What Will You Do When You Finally Finish Your Layout…Quit the Hobby?

Sit back, turn 'em on, watch 'em run - all with that satisfying feeling of final accomplishment. 

I'll never be finished, so it's a moot point.

 

If I ever finish the main layout and scenery, I imagine I will be making changes and from them on. The more I use the layout, the more things I find that I want to modify somewhat or even change completely.

 

I am currently torn between the realistic (which I kind of like) and toy train (for my grandson, but I also like some things like that) so I think the constant change is built in, at least wit me anyway.

If you ever come to the point where your "layout is finished", then you have done something wrong.  Either your layout is too small or you have not taken advantage of expansion.......like into the kitchen or bathroom.  There is always a time where you can change a scene, add something new or change track design to keep things interesting.

 

I have completely re done one half of my layout (or in the process of doing so) to give me a whole new perspective on operating and having fun with my trains.  I am constructing a new scene of a Southwest Texas desert Army base and Army RR yard.  You don't have to dismantle your whole layout to make changes and keep your railroad kingdom exciting.  Your imagination has no limits in this hobby.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

 

What artyoung said.

 

Brad

I'll never finish one, but if I did I'd run the trains around for 10 minutes and then grab the sledgehammer. After doing the demo I'd build another layout.

 

Jeff C

With the exception of some periodic refinements to scenery or addition of signals or crossing gates, my layout has been completed for about two or three years.  I derive my enjoyment now by operating the trains.

I have theorized for some time there are those whose primary enjoyment is the creativity associated with building a layout and those who simply like to run their trains.  People who enjoy the building part are far more apt to tear down and start over multiple times over the years.

Curt

Took me 2 1/2 years to "complete."  Thought it would take a year. Have done two major changes to places that proved operationally troublesome and one smaller change to remove a curved switch that was visually appealing, but troublesome. Scenery modifications continue to happen. (My Christmas list always includes trees.). If LCCA ever does their previewed operating accessories, I will be including a couple of those. I will replace my gantry crane with the new command control one when Lionel makes it. 

 

And, of course, I run it. And fool around with consists. I recently made a military train and had three passenger trains converted to LED's. Both projects were documented here on the forum. 

 

Also made some changes to the decor of the train room. 

 

Never done and never will be. 

Take it down and build a bigger one, at what time we are doing now.  Nick

No way, no how. Once completed, the fun continues in a different way. Looking for new equipment to go with the layout, new accessories to make it better, and the list goes on.

 

My guess is when someone finishes a layout and then decides to dismantle it shortly thereafter, there are other reasons at play other than O-Gauge trains.

When it is completed, a new stage of fun begins.  I agree with Brian and add that having friends over more often to run trains and socialize.  Have operating sessions and try to run as realistically as possible.  The list goes on.

 

Art

Oh, I thought I read that they are never finished.....you mean some actually are?

Oh-no. That's when the party starts! I hope to have my upper deck presentable by next October for the Round Robin meets.

Yes, I thought finishing a layout was impossible, like being too rich or too thin?

Just ready to turn 71 and start a new layout.  I figure it'll take 4 yrs to get where I want to be with it.  Hopefully I'll have another 15 yrs after that to enjoy just running my trains.

Good afternoon

Well I thought mine was finished last march just before two day open house. Then one of those sneaky Detroit Three Railers showed up at open house, then before I knew it there was over twenty of the those rowdy DTR types here one week before York. Now I'm back to building and changing things. Getting ready for the next time they show up. Whats even better is I know have a new T shirt 

 

Thank you Detroit Three Railers for letting host a meet!!!

 

Clem 

I'll keep sharing it with others, which has become the whole point of it, as well as the hobby itself, for me.

FrankM.

I will be finished the day they plant me, and hopefully not before.  Not just with my O gauge, but also with On30, Large Scale, and Z gauge because each gives me a whole lot of relaxing pleasure in a variety of ways.

OMG - are you saying that finishing a layout is actually an option? Wish I had known that sooner.  I've been working on mine for 6 years now and I am getting really tired.  Had I known this I could have quit 3 years ago ��

 

Ed

I will be dead long before it gets finished at the rate it is going.  

 

Never going to happen.

Larry

funny thing completion is not on my task plan

A layout is never finished. Only the next expansion awaits

All,

 

I don't think I will ever finish as there will always be some detail to add to it.

