Rotating trains on and off the layout, and video. What do you do?

Nice layout, Craig. Very well done. 

I'll change them out about once a week or whenever I get sick of looking at the same thing. I really don't run them much but everything is up on shelving on the walls. Occasionally I'll want to see something run, pull it down and leave it on the track until I want to see something else run. 

I pulled my new BNSF GP40 off the track after a week and put my MTH AEM7 on the track as I hadn't run that in several months and had been wanting to run it. 

I can run 4 trains. My layout is approximately 8x8 "L" Shape. I'm a conventional operator as I like to be able to run everything and not hassle with command control. 

Below is a video of everything lit up and running. Running three variations of technology here - both steam engines are Lionel Postwar units, purchased from the SAME family collection that purchased then NEW in circa 1948 (for the 2025 on the elevated loop) and the 726RR in 1952. The Southern Pacific is a nearly new MTH PS3 engine and the GP9 on the figure-8 is MTH PS2. I also enjoy running LC/LC+ and several modern Lionel steamers. 

I keep a list of my engines, and mark what ones are running current, and last run.

 Well, I have a plan. I rotate the diesels in consists and send them to the service tracks for storage. I replace them with another set of diesels that are due for track time.

Then.... the grandkids come over and say, I wanna run that one!

Usually the one covered in dust, on the back shelf, waiting for some kind of repair or upgrade. New gears maybe, etc.

After the tornado clears, ur umm, I mean after they leave, I have to figure out what ran, what is now broke, and what should get track time next.

 So planning is good. Staying flexible is better. Going with the flow, seems to be more fun.

I have learned to say "not that one"..... when that is the one that should run next. 

SJC posted:

Nice layout, Craig. Very well done. 

I'll change them out about once a week or whenever I get sick of looking at the same thing. I really don't run them much but everything is up on shelving on the walls. Occasionally I'll want to see something run, pull it down and leave it on the track until I want to see something else run. 

I pulled my new BNSF GP40 off the track after a week and put my MTH AEM7 on the track as I hadn't run that in several months and had been wanting to run it. 

 

I can run 4 trains. My layout is approximately 8x8 "L" Shape. I'm a conventional operator as I like to be able to run everything and not hassle with command control. 

Below is a video of everything lit up and running. Running three variations of technology here - both steam engines are Lionel Postwar units, purchased from the SAME family collection that purchased then NEW in circa 1948 (for the 2025 on the elevated loop) and the 726RR in 1952. The Southern Pacific is a nearly new MTH PS3 engine and the GP9 on the figure-8 is MTH PS2. I also enjoy running LC/LC+ and several modern Lionel steamers. 

Looks good Matt, like the homes with Xmas lights, and all the action.

I also don't have a "schedule" on what runs when. Just when I want to. I used to be very rigid in ONLY passenger on the outer loop and ONLY freight on the inner. Figure 8 and Upper could be both. In addition, ONLY "freight" engines pulled freight and ONLY "passenger" engines pulled passenger trains. I'm now much more flexible and I feel it makes it much more fun and laid back. 

No, Amtrak engines aren't pulling freights.....only exception to that rule! 

Engineer-Joe posted:

 Well, I have a plan. I rotate the diesels in consists and send them to the service tracks for storage. I replace them with another set of diesels that are due for track time.

Then.... the grandkids come over and say, I wanna run that one!

Usually the one covered in dust, on the back shelf, waiting for some kind of repair or upgrade. New gears maybe, etc.

After the tornado clears, ur umm, I mean after they leave, I have to figure out what ran, what is now broke, and what should get track time next.

 So planning is good. Staying flexible is better. Going with the flow, seems to be more fun.

I have learned to say "not that one"..... when that is the one that should run next. 

Joe,

Yeah, it seems whatever you have set up for guests to see, they want to something else. 

Craignor posted:

SJC posted:

Nice layout, Craig. Very well done. 

I'll change them out about once a week or whenever I get sick of looking at the same thing. I really don't run them much but everything is up on shelving on the walls. Occasionally I'll want to see something run, pull it down and leave it on the track until I want to see something else run. 

I pulled my new BNSF GP40 off the track after a week and put my MTH AEM7 on the track as I hadn't run that in several months and had been wanting to run it. 

