How many do mostly display running?

If this is what you're referring to I have 4 loops and 1 dummy switch to a dead siding. May sound boring to some but I just want to watch them go around.  I find it relaxing.  If my son ever finishes his over the river and through the woods over hill and dale layout I can go there for excitement.

Whatever floats your proverbial boat - I've never seen a layout I didn't like!

- Greg

I've got a half dozen or so switches and very rarely use any of them. The two loops have no switches connecting them together (though the spacing is correct along the back of the layout to add a pair later if I ever want to). When this layout was being built I had a one year old in the house and figured leaving the switches out temporarily might prevent a wreck. She's 10 now, and I really haven't missed the switches.

My Marx layout has four switches and those rarely get used too.

I've also got a "Timesaver" type switching layout that uses Super O track. That layout hasn't been touched in a few years, likely due to the inability to just let the train run.

J White

I do it all!!!  I can run around the mainline loop while switching the industries inside the mainline loop.  If there were 2 of me I could even move engines around at the engine facility while doing the other 2.

I have gotten fond of letting my short, 5-6 car passenger trains run the main while I watch them go, but then I getting thinking about extending the mainline around the entire upstairs space!!!

Here's my simple around the wall plan:

I've found I have a bow in the drop down bridge where the Wye is located.  It's made of plywood and I'm thinking of getting a 1/8" or 1/4" x 12" x 38" aluminum plate to replace it with and some aluminum angle to keep it rigid.

This was 3-rail converted to 2-rail by removing the middle rail.  All engines running on this are battery-powered, remote-control, NO wiring to the layout!

I still have 4 TMCC and 2 PS2 engines, but I have to put down a circle of track to run them.  Those will probably end up going to the 2 grandsons.

I even have a Bachmann G-scale 4-6-0 that I converted to BPRC and run that whenever I get the urge and can find a spot for the track.  A 12v, 2000Mah NiMh battery pack is plenty of power for the engine, tankcar, flatcar, and caboose.

So I say...Run em if you got em!!!

I'd guess that at least 98% of 3-railers do mostly display running.

I do this all the time and never get bored watching train go around. I have switches but being carpet layout to lazy to set them up.  

Guilty.

Yeah, mine just run!

Gotta have switches. After a few laps, the loops get boring

Bob posted:

I'd guess that at least 98% of 3-railers do mostly display running.

Yeah, agreed.  I just like to watch the trains run. 

I'll be operating mine. It's a point to point or point to loop depending on how I have the switch in the staging yard thrown. So I have to pay attention! 

Andy

My multi gauge layout does not allow for switches; so just running around. One round takes about one and a half minute:

Regards

Fred

On my carpet layout, I do a lot of running but it's a twice around utilizing a cross-over, so there's variety to the train movement. There are three switches/sidings, so when I get bored, I set the bells and whistles, and back up onto a siding for a bit, back out and then start running again.

The "display" part for me is when I have all my engines and rolling stock sitting on non-functioning track sections artfully placed here and there. 

Tomlinson Run Railroad

We have a double main (1 Scale Mile loop) with various sidings yards and branches.  Most every train car and engine are on the layout.  Our goal is to build, run and park a train without ever touching it with our hands.  That keeps the interest factor up and the boredom down.

Have Fun! Ron

All my years I was always into display running....recently there have been a lot of topics here on the forum about having an 'operating' layout...I got hooked on it and am now in the process of putting together an 6x12 layout that has an outer loop and inner loop...I can just run the trains and watch them go around and around ...but I also have 15 switches and 7 sidings...I find it a lot of fun switching from one loop to another and then parking cars and picking up others from the sidings...just adds a bit more interest...and with DCS and wireless it makes is easier for others to get involved and run the trains or switches all at the same time..but I still think the majority of us O gauge guys are just runners....

Nope, when you have a point-to-point, you can't do display running.

That said, late at night before I go to bed sometimes, I will run a short train from end to end and back, just so I can watch it go...

Bob posted:

I'd guess that at least 98% of 3-railers do mostly display running.

I'm working to join you in that other 2% Bob. With over 300 switches on the layout, I'm in the business of running a model railroad and moving "pretend" freight and passengers. I can still do some display running if I need to.

This seems like an oxymoron.  I thought you either displayed your trains (aka "shelf queen") or ran your trains ("its a good runner").  It seems the subject is about whether trains are being ran to see them pass by and get displayed, or whether you run your trains and interact with the train and consist using switches/sidings etc.

So, I have four loops of track between two rooms, totally conventional.  The total round trip is about 94 feet.  All four loops used to be connected with switches.  With the flip of a switch one train would run through each loop a minimum of one time and proceed to the next loop going into the inside loop, then back to the outside loop and then back to the inside loop.  However it was not loud enough and I only got to see one train.  So I eliminated the switches and can now have four trains running independently (providing the layout doesn't have boxes stack on top of it).  I can adjust the noise level by the number of cars or the number of trains that are running.  Can be used as stress therapy or a sleep aid.  My son and I used to lay on the floor and listen to the trains run with the lights off.  Invariably one of us would quickly go to sleep.

