What is more important, the trains or the layout

The layout I guess you could say gets taken for granted, but try running anything without it...

 

So, yes, the layout in the long run is more important for an operator.

I want to run my trains, not leave them on the shelf like I am pretty much stuck doing now until one or both 20+ year old daughters move out.  I won't have a big layout, so I don't want a lot of trains.

 

I can go to the hobby shop or shows and see lots of trains on the shelf for nearly no cost, so I vote for the layout.  Of course I could be in a club and bring my trains to run on their layout, but I want my own layout to build and operate as I would like.  Yes, less is more.

Your tastes change every 7 years. Once you get the layout to where you think it should be, you'll be back to looking for new and interesting rolling stock and motive power to run on it.

Ah, the old chicken or the egg question. Seriously, for me, you can't have one without the other.

I agree wholeheartedly.

 

In answering the question, THE TRAINS are more important. Trains don't need a layout, as they can run on the floor if they have to.  The layout is just an interesting backdrop for them to run on.

 

So of course, it's THE TRAINS.  Everybody knows that.

Absolutely, the layout is the stage... the trains are the actors that provide the drama.

I'm in the camp that of the two the layout is more important to me.  Scenery interests me more than seeing how many trains I can have to run on it.

 

I agree with Brian that you need both, but I have always been a scenery guy when it comes to trains.

 

Art

1: Locomotives - My main interest

2: Rolling stock - Supporting cast for the above

3: Layout - Fully operational, about 30% scenicked

4: Scenery - I'll finish it, one of these days

 

Rusty

I agree that a layout interests me more.  Designing, building and finishing it is the most fun.  With a nice layout any toy train looks good.  I'm happy running TMCC Geeps and operating.  I wouldn't buy a $1500 locomotive even if I won the lottery.

For me it's running the trains on the layout. I enjoy running my operating cars/accessories and also love collecting the trains and cars though I pick them based more on their design that any sense of history. I'll happily run a New Haven engine towing Pan-Am, Santa Fe and Great Northern rolling stock even though it's not "correct". The only part I'm really indifferent to is landscaping. On my next layout I might skip it entirely or keep it very minimalist (I do like tunnels). One of the most amazing layouts I've seen had no landscaping at all. The tracks were support on giant glass pylons - no buildings, base boards, etc. It was nothing more than trains and tracks. Definitely the most modern layout out there. 

I'd rather have the trains without the layout rather than the layout without the trains.

 

 

But its nice to have both...

In the first couple of layouts it was all about how many trains I could run at once on the space I had.

 

This current in progress one I'm trying very hard with what few skills I have to make the layout eye catching. I would like to think the layout will catch attention first, then the trains.

 

This one is certainly taking a considerable amount of time compared to the others.

We will see.

Larry

Well, my first response was, "Why don't you just ask me which of my children is my favorite"  but thinking a little, I guess I'd agree with Martin H.  If I had to choose, it would be the trains, but it's great to have both.

I look at it this way. The trains are the actors, the layout the stage. Ones not much good without the other. I don't want to watch a actor on the bear stage and don't want sit and look at a empty set. Don

I guess you could say a little of both for me. I don't have a huge amount of engines sitting on a shelf collecting dust. I have enough of the choice engines I want and every one of them get track time. I enjoy them by running them and working on the layout here and there.

Ditto!

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

As I get older the idea of building a layout and getting it to some level of completion is more and more appealing.

i've also come to understand that for me there is less and less appeal to the idea of buying stuff in a quest to make me happy...because it really doesn't work anymore (if it ever did).

Don't misunderstand me--i do have a strong attachment to some of the train items I own, but I'm much more excited about building a layout and doing something I can be proud of and learn from.

 

Jeff C

 

You need both.  I am very content with my '8x11' Layout.  There

is plenty of room under it for storage, and in the train room there

is a large closet for my rolling stock.

 

I have about twenty five engines from Post War to present.  I

love seeing them run thus the layout is, well important.  I am

not a big accessory guy, but I have always loved the 115 Stations

and the 437 Switch Towers.  Department 56 is also a great way

to enjoy the trains running past a Ward & June Clever neighborhood.

 

My passion is running trains so a Layout is very important. For me

it is like Eggs Over Easy, without the Ham, well it is not the same.

