Layout too big?

Joe, you make a very good point.  We all get caught up in the big is better mentality. 

Art

Both of you are correct.  I have a big layout...close to 1400 square feet that was started in 1997.  A lot is done, but I still have lots to go.  I just retired and that helps, but still, I really think I would have obtained just as much pleasure from a smaller layout.

I agree totally.

I "discovered" years ago that my arms can only reach so far into a layout to retrieve a derailed train or whatever and that even a 4 feet wide layout is too big if one side is against a wall, which always seems to happen.

I like to build stuff, but as I age, my taste for long drawn out projects is fading. A smaller layout means a quicker finish and the sooner the fun of running trains can begin.

I agree with you Joe, that's what I like to do also, 

Fri and Sat night's,run the train's, let them idle and listen to the sound's,and drink beer.

Typically, people in o-gauge lament not having enough space and how even o-72 curves show significant overhand on  50ft cars.

You concerns and regrets suggest to me the problem is you are in the wrong scale.  I think HO scale would be a better place to be to balance your interests and movitations.

Mine's a 12x12 with an extension of about 3x14 down one side.  It's plenty for the switching I like to do, but I wouldn't mind having it go all the way around the upstairs just to give the mainline a bit more length (actually it would increase it by 200-300%) to run my newly acquired passenger trains and to give it a sense of distance.  But as far as adding more scenery, sidings, etc I have no desire for that (I still haven't finished what I have!).

I understand your point Martin, but when I was in HO I was always wanting a bigger layout too.  I think the bigger issue here is not trying to create a larger layout than you can properly manage. 

Art

I was in HO for many years, then switched back to 3 rail O scale.  I have never regretted it.  The big trains allow me to focus on building scenery which is my love, rather than fooling around with Kadee couplers and reliability issues.  And of course the three rail trains have a special magic all of their own which we of course all understand, but is hard to convey to our two rail brethren. But yes, I in retrospect, I would have obtained just as much pleasure from a layout far smaller than my current one.

I dabbled in HO back in my teens and I was not impressed.  My dad always had a Lionel set under the Christmas tree and I liked it way better than HO.  I quickly sold off my HO and never looked back.  My point was more to the post I often read on here where someone has the huge layout they started and its been years and they are still laying track.  Often I read they lose focus, stop working on the layout, and have to struggle to finish.  In those cases I wonder if smaller would have been better.

I am perfectly content with my 10x18.  I designed it will all 072 curves so I can run anything.  Granted, the larger locs can still have some overhang, but they run ok.  Since I have been able to complete tasks faster, it constantly gives me enjoyment and I always feel a sense of forward movement in its progress.

When I first started construction, I wanted a bigger layout than I had room for.  As the old saying goes... "My eyes were bigger than my stomach".  I wanted the ability to have a round house, a huge yard to store locs of cars and locs.  I wanted a 4 track main line.  In the six years of construction, I have grown to appreciate what I can do in a smaller space and I no longer miss the "grand layout".

I think there's nothing wrong with thinking big if you have the real estate to do it. The mistake made is trying to fill every nook and cranny with track that's hard to reach. Then it becomes a maintenance headache. Long scenic runs between towns and yards. It's

not any cheaper this way. Track can be an expense but as you add scenery with a high level of detail and structures it costs as well.

 If I had to do it again. Mind you mine as stood for over 25 years way before command control. I would have built a narrower shelf type layout with a focus more as a walkaround designed for operation with hidden staging yards. To late to start over but I am with some imagination making mine work.

My layout has over 300 feet of track on 60 running feet of bench-work, and it needs a large passenger train yard and a steam engine service facility. So I consider my layout is not yet large enough.

I am not of the 4'x8' plywood school. Rather my railroad is built on modular benches that are 3' wide x 6' long x 40" high. Thus I can reach to all parts of my railroad, especially the corners. However, I will be adding a second level to one end of the layout that mimics the Big Apple in the 1940s. The second level is going to restrict access to the lower level tracks, so before the second level is built, the performance of the railroad below needs to be near perfect.

My layout is kind of big. Some days it is a layout, some days it is a job.

..keep the rails polished...

I'm very fortunate that I have the space. 40' x53'. I'm actually considering putting up a huge building, either metal or stick built, approximately 50' x 100' for a larger trainroom & additional car space.

