If you could start over...

I'd be in HO instead of O.

Only thing I'd do differently with my current layout is NOT use tubular track. Ballasting is a PITA and I much prefer the ease of Fastrack or Realtrax from Lionel and MTH.

I would not do a thing different.

i have the chance took down my layout and now I am starting it all over.

Neither would I if I was in your place, Grand Master

A chunk of the fun is the journey. Like retired to rail, I started randomly and am now focusing on a few railroads, grandchildren have added the need for action.  Otherwise, I wish I had researched the various sound options in locos.

I would have done all tubular rather than Fastrack. Having to shout to be heard over my trains running is my only disappointment with my layout.

I agree with jumijo. You just can't fit that much o scale in 8x8.

I would have bought a house with a basement

 

Tom

Hard to say for me. One possibility would be tinplate only, in either Standard Gauge, O Gauge or a combo of both. I do know I'd have no command-equipped engines if I started over. Been there, done that, and I find the simplicity of conventional operation more relaxing. But, as always, to each his own.

My wiring would be a lot nicer and easier to figure out! And would probably be hooked up to a ZW-L

Yeah, true Jumijo & there is so much more available.. Now, only if I could see it with my old tired eyes.

1- Would have gone with tubular from the beginning instead of investing in Fastrack and then switching to tubular.  Love the smoothness of Fastrack, hate the noise.

 

2- Would have planned better all around, but I guess all of us would probably say that!

 

 

As far as scale... I started with Lionel, switched to HO and stayed there for quite a while.  Since going back to O gauge, HO just doesn't "do it" for me anymore.  I've considered selling my HO collection on several occasions.

If I could start over ... I would paint my boards a medium color of sienna and my town area a lighter than medium color of neutral gray. Otherwise everything else associated with my participation in this hobby has been part of my journey ... thus far.

In place of the many traditional size (MTH RK) locos I may go for 6-10 scale locos and they scale cars to match. After buying a few scale locos I now only buy scale freight cars......I have more than enough traditional freight cars. When I first came to O in 1994 I did not realize the big difference between scale and traditional equipment.  

I would have joined my clubs earlier.

1) I would have strayed from conventionally controlled engines.

 

2) Gotten DCS System sooner. 

I would have never strayed from conventional, never bought a diesel(seldom move), and taken better care of my gantry/launcher and the many operating or special train cars I had as a kid. Spoiled by my Lionel collector Grandfather, I didn't realize what I had, or how much I loved many of them, until it was to late of course. Or is that how I learned to take care of my things?

There seem to be underlying assumptions in this thread: (a) everything is cast in stone and (b) change is impossible.

 

To me, my model railroading interests are organic: they grow, change and evolve over time, meaning as the years go on, I have a historical record of not only what I did, but who I am. Therefore, I want to preserve that record. So, I have different interests and maintain them. My main interest is Lionel "O" and  have a layout. I am adding a peninsula for a Super "O" display layout. I like tubular track and run trains on it as a carpet central when I visit relatives. I keep a supply at a satellite location. I like Maerklin gauge 1 and have a (ceiling) shelf layout for it. And I have a garden railroad outside, part of an ongoing yard project. I rotate the tubular track with S gauge and Maerklin HO; not used frequently, but they are there. I have integrated all these different aspects into my house, so they do not command space; thus my family has room. My son likes HO and has a small shelf layout, which he swears he will finish, although he just graduated college last year.

   

I have been able to integrate all my interests. I learned long ago not to deny those interests, because they are a part of me: my timeline can be determined by those interests. E.g., Lionel "J" - 746 = Christmas, 1958. Or, Maerklin Era I Berlin Commuter set = 2012. What's even more interesting is the future: what's in store? How will my interests evolve?

 

At the end of the day, when I kick the bucket, someone could take all this and retrieve something, which is more than I could say if I were interested in, say, sports and had nothing to show for it, because all I did was buy season tickets and tail-gated.

 

Therefore, I say do not deny what you did in the past, but embrace them and evolve all those interests with new ones. You will be happier.

