reality check

If there is one thing I have learned from this hobby (and life) it's that you don't get everything you want all at once. It's a process. And if you are lucky, it's a lifelong one. We never have all the locomotives and rolling stock we want and they say a layout is never truly finished. My advice to you is start small. Learn. And if you want to change something down the road, do it. But don't be discouraged about not having everything right off the bat. It took being an adult with a job to have the toys I wanted. You mentioned O-54 curves. There are a lot of nice, big, scale locomotives that will run on those curves.

I'm sorry to hear about your dad. I was lucky, my dad got me into model railroading and real trains. My kids only have a slight interest, and I wish it was more at times. I expose them to trains from time to time, but they are who they are...and that's not a bad thing. Based on your profile pic, I'm guessing you are on the younger side and it's great that you have a passion for this hobby! Keep it up!

This hobby is great. Enjoy what you have, whether it be a small O-27 starter set or a top-of-the-line command controlled empire. In the end, all that really matters is YOUR enjoyment.

Merry Christmas!

Some prefer floor layouts because they get tired of the same track plan. You can get yard sale finds and start where you left-off (were cut-off).

That will keep the good memories in front and help fade the others.

I have the most fun doing what you did with trains with my grandson.

Sets goals that you can reach. Get some trains and play. You'll feel better.

Merry Christmas!

Dirty little secret: Even the biggest layouts look better with traditionally-sized equipment running on them.  Even the biggest layouts tend to have O-72 curves at best, and on those, Articulateds and 22" passenger cars still look silly.

Jon

The layout is O54  and smaller with one exception O63.  All is Atlas track.  You are limited with some of the 3 axle SD trucks. 

Dash 8's on O54

Dash 8's on O45

Weaver E8's on the O54's

054, so what?  If that is what you have to have so be it.  If the overhang in the corners doesn't appeal to you hide the corners.  Tunnels, buildings, trees, almost anything.  Unless you plan on buying those great big very expensive articulated steamers I think you will can have a lot of fun and garner a great deal of satisfaction with that curve limitation.  My layout tops out at 042, most of those curves are out of sight so you would never know.  Enjoy.

Operation on smaller layouts can be as interesting as large ones.  I suspect it's in the way the track, buildings and scenery is laid out.  I've watched all of this gentleman's videos on his LCJ&I Lines railroad.  The narration is excellent as is what he has done with a limited amount of space.

https://www.youtube.com/user/rha90272/videos

The link that Dan provided above is a wealth of great info on building a smaller layout that not only looks great but provides great operation as well.

Here's a shot of our old layout. It was 6x10' and used Gargraves 31" and 42" curves. 40' scale rolling stock, small steam and 1st gen. diesels looked great on the curves.

You know. your story sounds slot like mine. my dad hated how much I like trains. Spent a lot of time homeless as a child,my parents had a lot of issues needless to say. But as a ten year old I started mowing lawns and such for athearn blue box locos and cars. saved and saved. Had to keep them in boxes always ready for when we inevitable got evicted again. But at 16 I started going my own way in life and my father sold/trashed /broke my whole collection. including some brass I had worked whole summers for. it took me a long time to amass any major purchases. kids,housing school. it all got in the way in my 20's. but I still added to my collection when I could. built a lot of kits. scratch built a lot. kept me going in the hobby. always collected magazines. armchair modeling as they say was fun,dreaming of one day....it's only been in the last few years(I am 33 now) that I have been able to afford the stuff I dreamed of as a kid. but the whole time,those memories. the excitement I used to feel opening the new model railroader has never faded. it's got me through some very dark times. I share it with my family now. we run trains ,go to shows and hobby shops where ever we find them. and it's a wonderful stress reliever. I guess what I am trying to say is: hang in there. start small. keep collecting. don't let the dream die. if a small layout is all that's in the cards...do it. enjoy,learn. if you really want it to happen it will. just keep going....