Oh, to have such problems!

There is no wrong answer to the subject matter represented by this thread. Size of a layout is typically mandated by available space. However, don't think for a minute that you can't get exceptional detail from large layouts. Look at Alan Arnold's layout as an example.

For me, it has to do with the way I want to operate my railroad. Over the years (15 and counting) I have narrowed in on a time frame, geographic area and road name that interests me. My focus has also shifted to "operations of freight traffic" with 7 industrial sights (and planning on an 8th). I use a card system an my choice of industries can move freight between them. My layout has grown to about 40'x30' (and will grow a little larger soon). My sessions usually finds me working just one or two areas of my layout at a time running local freights that set-out, spot and pick-up cars. I have somewhat develope the industrial areas but the runs between them are barren and will likely remain that way (and I am okay with that). I don't think I could be this complex with a smaller area and enjoy it as much as I do. (Plus it keeps some of the forum sponsor's happy).

As someone already said, there is right or wrong answer here. I prefer the ""go as big as you can" faction because I like a long passenger train and I don't want the engine kissing the observation car. The same with freight. If I had the space, I would try to build a layout with room for two distinct cities so that the passenger train actually took passengers from city to city.

When I was a kid, one wall of the train room was covered by two huge mirrors.  Looking out across the layout and seeing it again in the mirrors made it look larger and gave another perspective to watch the trains.  More fun out of the same size layout. 

Nathan

The difficulty as you age and hopefully, but not likely, avoid health issues, a layout of about any size becomes more difficult to maintain in good order.

In '08 at age 76 I dismantled my mountain cottage's 14x32, 5 track shelf operation on its 15th birthday and in '09 here in the GSO Condo I followed by dismantling my 11 year old unfinished 15x23 layout with a 33' folded and elevated dogbone. One was a "stepladder" layout and the other an "island" with popup access locations and an access walkway for reaching Yard work. I was in good shape at the time however both were a chore to maintain and had been for the decade earlier.

With easy maintenance and easy access in mind I started anew with plans to run trains only and have only static accessories/structures and fairly barren groundscape. [Wide 084/072 curve arcs on a round the-room layout with 16' length enables fairly long passenger trains]. In March 2010 I completed the trackage and wiring on a 9x16 round-the-wall attic layout with a Drop Section for ease of entry. The attic itself is 9x19 and is just down the hall from the dismantled 15x23 layout upstairs in the Condo.

[The Domestic CEO now enjoys TV and her exercise equipment in the former layout room. And, she has a clear view for her enjoyment of Snyder shelves loaded with trains and Southern/N&W prints on the wall]. She is slowly acquiring good taste in art as she peddles and tread-mills.

At the end of March '10 a health issue put me down. However 4 years and much rehab later I am sitting here on my layout stool, leaning on my cane, motivated and contemplating how to clean up the mess on the left side of the layout, then clean the ballast glue and rail-rust paint off the rails so trains will again run.[I will sit on the same stool when I rest and rest and procrastinate].

So, for me,life is much better until it ain't and I am convinced having an easy reach on a round-the wall is the best layout route for lame senior citizens and those with ailments. 

There is no right or wrong here.Its all about what you want.As for myself I like to run fast freight because thats what I am used to.Even when I had ho trains I liked fast freight trains.I switched to o gauge and have no regrets.If you have the room you can run some far sized trains.I am redoing my layout and plain on.Having a few sidings and a in between towns look.I live closse to a place like this.In fact its closse to my high school its a seaboard airline with a siding.Its maybe a mile long and a company that has a siding for covered hoppercars.Like stated earlyer theres no right or wrong here.Have fun and chill,relax.         

    I have an idea of what some of you are talking about health taking A toll on your ability to work on and maintain the layout. I built A 24 FT. by 19 FT. (L) shaped layout (if some is good more is better). I started it in March of 2012 with the help of A friend, my nephew's and some of their friends I got the game room cleaned out and the wood brought in and started building. This October 31 it will be 4 years ago I broke A bone in my foot. I was told by A family member that I am not going to (fake) A foot injury to get out of moving stuff from Turtle Creek to Monroeville. Well 43 truck loads later by my self the broken bone started coming through the bottom of my foot. It is almost 4 years that I have been in A wheelchair and cant walk on my right foot. I have built the layout by my self and am working on laying tracks. As long as I can crawl around on my hands and knees I'm going to keep on going. Just build what size you can handle but I understand if health reasons stop you from completing what you started. Please take care of yourselves and eat your rocks sticks and berries and be healthy.Once you loose your ability to walk and get around it really stinks. Take Care Choo Choo Kenny 

Layout too big?  I wish!  

