Train Layout: No Dead Time

Oops, here is one more thing to do that can be very engrossing: Designing

Great topic as usual Arnold! The problem I ran into was that I came to the hobby late in life, 2012 and waited until now to get a permanent layout built. So I have track down and running trains, have buildings up but now my dead time is trying to decide where I want things being afraid to make a mistake! So I am at the point of just jumping in with the knowledge I have and hoping for the best! No more dead time! LOL

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Do you agree?

Expansion? Modification? Beautification? Creating Scenes? Repairs? Restorations? Overhaul? Building another layout, maybe in a different gauge, and/or in a different room or building? Collecting? Operating? Maintaining?

It seems that having a train layout means the possibilities for having something more to do are endless. Do you agree?

Arnold

 

Yes, I absolutely agree, Arnold

I agree, though these days I have little dead time, given the list of things around the house my wife decided had waited long enough. I agree totally, there is always something to do with trains, as they say, a layout is never really finished. 

There is always something to be done on a model railroad or model trains. If all else fails, run the trains or post a picture on the OGR Forum.

MELGAR

One of the great things about toy trains in general, and Lionel trains in particular, is that there is so much that can be done with them. From just running trains on the carpet to building large museum quality layouts and everything in between, it does not have to be the same experience twice unless that's what you want. Thank you Mr. Cribari for the very thoughtful topics that you submit to the forum. I always read yours first when I visit here. You put a lot of thought into your writting and it shows.

Yes, Arnold, I and would emphasize designing and/or improving on track plans, something that is often under-stated or ignored.

As I am in my 2nd medium-sized layout build of my life-time ~ < 200 sq. ft. range, I am finding what I knew as a young boy: let the train travel and fool the viewer's perspective. I love this aspect of the hobby - its always a challenge, and that's what basements and attics are made for

A couple of more things to possibly do with trains or layout to eliminate dead time in one's life: Operating Systems?   Electrical/Wiring?

They can be changed, added and/or upgraded. Arnold

Lately, for me, as Melgar mentioned above, posting topics, replies, videos and photos on this Forum is great filler for me to eliminate dead time.

It's very enjoyable for me to be able to post on this Forum when waiting in line, when in between tasks, when doing something else like watching a ball game on TV that does not require all my attention, etc.

Arnold

Then, of course, there's going to the LHS, visiting a train club like NJ HiRailers, having get togethers with train buddies, going to train shows, train museums, etc. Arnold

And there is always something new to learn about our multi-faceted hobby.

Incidentally, during the past 10 minutes while posting several times on this thread, I eliminated otherwise dead time waiting for a bus to take my wife and I from a hotel to a wedding this evening at 5 PM. Arnold

Two more dead time killers: Kitbashing, Weathering.

Posted while waiting for butcher to cut 3 ribs on the bone for dinner tonight at Acme. LOL, Arnold

After teaching high school each day, I would look forward to investing myself in a different kind of creativity, utilizing a different portion of my brain, I suspect, and energies by immersing myself in the model train layout in our basement.

My wife became so interested in the layout and in how it interested guests to our home, that when we were walking in a shopping-mall near our home, she spotted several porcelain houses (Dept. 56-style) in a shop window, and when we went into the store, she saw more of them and said to the startled saleswoman, waving her hand over an entire display, "We will take them all."

I was stunned.

The store staff was stunned.

They asked for time to get all the buildings re-boxed, so we left to do other "window-shopping" and returned quite some time later to begin ferrying our porcelain treasures to the car.

Previous to this event, I had not discerned any sources for the buildings I had seen on layouts displayed in the hobby magazines, so I was not sure how to populate a layout landscape with any of them.

The result of our shopping adventure was this neighborhood (and beyond)…

Once my wife had gotten so involved with the layout, it was like an anointing of the whole effort. It became a joint-effort, much like our life together.

I share this with you this because, after a while, the entire neighborhood morphed into this crafted neighborhood.....

So, yes, there has been no "dead time" in Moon Township, USA.

FrankM, Moon Township, USA

Painting "people" is a great Dead Time killer too.

Probably have population of around a thousand in Warrenville

Frank, I absolutely loved everything about your reply immediately above.

First, because I also have a few of those charming Department 56 houses, which I typically set up at Christmas time with a loop of track around the tree. However, I have never seem them set up with realistic scenery in HiRail style as you have done. Those houses look great the way you have combined them with realistic scenery. Your neighborhood with them in it is reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell work of art.

My wife has never been gung ho into model railroading like yours, but I'm very, very grateful she is tolerant of my passion for it.

Arnold

My favorite Department 56 structure is my Diner in this photo across the street from my Popsicle stick Yankee Stadium.

Arnold