Freight cars to weather, new loco's to add and weather etc.. some new wiring

feature will come about.. and now, I had my model RR in the january issue

of O-Guage.. I am already making two major changes to it.. one, moving the

yard as I see people congregate where the new city is which is across from the

yard and turntable.. so moving the yard and TT will alleviate that. Then, moving

some mills around too.. which then make the layout a never ending story or

rather, what I should call it, "The Never Ending Model Railroading Layout" 

ha, "NEMRAIL" for short! There is my new headline for the articles Allan

Miller wants me to write! The light bulb is lit…  Stay tuned!

 

Dan

Dreaming, planning, building, running, dreaming, planning, building, running, dreaming, planning, building,.............................it just never ends, does it?

I just turned 79 and I can't imagine that I would ever attempt a new layout.  I've been working on this one since 1998.  Is it done?  Sure; kinda.  I can run trains just about anywhere on the layout that I want to.  In fact, I can actually operate two trains at the same time, but it makes it easier if someone else is there to run one of them.  The scenery pretty much covers the whole layout, now, but there is always room for improvement.  I still want to add at least some signals which I have already purchased.  I still have about four switch motors to install.  I still have about a 1/2 dozen buildings that need lights and I'm now working on a new one. 

 

So, as I see it:  No new layout, no immediate end to the projects to "complete" this layout.  I can't imagine that I would ever move from this house, although I have been here for almost 30 years.  Hopefully and the Good Lord willing, I will remain healthy enough to stay here and continue to work on the layout.  It's one of those few little pleasures that I guy my age can enjoy.  Granted, I can't do what I used to be able to do, but if I work slow and steady, I amaze me as to what I can accomplish.  But that  does not include a new layout, anymore.

 

Paul Fischer

I completed my LGB layout in 1989. I still like running the trains on it and people still enjoy coming to visit and see it. So don't worry ,there's life after layout completion.

Fred

It's always evolving so it will never be finished.  The enjoyment I get from working on it while running trains, sharing trains with the grandkids and community at large will only end when I do.

I'll never  be done with mine. I keep changing things around. On my layout, there is only one season; construction.  

I will sit back and watch my trains run..for a week then tear it down.I did not learn to build a top notch layout.I learned not to use so many nails,screws,glue etc.etc.Nick

I don't foresee ever being done.  My next rebuild will be painted plywood approximately 26'x15'.  Then in five years, I'll tear is all down as we get ready to sell the house before I retire. Post-retirement, my wife will travel for 1 - 2 years and then buy another house elsewhere. Then, I'll start something new from scratch!  Maybe some day that layout will get finished?

 

Jim

With the amount of time it's taken me to get where I am, there's no danger at all that I'll ever get it finished. 

I'am quite sure that I will be in a PINE BOX before that HAPPENS.

I'll never finish!

 

Peter

I don't have a layout now, but with previous layouts I did reach a point where there were enough significant things I wanted to change that the best course of action was to tear down the old one and start a new one.

 

Each layout was a learning experience.  I think when you stop learning and enjoying, that's the time to quit the hobby.

I do not know how many readers participate in purchasing The OGR VIDEOS, of home layouts, but, many of the ones in there videos have been dis-mantled. When the Videographers are on the way to Shoot a Video, that's when the The Layout Builder TRIES TO GET THE LAYOUT FINISHED. When OGR came to my house in July of 2013, We tried our best to get the layout finished Looking.  Rich Melvin was So Nice to give me a 3 or 4 month notice. NOW, I am presuming this is the same Effect that one has when they are

getting ready for a Feature Article in a Major Hobby Magazine. It's called ShowTime.

I do not think this is the case in the afore mentioned layout. (Its a Tremendous Undertaking to Get A Layout Ready, so, It's Tiring, and Lots of WORK, therefore, it could Exhaust the Builder).

My humble opinion is a layout is never finished, like Passenger Train Collector said, when you are finished, so to speak, there are accessories to add, train engines and cars to add, 

and Meets to go to, open houses to have, and It's just Plain Fun to Run The Trains.

You all are invited to visit my,"Leapin Larry's Looney Line Railroad", right here in The Great State of Tennessee....Happy Railroading.

 

 

 

I can't say for sure.  My guessdimation is that I will be 142 when it's completed.  I will have to let you know then as to what my decision will be.  But I know for sure I will not quit the hobby at that time.  Maybe add some N scale.

By 142 the old eyesight should be just about perfect for getting into N scale. Let's see now, where is that new locomotive, I know it's on the track here somewhere. Wait a minute here, where's the track? 

John Allen said something to the effect that he'd never live long enough to complete his Gorre and Daphetid RR.  There was always something left to do, or do over better, or change.