 

I can run 4 trains. My layout is approximately 8x8 "L" Shape. I'm a conventional operator as I like to be able to run everything and not hassle with command control. 

Below is a video of everything lit up and running. Running three variations of technology here - both steam engines are Lionel Postwar units, purchased from the SAME family collection that purchased then NEW in circa 1948 (for the 2025 on the elevated loop) and the 726RR in 1952. The Southern Pacific is a nearly new MTH PS3 engine and the GP9 on the figure-8 is MTH PS2. I also enjoy running LC/LC+ and several modern Lionel steamers. 

Looks good Matt, like the homes with Xmas lights, and all the action.

Thanks, Craig. Those are the new MTH houses with Christmas lights. I only ordered one but once I saw them, I bought a second. I just love them. I built a small bump out on one end of the table for them and some trees. I also have some of the Dept. 56 "Real Plastic Snow"  () sprinkled there. I will get several Dept. 56 figures to put around as well. 

I'd like to get the Christmas light station and other buildings but don't have room or available power at the moment. I ordered the full set MTH Canadian Pacific Christmas train with the lights. Should be a real winner. The flatcar with lighted trees for Christmas also looks nice. I'll probably get one for this Christmas. 

You guys just had to make me go down the basement, didn't you! LOL  I haven't run trains on all tracks at the same time in weeks, maybe months. After seeing your great layouts, I had to go down and get things rolling. 2 Amtrak's on the outer loop, a UP coal drag on the inner, Baltimore Transit Trolley on the high line, Lion Chief A5 0-4-0 shuffles a gondola of scrap in the yard, PRR RS-11 and mixed freight on the lower level, along with two Super Streets trucks. Almost too much for one operator to handle! Now tomorrow I'll have to rotate them all out.

I'm a Saturday changeout guy too.  No schedule as to what runs from week to week however, as that is based purely on whimsy.

Just got back from visiting family up in central PA so, in "honor" of that, this coming week will be a PRR week.

Curt

Since I run at a club I have a rotation for engines and pick the cars I know for a fact that haven't ran in a while and run those. Most stuff gets ran 6 times a year because of how many engines I have and car combos I can use

Beautiful, just beautiful!

Craig,

Good question for a topic!  Yours is a nice layout that gives trains a nice run.

I switch out engines and consists, but at no set schedule.  Right now I have DCS engines running on the 4 x 8 Christmas layout; yes I still have Christmas in July!    I have TMCC engines running on my Ceiling Central RR in the family room.  I don't switch them out so much because I only had 2 engines and two loops, but recently I purchased another TMCC engine, so I gave the F7s a rest.  I don't change the cars much either, because I am getting more clumsy as I get older, and I don't like getting on the step ladder with trains.  Too many close calls.  In fact the Menards train, as I call it, has been up there for a long time.  I can't see the detail up there, so I put my less detailed cars up there.  I have a lot more DCS engines, so they get swapped more frequently.  Once I get my permanent layout built to a place I plan to have storage shelves, and will swap out regularly.  By that time, I'll be retired, so I hope to be running trains a lot more than now.

Mark Boyce posted:

Craig,

Good question for a topic!  Yours is a nice layout that gives trains a nice run.

I switch out engines and consists, but at no set schedule.  Right now I have DCS engines running on the 4 x 8 Christmas layout; yes I still have Christmas in July!    I have TMCC engines running on my Ceiling Central RR in the family room.  I don't switch them out so much because I only had 2 engines and two loops, but recently I purchased another TMCC engine, so I gave the F7s a rest.  I don't change the cars much either, because I am getting more clumsy as I get older, and I don't like getting on the step ladder with trains.  Too many close calls.  In fact the Menards train, as I call it, has been up there for a long time.  I can't see the detail up there, so I put my less detailed cars up there.  I have a lot more DCS engines, so they get swapped more frequently.  Once I get my permanent layout built to a place I plan to have storage shelves, and will swap out regularly.  By that time, I'll be retired, so I hope to be running trains a lot more than now.

Mark,

Thanks. Please post some pics or videos of the Ceiling Central layout.

Craig, Here goes!

The first ones were during the construction phase.  I just put any old engines up there, the lighter the better to check things out.

This was my Golden Spike setup with a couple of postwar engines.  I didn't have the TMCC controller yet.

This little guy will pull a lot of cars.  It is a K-Line with TMCC, my first TMCC.