 

 

 

quote:

I'd be in HO instead of O

 

I've been in "O" gauge for well over forty years.

I'd be in "HO"  too.

would have used tighter curves and been able to fit in more layout in the same space. only two of my engines require 072 

I jokingly tell people I would of went with Z gauge instead of O gauge, as for the size of a typical Lionel freight car box I could store 100 Z gauges boxes.

 

In all seriousness I should have probably stayed away from the big scale steamers, as there is not all that much that can be done with a small layout with 072 curves. Would of made sense to stay with Lionmaster offerings, but they were not available when I started getting into the large scale steamers.

S scale!

 

Cesar

One thing to bear in mind is that there is a learning curve associated with any new endeavor that you get into. You weren't born with or suddenly receive instant knowledge about a new hobby. I went through the exact same process when I became interested in audio equipment years ago. I did the whole upgrade thing until I ended up with an expensive but great sounding high end system. I had to start out modest to learn and appreciate what the good stuff was all about. Just consider the costs you incurred learning about the train hobby as the cost for your education.

Having just moved back up north, I get the chance to do a new layout. Because of what I have previously learned, there are four things I am doing differently this time around than when I built my first layout. They are:

1. Using Gargraves/Ross or Scaletrax instead of Fastrack. I am still deciding between the two but for me Fastrack is way too noisy, expensive, and toylike in appearance.

2. Focusing on a few railroads instead of just buying whatever strikes my fancy like I did previously. This helps me control my costs better.

3. I now buy strictly scale locomotives and rolling stock instead of semi scale like when I first started.

4. Incorporate operations into my new layout instead of just watching my trains run in circles with no purpose or destination.

I had to learn what the good stuff (a scale high-rail layout) was all about by starting out modest by building a semi-scale layout first. I don't look at it as money wasted, I consider it money well spent to have had the fun I've had along the way getting to where I am now in the hobby.
None of us were smart when we started this hobby, we had to pay to get to there.

BTW, that pillar of wisdom Bugs Bunny, said, "What a maroon", not moron.

I started collecting N scale when I was 10 yrs old. I still have it all. I should have never went to other scales. I am into G, O, and N. With all the quality control issues with MTH and Lionel, I keep thinking about selling out of O. Nice to have choices.

I had just gotten out of HO (because I was having trouble dealing with the smallness of it) and while surfing the internet one day I decided to see what was available in O scale for Seaboard Air Line.

 

I spotted a MTH Railking RS3 and ordered it, just to have it displayed on a shelf.  Soon I spotted rolling stock in SAL livery, which really started the ball rolling.  I've been pretty good at not buying the 1st thing I lay my eyes on which has kept the cost down, plus I told myself I didn't want to get overloaded with "stuff".  I currently have about 50 pieces of rolling stock and 10 engines.

 

The thing I would like to have a do-over on is the layout.  I've already changed layout designs 5-6 times and still haven't finished the scenery.  There's only so much you can do in a 12x12 room, but I'd go with 090 or so curves on the mainline and 072 on everything else.

 

I think if I redid my design I would make the mainline go twice around the room using elevated track around the outer perimeter with industrial sidings on the inside, to make it appear the train is coming from somewhere offline.

 

If I could make some suggestions it would be:

 

1) lay down some track and DON'T do any scenery for 1 year, especially ballast.  Run your trains and see how you like your track plan.

2) use as large a radius as possible, this will save you money in the end.

3) decide if you want to run trains around a loop, switch some industries, or both.  I like doing both, but with my short mainline running loops isn't as exciting as it could be.

4) spend wisely and you'll not have as many regrets.

5) don't be afraid to try new things.  Buy an airbrush and try some repainting/lettering.  Take a boxcar and modify it for something your RR of choice used.

6) PUT THE MODELING BACK IN MODEL RAILROADING!!!

 

I've thought about going 2-rail, but the 3rd rail and large flanges doesn't bother me that much, plus the availability of engines and cars is plentiful.  I do however look for things that are scale and prototypically correct and use fixed pilots and Kadee couplers.

Me too.

Great thread!!!!

