The Most Important Part Of Your Layout?

I would say it is ones enjoyment.

The power supply. No lights, no action, no fun.

The nut that holds the throttle.

Rusty

In my case it is how they all blend together to form my desired effect.

The foundation of the layout. That being the solid track work, electrical wiring and good power supplies. Nothing else works without the three basics.

FMC posted:

The foundation of the layout. That being the solid track work, electrical wiring and good power supplies. Nothing else works without the three basics.

 

Might I add Solid Benchwork

tom

The trains running on it.

To paraphrase Fran Ellison - The layout is the stage and the trains are the actors.

Don

Track and switches.

Paul Romano,

   One of the most important parts of my New Train Room is the Donavan's Reef Bar Top Layout, with the Hellgate Bridge Centerpiece, and of course the President Reagan Box Car on Top of the Christmas Lionel Tin Plate Cookie Tins.

PCRR/Dave

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Paul Romano,

   One of the most important parts of my New Train Room is the Donavan's Reef Bar Top Layout, with the Hellgate Bridge Centerpiece, and of course the President Reagan Box Car on Top of the Christmas Lionel Tin Plate Cookie Tins.

PCRR/Dave

 

 

Dave, I love that movie. Excellent rendition of the bar top layout. Hope that movie comes on TCM again soon. 

Infrastructure.....It's what you DON'T see that makes things work.

The light switch that turns on the MAGIC!!!!

Good track is probably the most important. We take it for granted, but try running a train without it. Unsmooth track equals unsmooth experiences.

Such an interesting premise.

For me, the most important element is that every ingredient of the layout, which of course includes the trains (and a trolley,) make a cohesive statement together, touching the hearts and imagination of folks who come to see it and can enjoy what it is saying.

FrankM

The steam locomotive servicing facility with the turntable/roundhouse area.

Focusing on the word "important"...the truth be know, I'd say it's having someone to share it with.   At some point, no matter how detailed and elaborate you get, there is nothing like sharing it with someone who shows an interest and appreciation for your layout.   Sure makes running and working on the layout more fun.

Evan.

Donald

At the moment, my prewar standard gauge steam engines.  I love those guys.  My base is pretty solid, considering the track is on a plastic floor on a concrete slab.  It’s not exactly an intricate layout.  I’ve been considering selling a few engines.  Hasn’t been too prosperous lately. That would really stink, but it might be hard to run them inside a cardboard box.  Maybe that is why I appreciate them so much right now.  Cheers.

Railgon posted:

Focusing on the word "important"...the truth be know, I'd say it's having someone to share it with.   At some point, no matter how detailed and elaborate you get, there is nothing like sharing it with someone who shows an interest and appreciation for your layout.   Sure makes running and working on the layout more fun.

Which this Forum enables us to do. So does get togethers in person.

Moonson posted:

Such an interesting premise.

For me, the most important element is that every ingredient of the layout, which of course includes the trains (and a trolley,) make a cohesive statement together, touching the hearts and imagination of folks who come to see it and can enjoy what it is saying.

FrankM

Which you, Frank, have very much achieved with your layout.

Track

Imagination,, period

For my Carpet Central, it is Fastrack. Allows for a nice neat clean look, and is stable on carpet. If not for fastrack would not have a set up.

Old Mike

My CFO.  AKA CINCHOMELANT.

Perfect bench work, track work, track, layout, and scenery et al are nothing if you can't run the trains.

Wiring!

Most important for me is the sense of satisfaction in having created something that I think is an accomplishment worthy of the time and effort I have spent on it - and which my wife, children and grandchildren also enjoy with me.

MELGAR 

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Moonson posted:

Such an interesting premise.

For me, the most important element is that every ingredient of the layout, which of course includes the trains (and a trolley,) make a cohesive statement together, touching the hearts and imagination of folks who come to see it and can enjoy what it is saying.

FrankM

Which you, Frank, have very much achieved with your layout.

Thank you, Arnold. That is especially enjoyable to hear from you, since I never actually planned for any cohesiveness. Rather, as the creativity poured out of me, I simply tried to make each vignette believable and, hopefully, for myself, my wife, and our guests, somehow enjoyable. It became important that every element (vehicles; figures; structures; foliage, etc.,) of every little scene related to each other and to the neighboring scene in what seemed to me to make sense.

Then, I decided to have distinctly different neighborhoods,

which meant a defined RR service yard (what my imagination perceived one to be, at least),  a suburban neighborhood,

a village, ...

a workers' small business support street,

...rural areas, etc.

When my wife picked-up on that feature and expressed her enjoyment of that element, and did so often, unsolicited, then, I knew I was on the right track (!)

FrankM

FrankM, you are certainly a master of making scenes come to life.  Everything is there that makes it seem real and right.  I can feel the randomness of life in every single picture.

The most important part for me is that whatever I have it's enjoyable.  If it ceases to be enjoyable, then I have missed the mark.  The most fun I have had was when my boys and I had the carpet central all over the upstairs area.

TexasSP posted:

FrankM, you are certainly a master of making scenes come to life.  Everything is there that makes it seem real and right.  I can feel the randomness of life in every single picture.

Really very nice to hear from you, TexasSP, and I appreciate every word of what you said. Your words are going to stay with me, Thank you! ("...the randomness of life.."   I like that.)

FrankM

A nice single malt to sip while the trains run.

Oh and the track, power wiring, signals, scenery, trains, etc, etc, etc.

Bob

Is invisible.  It's the electricity.

Pete

The Room.

Without it there is no space for any trains or track or scenery.

Electricity is optional, I have live steam and Wind-up Engines.

Family support.

Gud food

Imagination