I have some videos.  I'll have to take a look at which are best.  I have two troubles.  The lousy light fixture close to the door leading to the patio.  The other is, how best to take a video standing in the middle looking up.  LOL

I don't change them that often, and when I do it is more of I feel like I want to run this one right know. Currently I have 2 lionel Trains on my layout. A SD40-2 I bought on Ebay a year or so ago, since I wanted to get something I see in my town, and I see a lot of NS engines, can't really tell the difference between them though; which I have pulling a mixed freight. As well as the 844 steam engine, which I have pulling N&W Passenger Cars.

No set schedule.....

My 2 subway sets are on the underground line with a rare "switch out" for the NYC  commuter set.

My main level has 2 loops and a passing siding........3 trains there......one gets switched out every few weeks. 

I sometimes do themes: electrics, steam, military, certain RR, etc.

Peter

Having the luxury of a turntable and freight yard, I enjoy swapping engines on an existing train and or parking some cars in the yard or actually taking cars off the layout and swapping with others on the shelving along the side of my layout. Like Engineer Joe, when the grandchildren arrive, I ask what they would like to see run and hand them a remote, sit back and enjoy the whole activity! Of course, I hold another remote in my hand just in case...

It varies with me.  I try to keep one freight and one passenger train running.  My yard will hold about 30 cars and the service tracks hold about 12 diesel units.  The service tracks are always live (one of my mistakes) so I can only put 8 units out at a time.  Equipment has to be rotated into and out of storage boxes from the O Gauge Hauler and earlier types.  So, I make a change about once a month.

It's a far cry from the whole-house basement layout I had envisioned when we moved to Amarillo, but it works well enough in a city with almost no basements.

I change entire trains whenever the spirit moves me to do so.  I have no stead fast time line/schedule for changing out trains.   Depending on the time allotted for running my trains this change over may occur  once a month, once  a week, twice a week, or even more frequently.    I do change out locomotives and cabooses more frequently than the entire train.  Of course the locomotive and caboose must bear the same road name.  

I can run 3 trains ( 2 lower loops and 1 upper loop ) simultaneously.   I usually make one of those three trains a passenger train.   I also have a trolley line and change out my two trolleys at will.  

Sometimes I change out my freight trains one or two cars at a time over a period of several days.  

At present my lower main line has a Pennsy Aerotrain providing passenger service and a Ma & Pa SW 1 providing local freight service. On the upper line ( Mountain Division ) the MOW crew is tamping ballast with a Lionel ballast tamper pulling a work caboose complete with welder and his lit welding torch.... which all makes for a nice animation.  

I've got nothing.   All of my trains are now entombed in their boxes as I dismantle the layout for our impending move.  But I've got big plans for the rebuild. 

All the Locos and cars go back in their boxes after I am done running and recording videos.

Then the tracks are cleaned.

Then the next locos and cars are unboxed and put on the tracks. 

The change happens when have a idea for the next matched freight train. 

Andrew

Not liking to handle trains I have everything on sidings.  135' of exposed sidings/yards and 150 linear feet of hidden staging tracks. 

Tom Tee posted:

Not liking to handle trains I have everything on sidings.  135' of exposed sidings/yards and 150 linear feet of hidden staging tracks. 

Like Tom, I don't like to touch them either.  About 98% of the trains are on my layout.  I am fortunate to have a layout with a freight yard, passenger terminal and roundhouse along with other sidings.

If I need a quick fix, I just run the two trains sitting on the double main.  If I'm in for the long haul, I start up both trains and determine which train needs to be broken down and put away and what new equipment will take it's place.

I only use the engines or a dedicated switcher to put away and dig out the equipment I want.  No 0-5-0's allowed.  No touching.  This process may take me 30-60 minutes depending on what I want to do.  Take into consideration that while I'm trying to put one train away and build a new one, the other train on the other loop is still running.  So there are times when I have to yield and wait for the opportune moment to cross over to get something.

This may seem like a waste of time for some, but I get enjoyment out of it and it keeps my interest high rather than just watching the train go round and round.  You really need to think about where you will be placing trains and how are you going to get cars that are buried deep in the yard out.

Have Fun

Ron

 There are 4 main lines on my layout at this point. I am working on a yard for my engines and cars, so right now I run a dedicated train for 2 days then put away and build a new on.  