 

 

      I would build a layout around the room which would be accessible from both sides

not a huge table. Especially having a bad back problem.

 

Alex

No, very happy with where I am at with the hobby and layout. O-Gauge has always been the ONLY choice for me.

I would of stayed in HO.

I would have built the bench work first.

Well, I did start over several years ago.

 

Got into O gauge about 20 years ago and proceeded to buy everything under the sun. No regard to road names or having any sort of plan or theme for the layout. Went from conventional to TMCC and bought even more.

 

One day I realized I had a lot of "stuff" (much of it sitting in boxes) but wasn't really enjoying it. I took a sabbatical from the hobby for 3-4 years years. Decided to start over again and I have concentrated on tinplate and conventional classics and a "toy train" look for the layout. Couldn't be happier and have learned to focus, and limit, my interests.

 

So, you can start over.

 

I was in HO for 20 years. Had brass and hand built wood structures. The best of the best. Looked great. But I am not going back.
I think if I had the money I would have used more atlas track, started with Ross switches. Bought a bigger basement, and stuck to my favorite RR. THE NORTHERN PACIFIC.

I am about to set up my crappy basement layout. I am painting the concrete as we speak right now with a Epoxy base paint. This will keep the dust down, something I have learned in the past, cover the concrete with something or you will track dust through your house and the railroad police will get you.( El Supremo Wifo)

I have learned many lessons from my being a Founding member of AGHR, after watching and looking at many layouts both here on the forum and the shows, I have come to the conclusion that there is no best way. You should draw it out and play with the design for a few months. Build you main line first and play with that changing it many time before you come on one you like. Add and change elevations, curves and such.When you know where the main line should be start adding you're siding.  Think what  you like to have on you're siding. what type of era you want to model or make it no particular era which mine will be some of it old and some modern and transition in-between like I hope to do.

Electrical systems you are going to use and where you need to wire it, that is a biggie.

Spend some time on it before the build, it will pay off.

Look for help here on the forum when you need it.

First and foremost, DO NOT BUILD something you will get bored off quickly, make it FUN!

And remember this! A layout is never finished!

John P

COE of the South Philly and Western.

Fredericksburg VA

My first introduction to model trains was operating my father's Lionel Standard Gauge layout, which completely hooked me on model trains. I've had a great time all along too, 20+ years in HO Scale, a decade or so in Large Scale, then migrated to 2R O Scale for a couple years, but honestly just never found that gratification I was looking for until converting to P48. I've been there ever since and if I could start all over I would go straight to P48.

John

I think after seeing the quality of MTH HO, I would have a hard time deciding between Scale O or HO.   And am still teetering on going to HO since I have YET to build a layout.

Well, I have always been an S Gauger. But boy, did I take some epic detours. HO in the '70s simply because things were available. In the late '70s, I came upon an estate of O scale items. My HO layout became 2 rail O Scale. A little later for some reason I can't recall, I went on this incredible Lionel MPC spending spree. Which morphed into MTH. Oh, did I mention I started collecting Marklin HO as well? It's 3 rail AC after all.

Then S was back thanks to Lionel, American Models, and S Helper Service.

 

So,

 

If I had to do it all over again, It would have been to stick with S, amuse myself with the Marklin HO during the S drought of the '70s. These 2 bring me the greatest pleasure.

If I could rewind time and start over I would have:

 

• Got back into trains about seven years earlier than I did (when I bought my first house).
• Bought less Traditional sized stuff right off the bat.
• Subscribed to OGR right off the bat.
• Been on the Forum from the start.
• Joined the TCA earlier.
• Gone to York earlier.
• Joined a modular club earlier.

 

Andy

Started with O.  This is my third shelf layout.  The first two were HO.  Built the first, then moved (Navy transfer), tore it down.  Built the second then moved (retired from Navy).  The third, in O, the best so far, so I would have started with O.  Have learned a lot from build it up, tear it down.

 

As for all that HO stuff (6 freight engines, 70 cars, full Acela train set) they were given to a friend building his own empire.  So it's worked out for everybody after all.