visions and questions for my dream layout

People have been predicting the demise of Humans since before Jesus was a prophecy.

NO ONE has enough room or money

Stop your drooling and get to work...

Those who talk about the layout they want never get it because all they do is talk about it.

I have been sorta there, and with good reason.  When you think you might be moving, you get sidetracked.  But we seemed to be on the verge of moving for over five years...remember the economy ....it took my home which I bought for $130k down from $250k in 2005 to $165k in 2009...I knew I should have sold in 2005...but I made a mistake...I built a train layout...and the thought of moving was overwhelming.

Had I known of the impending doom...I would have sold.  Sump pump died...had to dismantle the layout to repair the floor...got a big fat check from the insurance company though.

Hindsight is 20/20.

Postponed the rebuild..bought Engines and rolling stock...got a deal on some Gargraves track...

Decided SCREW IT...I'm running trains.....

Built the MISC (prounounced MESSY)  Manchester Intermediate System Conglomerate

A slapped together mess...no level, very little measuring or sawing...

A blast to run....

But now I need more tracking...

I broke through the barrier of the imaginary wall...added 90' of double main line..through the rest of the basement, returns through the laundry room...

Am taking down the old..putting up new...

And GUESS WHAT

We might be selling in the spring of 17

My home value, according to zillow is within $20k of the 2005 values...

Long as the market holds....

Wife wants a first floor laundry

And detached buildings for my woodshop, drums and trains...

She wants to park her car in the garage...my tools won't let her, since 1998.

So....my advice

Do it...layouts come down faster than thry go up...trust me.

money and lack of can and does slow one down!

so do you in fact own a train of any kind at all?

as to space can you build a small single track around the ceiling in a room?

do you have a garage? If so can you use a pulley setup to raise and lower a make shift train table? can you make a small layout and push under a bed when not in use?

go to train swap meets see if any cheap and or slightly rusted track for sale a little elbow grease and you have  usable track to make a simple oval or oblong track arrangement . 

in short if your willing to say I can instead of I can't a usable layout will emerge. as to scenery and buildings an imagination works wonders try it.

as to a fluid loader you have the best one available to you it's called your hand cheap and easy to use no instructions needed.

so think more on how can I instead of someday I hope to only you can make it happen in short what are you willing to do to make it happen? ��

I hope to read someday you have a small but usable layout to run a train and or switch cars out of an imaginary siding.

Start with a small layout and expand (as money and time permit) till you get to where you want to go with it. Even if you have to start with a small hollow core door layout that rolls under the bed, or a figure 8 on the floor. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step".

P.S. If you want a flying car on your layout, you may have to spring for one of these;

Paige: suggest you try out a train simulator computer program for the time being, since you lack money and focus for building an actual model railroad. The programs typically allow you to build and customize your own trains. Some may allow you to build an operating "layout". Why don't you research and try out the available software and give us a report on your findings?

The flying car is neat and with a little "kit bashing" -- maybe a flying locomotive!