Lots of trains, lots of choices.

When I change them from track to shelf I usually do this,

I lift them up and put them down.    Works for me.

I change every twelve months. Right now I'm in late steam era. Come this October I change to 1980/90's  diesel era. So not only change the trains, also the motor vehicles and some of the buildings. This is not written stone, I'm flexible. Once I decide on what rolling stock will be used for the season. All trains are built with switchers. 

Clem   

Fun seeing how everyone runs their layout, the layout pics and videos are a bonus. 

Thanks for all the replies. Keep em coming!

I just go from the shelf to the layout, and then back to the shelf. The rotation also helps keep everything dusted off. 

Nice video, Craig.   Love the NKP snaking through the downtown area with all those boxcars.

I swap as the mood strikes.  If I'm feeling nostalgic, I'll run trains that I saw growing up in my hometown on the Illinois Central and New York Central.  I lived in the upper Midwest for several years so some of those roads get track time.  One of my favorite things is to make up a mixed train as I imagined it might have looked on an Illinois branch line.  

Well, to represent the carpet guys,(who's to say how well represented) I'm running this consist till I throw up,  cause there's a couple recent engines and new VL box cars. I like those sounds!  

I change them out depending on what consist I want to drag around. The locos that get the most time are the ones that I am building (back and forth ,round and round!) or have just finished.

Sure, I rotate out my locomotives and cars.  My layout is fairly small (probably tiny, compared to what seems to be the average around here), so rotation is the only way I can make sure all my rolling stock gets some regular run time.

I don't have any methodical way of planning or recording the swaps.  It's just whenever I get tired of the current consist and want to see something different running.

All depends upon what engine I have worked on or upgraded.  Then I build a train for it after some run-in and check-out time.  Also, make up a train, change out engines at random to be taking them off the shelf and after lubrication, give it a chance to loosen up it's legs.... sometimes for a week or more.  And, as noted, it is a good way to give them a needed dusting.  Then, there are the times when I get to opening up a box or tote pulled from the attic or out from under the layout and explored... OH!!!  THERE IT IS !!!!     LOL!!!!        Yes, do have a sheet listing of motive power and rolling stock/passenger used (sometimes) to mark up as running time and maintenance performed. 

Jesse    TCA

I change my motive power out about every six weeks...by railroad name. I'll run my Illinois Central and Gulf Mobile & Ohio at the same time because the GM&O the IC merged.  Then I'll run my "Eastern" roads...Pennsy and NYC power together.  When done with those, I'll focus on my main road; the Rock Island...which will usually takes a couple months of running.

This has been a most interesting thread. It has given me the idea to start doing weekly rotations of equipment. So, after a great day outside, I started this evening. For the next week it will be all Pennsy. Couldn't get all running at once the first time I tried, but will work on it this week.

I don,t change locomotives all that much.Do not get me wrong I do change locomotives from time to time.It just I change freight cars more.And since I run mixed freights on my lay out.I tend to have boxcars from the east and midwest and some from west and north western railroads.Some times I will have a lot of refers mixed in.Hey I just run mixed trains I recall as a kid.You had a lot of classic rail roads boxcars that were still around.

Here is my dilemma in a nutshell. I favor passenger trains and a few freights, but my railroad lacks enough yard / terminal sidings to store all of the trains I want to run. I have no storage shelves. It pains me that there are trains hidden in boxes, and I do not like to regularly manhandle my trains.

I need several more yard and terminal tracks, so I will be adding two extensions to my railroad to incorporate more. When the additions are done, My railroad may have as many as 18 tracks with trains ready to run on the main line. Lets see, 18 tracks and I need space for:

1. 1938 20th Century Limited
2. 1929 20th Century Limited
3. The Southern Crescent
4. The Blue Comet
5. The Representative
6. The Hiawatha
7. The Cavalier
8. The Crusader
9. The Flying Yankee
10. The Broadway Limited
11. The Sunrise Special
12. The Cannon Ball
13. The Chessie
14. The Nickle Plate Limited
15. The Ski Train
16. The Chief
17. M10000
18. Long Island local freight
19. N&W coal train
20. New York Central coal train
21. NYC Putnam Division commuter
22. Long Island commuter

Uh oh! Not enough tracks. Hmm. May be a second level yard works?