- Mike

Mike:

Think "big". I know you have a new house sometime down the road. 

I'm lucky enough that I have no health issues to limit what I can do, but I want to limit what I have to do, and I cam convinced my current layout (335 sq ft of bench, 300 feet of track, 190 feet of 'Streets) is all I want to handle.  I takes up all the time I want to spent on trains.  If it were much bigger, something would not be getting done.

Layout TOO big?  I think not!  Mine is about 22' X 24' overall, and on four distinct but connected levels.  750' of track, 65 switches, TMCC, Legacy and DCS control.  Started on it in 1998 and I'm still working on it.  But, you know what?  It's still too small!  Now, if I could make it larger, and I can't in it's present location, I'd need more people to help with all the related projects. 

But the key is that in the last 15 or 16 years, it has kept me busy, provided entertainment and a showplace for friends and visitors.  I haven't worked on it continuously fpr all these years, but rather, I've done projects as I felt the "inspiration" all along.  Sometimes I might not work on it for weeks at a time but other times, I might be plugging away, virtually every day.

Had a group of people over today and they seemed to enjoy it as they stayed downstairs for about 3 hours.  Experiences like that are very rewarding. 

IF, and that's a big IF, I had more space, I would have built an even larger layout with a lot more trackage and more operating potential.  My inspiration was always Frank Ellison's Delta lines, which was perhaps 5 times the size of my layout.  And if I would have had the space and the wherewithal, I would have built a similar layout and shared it with a lot of other people.  But at my age, now, what I have now certainly will be my final layout effort.

Paul Fischer

I like bigger.  It gives your trains a place to go.  I also have a big yard, so small operations i.e. switching can be enjoyed too.

.....

Dennis

Its only too big the instant you have reoccurring problems staying coupled, or staying on the rails. Running around after those can be a real pain. Once corrected none are too large.

Sounds? It could also be said a large layout adds realism by lowering the volume of locos at a distance. Same for the noise produced by multiple unit runs (my sounds are low or off).

My idea of the perfect large layout would actually be a few smaller layouts spread out into corners & empty space, all connected by a few main lines.

There is no such thing as a being too big.  Just keep adding more track

Hello

Still on the floor ,but have trains running

If I can get one built as I am going to be one the move soon  and the Boss said ;

4 x 9 in the back room is all I get .

The track hit base board while tiring some different ideas ,with the Fast track from my starter setd

The amount of space is a bug-a-boo for any hobby.  I know a fellow who has a 40 gun storage case that is not enough.  My brother-in-law built a special heated, carpeted garage for his three classic restored cars.  There are fellows that collect almost anything who complain that they need more space.  My former high school English teacher has a complete collection of Coca Cola memorabilia throughout his entire home.  Collecting or running trains is no different.  But it's the process that's important and which provides the play value rather than the end result.  Once you get satisfied with what you have and don't make any changes or have no further goals, that's when you are either burned out or ready for another hobby.  Before cashing in, take a break for awhile.  If you don't have the space, rework and refine what you've already done.

10' x 18' is not too much room for O Gauge and O Scale.

If you have that much room you have to run the tracks around the wall.

A majority of the curved track can be O-72 to operate larger locomotives and cars.

O Gauge and O Scale operators realistically are supposed to be operating on O-144 curves, but that requires much more space than most can find.

Andrew

Are 144 curves manufactured by manufacturers of o gauge track?

No, because most people do not have basements or garages large enough for more realistically sized curved track sections.

Andrew

I'd love to have this problem: a layout 'too big'!

Don't have a layout at all.  Probably won't for a long time. 

Sometimes dreams of building my layout are as good as actually having one  

Living in a condo limits space available to about 8' X 5'. Right now I'm running 9 trains on 9 separate loops. I figure I could add three more loops. The great thing about the limitations is you don't spend years building a display and after you get tired of one setup, it's no big deal to tear it down and build something different.