 

Great topic.

 

Many thanks,

 

Billy C

 

When I read the OP question, my initial interpretation for "layout" was track, buildings, and scenery, and not just track for running the all important TRAINS.

If that were the case, the trains are more important.

 

But as I read the responses, I must agree with most all the posts. Once it was mentioned that the trains were the actors and the layout the stage, I particularly liked Don's (scale rail) post.

Let's see; the trains can't do much without the layout, except for maybe once in a while with a loop on the carpet.

But the layout is totally useless without the trains!

 

I think this problem need more beer before we can render a decision............

 

Rod

I will go along with that too.

 

 

This is probably about the order of priority I would put things in also.

This is how I feel!  I enjoy buying trains with the idea soon they'll have a place to run.  Never been about just buying trains for the h#ll of it, I focus on what I want to model on the layout (UP Steam).  I want a layout to model and accurately enjoy my interests/investments.

 

And, scratch building has opened a whole other world to this hobby for me.

 

 

I'd rather have a really neat layout with interesting scenes for the trains to pass through AND only have one train then have 100 of the best models available and a crappy or boring layout. As is the reality, I have a so-so layout and continue to buy trains with what I think is the delusional thought that someday I'll have the space, time, and resources to build that grand layout.

Me too!

I drifted in and out of collecting trains since I was a kid. I don't have huge number relative to many I know. Operating was always relegated to carpet or Christmas layouts, nothing ever permanent. The time and space necessary for a permanent layout was just not available. Since retirement and a couple of moves, I now have time and room. I have slowly started a layout, time with other interests included is still a bit of an issue.

 

I guess it started with Trains and is currently more about the Layout.

 

Layout.

Well, you can buy trains and display them, at minimum, and still get some enjoyment out of them. One CAN NOT buy a layout, it has to be built, and even if bought built you can stare at it all day long and....well not much to enjoy without the trains.

 

For me, it is impossible to have one w/o the other, BUT, BUT, given an ultimatum to choose ONE, I'd take the trains....they can always be run on a piece of straight track and make some good sounds and smoke doing it....

Yes the trains are great to have, but in the long run you will need a layout.  Start with a small layout and add to it when you have the means.  I'm slowly building mine, at xmas time I expand the end so the grand kids can run trains in a circle since everyone coming to my house wants to see trains running. Every year the main lines get longer.   Started with 2- 4x8 tables as the main lines develop, now the size is about 9 tables with more to come.  If one or two tables is all you need fine, just put them up and have some fun running trains.

 

Jack 

As one without a layout (but fortunately having pretty much unlimited access to one) I can say unless you're a pure collector, you can't fully enjoy your trains without a layout on which to run them.

It WAS the trains. But now that I have a lot of trains it's totally the layout. Not just the scenery but the overall layout performance: wiring, switches, lights, blocks, track sound quality, DCS signal strength and so on. As all of that has gotten better and better so has my enthusiasm for the hobby. Sure you can do a train on a loop on the floor but how long is that going to stay interesting.

Guys,

 

This is an easy one!

 

For me it was simple, which came first the chicken (train) or the hen house (layout). Of course when I was a boy of ten I had the American Flyer trains and the layout both!

 

But as an adult, it was necessary to have the train first then I build my layout around it. I simply couldn't get as excited about building my layout without my starter set to build around.

 

I suppose it starts with an idea at first, then builds excitement as it goes along. In this way, you are starting around a basic concept.

 

I suppose you could not have one without the other but for me, at least,it makes no sense to have a frame without a picture.

 

Thanks for asking.

 

Mike Maurice

Actually, you can have either without the other.  Lee, could run his vehicles on

"Streets" with no train items, and there are plenty of collectors with shelves full

of trains and no layout, and collectors of really old cast iron trains that have no

track, so no possible layout.

As an operator, I need the layout for my trains and the trains for my layout.  They go together like chocolate and peanut butter, or beer and hot dogs!!  

I guess when it comes to model railroading, I haven't discovered the "less is more" paradigm. I'm still working under the delusion that more is more.

That's similar to my priorities. I'll just add that I like some substantial track mileage for the trains to run on.

 

The understatement of the century.

Ditto

 

Gilly