopefully I can get some time in before the yard/garden honey-dos kick in.

Normally I could go down for an hour in the evenings to play a little and do scenery for a bit on the weekends. But the rental income is more important.

Up until the virus hit in March of 2020 I would concentrate on running my trains on my year round layout mostly from December through April.   During that time I ran them several times a week.  The rest of the year was spent pursuing my other outdoor related hobbies to include hiking, hunting, fishing, swimming and cycling so I only ran my trains intermittently.  However, once the virus struck I began operating my layout on a nightly basis and have continued to do so up until the present time.  Additionally, I have spent a lot more time repairing and maintaining my roster of engines.  Having this great hobby has really helped me get through this thing.

once every 5 days. I have two loops going around the master bedroom couch.

Being retired I’m doing something just about every day. Working on layout, running trains, fixing something or modifying an item to my liking. My latest modify was installing ERR accessory unit into an MTH dump car. Took a lot of modifications but got it in. That’s the fun stuff for me.

Daily,  at the least I like to sit back and listen to the sounds of wheels on the rails.     

I run daily usually at night for about an hour do some scenery and maybe repair something.  TV isn't much so the trains are my main outlet.

Now i don't feel so bad ,I hardly run my trains ,my fun is in building the layout but every once in awhile i will let them run a few times around the layout .Every so often i will do a small project ,just to keep myself interested ,there is no room to do anything big ,but i do have a couple of small projects in mind ,none of which would make any sense to anyone but me but i enjoy doing them & as has been said before on this forum : ''IT'S YOUR RAILROAD DO WHAT EVER MAKES YOU HAPPY "& thats what i do !!!!!

I have a layout that I utilize switchlists to move cars around from place to place as directed.    I have about 15 jobs/trains to run for a complete "session".     some take 15-20 minutes and some take up to an hour.     So I spend some to stage all the trains,  using a loco to switch/classify the yard and assemble the pickups for the next session.   then I block the trains in staging.     It takes a couple of hours to set up and I do it over few evenings.    then I go down in an evening and run of the trains, or maybe 2 if they are simple jobs.      Each job requires switching different cars and teh trains are never the same length, so it is like playing an animated game board.

I don't do it every day - there is maintenance to do too, but at least a few times a week.

I am very lucky to have a train room above the garage and I run something just about every day.  I have a double track going around the ceiling. The back track is 3" higher than the front track,  that's great when the two trains meet.   I love the sound of them going overhead while I'm on the computer, like right now.  The engines are RMT Beeps each pulling 8 cars real slow.   There are also two table layouts with a total of 7 ovals.  So I have plenty to keep me busy,  I tell my wife it keeps me out of the bars.             As OKHIKER  mentioned above,  having this great hobby is a great help during these unusual times.

Doug

@prrjim posted:

I have a layout that I utilize switchlists to move cars around from place to place as directed.    I have about 15 jobs/trains to run for a complete "session".     some take 15-20 minutes and some take up to an hour.     So I spend some to stage all the trains,  using a loco to switch/classify the yard and assemble the pickups for the next session.   then I block the trains in staging.     It takes a couple of hours to set up and I do it over few evenings.    then I go down in an evening and run of the trains, or maybe 2 if they are simple jobs.      Each job requires switching different cars and teh trains are never the same length, so it is like playing an animated game board.

I don't do it every day - there is maintenance to do too, but at least a few times a week.

That sounds too much like work!!!!

When I was working, I passed it every day when I would go through the basement, but I could go a week or so without running something......now I’m retired and loving it.....I work on the trains daily, even if it is to straighten them out for the move to the new attic layout.  I try to run something daily.

I spend some time each day going over layout plans made coordinating attic plans with the contractor

Peter

BTW, retirement is great!

I'm retired and try to work on them daily October - March.  Every once in a while I run them.  I enjoy the creating/building aspect.  I'm presently adding another reversing loop to my upper level.  There is only one spot where this can be done and only with 031.  Not ideal, but better than nothing.   Access for the modification is an issue.  I'm making a custom platform to stand on in order to facilitate access.

I just finished a Mr. Roger's trolley which is a bump and go on a  school route.  I still have to automate stopping at the school but I want to keep it simple.  I'm planning on just setting a timer to turn off power to the Super Street track in front of the school for maybe 20 seconds.  This 20 second interval would occur maybe every 3 minutes or so.  I'm hoping it will look like random stops?

How often do I enjoy my trains........ well, I’d say I enjoy them every time I’m in the basement working on the layout, or just relaxing with a cocktail watching them go in “circles”!  

to answer your question seriously, I work on the layout one day a week for about 2-3 hours. I run trains by myself with a cocktail 2-3 times a week and every Friday my coal mining buddies come over. We talk about times past, the active mining jobs we are doing while trains run in the background...... coal train of course.......

How often?

Given that I am a working stiff, at least 12-14 years from retirement, not often enough!

My enjoyment is mainly from building the layout. I try to do at least a little every day and Friday night crank up the rock music, sip down some cold brews and work for hours. Actually running trains took about once or twice a month.

I had a few layouts that were basically loops many years ago.   Like many on the thread, I didn't run them much, all  the effort was in the building and then they would sit.     With the switching stuff I do, I have an interest in running the layout, and keeping it running sort of continuously.      It made the trains much more interesting for me and led me into reading more about the prototype and how and where they did things.   

A good libation is a very good too.

I work on the layout or models for it 4 or 5 times a week, during the winter. About now, it’s about half and half with getting my fishing and boating gear ready. In the summer, I might run trains a couple of days a week. That may change, as I plan an extension to the layout this spring.

AM I get up early, half mile trek, then to train room & start up one or two while doing some stretch- band work, about 10 min every day.

@C_Murley posted:

How often do I enjoy my trains........ well, I’d say I enjoy them every time I’m in the basement working on the layout, or just relaxing with a cocktail watching them go in “circles”!  

to answer your question seriously, I work on the layout one day a week for about 2-3 hours. I run trains by myself with a cocktail 2-3 times a week and every Friday my coal mining buddies come over. We talk about times past, the active mining jobs we are doing while trains run in the background...... coal train of course.......

Bonus points for the pic!!

I like working on the layout just as much as running trains, maybe because I’m just now able to run. Still enjoy scenery and layout work. I’m making a point to run trains more  now that the organization and clutter clean up are close to done. There still seems there is a million little things to tend to but they may have to wait. Motorcycle season starting won’t help train time but not a bad problem to have.

train time now is 3-4 days a week run time of that 1 day

looking for more 2 days work or fuss around 2 days run I looked it up there are plenty of rainy days in Wisconsin so those are train days

Besides running them, I enjoy them every time I walk by the layout - it's that feeling of accomplishment that it's finally done.