What If You Did The Whole Thing Over?

@third rail posted:

I should have kept to the KISS (keep it simple stupid ) system.  I bought more cars than I really need.  Went for a single road name & purchased all I could afford. I have now 17 engines, really don't need that many but I still enjoy running each one -except for the ones that seem to break down with frequency. The simple conventional locomotives work great all the time,  the $500+ locomotives are always being worked on. 

I have the same number of engines, and more cars than I can use.  I bought them when I was still working.  I thought I was going to build a larger layout, but we are storing some of our older daughter's furniture and upright piano because of a mold and mildew problem at their house.  As it turns out, they don't have the money to fix it properly, so I decided to build in a smaller room.  By the time they get things squared away and move their furniture out, we will be ready to trade this house in on a ranch house.  I guess I am right sizing the layout to move it later.    So, I am taking a look at what engines and rolling stock I can part with.  Yes, each engine I want to sell has an issue that needs fixed first.  

I built the Plywood Empire Route using L-girder framing, ¼" Luan decking and Fastrack. This because I knew I'd be making many changes as I learned about Operation and modified the track-plan accordingly. I'm pretty settled wrt the track-plan and have made no track-work or benchwork/decking changes in some time. Someday I may do it over using ⅝" furniture-grade plywood on shelf brackets and Ross track and switches with Tortoise switch motors mounted under the deck. In this scenario I would cut and mount the decking in such a way that each section could be tipped up to provide easy access to wiring,  switch motors and car-stopper motors (also Tortoise machines).

I would make these changes because I would like ballasted track and because I do NOT like working under the layout.

@Mark Boyce posted:

I have the same number of engines, and more cars than I can use.  I bought them when I was still working.  I thought I was going to build a larger layout, but we are storing some of our older daughter's furniture and upright piano because of a mold and mildew problem at their house.  As it turns out, they don't have the money to fix it properly, so I decided to build in a smaller room.  By the time they get things squared away and move their furniture out, we will be ready to trade this house in on a ranch house.  I guess I am right sizing the layout to move it later.    So, I am taking a look at what engines and rolling stock I can part with.  Yes, each engine I want to sell has an issue that needs fixed first.  

My present layout is 22x30 feet in the shape of a "U" with an "E" superimposed over it. The will be only point to point and heavy switching.  I'm over 3 years into it and I still don't have all the track layed. I need to finish one long leg where the 7 track yard will be,  but that takes 8-10 turnouts.  My passenger trains won't run on the layout, but I'm glad I belong to a club.  The buildings need to be scratch built because there are none commercially available.  I love scenery making,  and it's amazing what you can do with some plaster,  glue, dirt ,paint and some craft items from the dollar store. 

Don't have a budget to spend so I scrounge everything,  while waiting for enough money for the yard switches, I am trying to finish scenicking the sections of layout where I can. Present project is a lake boat bulk freighter for the wharf.

Enough complaints,  back to the work at hand. 

@Mark Boyce posted:

I have the same number of engines, and more cars than I can use.  I bought them when I was still working.  I thought I was going to build a larger layout, but we are storing some of our older daughter's furniture and upright piano because of a mold and mildew problem at their house.  As it turns out, they don't have the money to fix it properly, so I decided to build in a smaller room.  By the time they get things squared away and move their furniture out, we will be ready to trade this house in on a ranch house.  I guess I am right sizing the layout to move it later.    So, I am taking a look at what engines and rolling stock I can part with.  Yes, each engine I want to sell has an issue that needs fixed first.  

Mark and @Thridrail I also have way more motive power and rolling stock than I can ever get on the layout and also bought them when I was still working (wait a minute I'm still working). I also was after one road name PRR and was buying one example of each type of motive power they operated ( I must have been sick or high) because I realized I could never run let alone display that much stuff (but still trying to do both). Un like Mark I currently am not interested in parting with anything (yet and still acquiring Post War) That will be my kids problem when I am gone.

I would have incorporated ready storage to change out cars and engines onto and off of the layout.

Great topic Arnold. Here goes:

I would build a separate building 75’x125’ to house the layout, and a wood shop walled off from the layout 25’x30’.
A work area near the layout to work on structures and scenery. A lounge area near the layout with seating and a refrigerator.
Rest room for after the libations are consumed 😉. 
The layout would not be against any wall. You could walk up to it from all sides.
It would incorporate every track feature that I can’t have now due to space concerns. Not that my layout is small now, (21’x32’) but I could really build it the way I always wanted to.
I would represent the main lines East and West with return loops (very large), so that I could have continuous runs if I desired. I now have point to loop so I have to pay attention! 
At least 8’ to 10‘ ceiling (currently at 6.5’). 
I even went so far as to design a track plan should this day ever come. It's attached here:

Andy