To the original question:   Too many.

On my main layouts I do what could be called "mainline running", with no switching of individual cars. I liken this to the railfan activity of watching different trains go by on a mainline railroad - essentially a variation on display running. For variety I run different trains in different sequences, which involves interesting dispatching duties. It's not just the same trains orbiting on independent loops.

A separate smaller O27 layout also has a variety of different trains ready to roll, one at a time on a twisted-folded dogbone route.

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Bob posted:

I'd guess that at least 98% of 3-railers do mostly display running.

I'm working to join you in that other 2% Bob. With over 300 switches on the layout, I'm in the business of running a model railroad and moving "pretend" freight and passengers. I can still do some display running if I need to.

300 switches???  The cost of that alone is impressive.  How do you even keep track of where stuff is?  ****.

Pictures man, pictures!  :-)

What is "display running"?

willygee posted:

What is "display running"?

Seems self-explanatory: running trains for moving display, sometimes with separate trains on independent circuits, as compared to so-called "realistic operation" which often involves switching, scheduling and dispatching.

We run the layout exactly as they do in Marias Pass.  The track arrangement is set-up in a similar fashion as real life.  We switch, move freight, classify and will shortly begin timetable operation.  It is a lot of fun.  Figuring out the timetable is like setting up a board game.  It also gives you a great appreciation for how prototype railroads are operated.  You definitely have to pay close attention or you will wreck into other trains or otherwise delay the operation. 

Steamers stop for coal and water.  Passenger trains stop at the platforms.  Sidings are dropped off/picked-up when in the area.  We do it all!  :-)

Five separate loops, no switches, no sidings and I usually run one train at a time although I have run 5 all the same time-lots of noise.  I keep the same consist on loop #, the 072 loop with the M-10000,  and a freight on  loops #3,4 & 5. I do change engines periodically including diesels. My #2 loop is the one I run my oldies but goodies on.  Right now it has box coupler  freight cars on it with a pre-war steamer so, I guess, I am a display runner.

Tony_V posted:

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Bob posted:

I'd guess that at least 98% of 3-railers do mostly display running.

I'm working to join you in that other 2% Bob. With over 300 switches on the layout, I'm in the business of running a model railroad and moving "pretend" freight and passengers. I can still do some display running if I need to.

300 switches???  The cost of that alone is impressive.  How do you even keep track of where stuff is?  ****.

Pictures man, pictures!  :-)

Tony, I know that sounds like a lot, and it is. But most of it is self-explanatory. There are just over 100 logical entities on the mainlines. When I say logical entities, I mean that a crossover counts as one even though there are actually two individual switches and Tortoises. I have hard wired them together to act as one. It helps to understand the mainlines, but it will not be critical because there will be a full schematic on the dispatcher's panel. When everything is operational, the dispatcher will be able to select a route, the switches will align and the signals will set, and the operator will be able to proceed to the end of his clearance.

The rest of the switches, about 180 of them are yard and industrial, and are all thrown manually, using a mix of Caboose ground throws, and a homemade push rod and bell crank arrangement.

Rather than posting a bunch of pictures here, I suggest you visit my forum topic. It has been running for 45 months now, and describes in detail what has been done since January of 2013.

To get to the topic, click on the "Follow the progress" link in my signature. Skimming through all 22 pages and looking at the pictures doesn't take too long. If you want to read everything, that takes a while.

As for the cost, I had a head start with the first 100 being left over from my previous layout. The rest were picked up used, mostly on eBay.

I guess mine would be simple display running. Four loops, with the lower three having switches between them and a simple reverse loop on the fourth.. I set one up on the outer, and work it's way to the innermost. Let it run, then fill the outer ones the same way. I also remove trains the same way. So... some switching, but mostly clear running. Very relaxing for me. That whole scheduling/switching/delivering of freight and passengers is called "work" and it's something I studiously avoid when at home.

.

On my recently dismantled 6x9 layout I had a simple operating scheme. I would run a passenger train and a freight or 2 freight trains. If I was running a passenger and a freight I'd stop the passenger train (MTH PS3) at the station and let it go through the passenger announcements. When it left the station I'd let it run unattended while I switched a siding with the freight train. Then continue switching between the two, stopping at the station and switching cars. If I ran 2 freights I'd alternate between the 2 switching cars. I found this operating scheme more fun than just watching the wheels go round. This is the trackplan. The section to the top right with 3 spurs was a 30"x30" addition for more switching opportunities. My next, bigger layout will feature a similar operating scheme.

Elliot, thanks!  I will check it out.

Tony