Who is Contemplating Changes to Their Layouts?

Not me! I just put the finishing touches on the finish carpentry work around my layout table from the great flood of winter 2014! I did put in my subway level and small S gauge loop during renovations so I'm good for a while! 

As soon as the wife approves the expansion to the garage from my workshop/train room, I'll be in build mode again.  Couple of lift out bridges and I'll be adding an around the room loop with a yard, and hopefully a round house and engine shed.

Hi PTC

 

I'm always contemplating changing something.

 

Since I been working on a new layout for way over a year and constantly reviewing and updating because of the forum.

 

I can cut and paste my response almost perfect from your post.

 

Better availability of new products. Always changing.

 

Re-evaluating what I have and thinking of ways to make my layout better.

 

Prominent Forum members posts and advice through their posts.

 

Always thinking of ways to make my layout look better.

 

Oh well still having lots of fun,

 

Larry

 

 

"great flood of winter 2014!"

 

Ahhh the great flood, I remember it well. Wilmington was particularly hit very hard. That inflatable raft sure saved the day for you and your trains that were subject to the flooding. 

If all else fails I have the boat in the driveway if I need it!  

just the other day ,i was running 2 autorack trains side by side [ atlas articulated and lionel 89']....for got to check far curves for clearence,and had about 5 off the track. i need to space those track out about an1/2" more.-Jim

I have been considering tearing up the layout and starting over, but I haven't been motivated to do it.

 

Jeff Davis

I'm presently focused on improving the freight operations on my layout, but I next want to increase and identify more passenger train station stops.  While large stations are grand, I am primarily interested in small towns and suburban stations.  I am going to add an Aurora stop on my east bound passenger mainline that is across from the Eola freight yard for example.  It will be just a simple platform that passengers can be protected from the elements with Aurora signs on it.  This will give passenger train engineers and conductors a scheduled stop.

 

Art

My latest layout at my house never really got off the ground as I've been working on the layout at the grandsons house. Now my wife would like to remodel that room. looks like I'll be in remodel mode soon!

Just tore down my layout in my condo and I doubt I will ever rebuild it. Just not enough room to do my scale engines justice. I do belong to a modular group but we rarely set up. 

 

I may have to get out my HO trains and even that will be a fairly small layout but hey, it's trains. 

Tore down my old layout 2 years ago this fall...I honestly regret it. Sure it had it's "quirks" but nothing I couldn't fix with some time, sweat, and $$$. 

 

My current layout has become rather "dull" to me. I've started a thread asking for tips to improve it's operational entertainment. Please chime in if so inclined. The thread is HERE

I'm in the process of a total tear down - rebuild... exciting and scary at the same time!

       

Rich,

What triggered this?

Command control (both DCS and Legacy), electronics, sounds, the enormous selection of O gauge product with greatly improved details and retirement is what got me back into the hobby about 4 years ago. I got a 6'x16' Mianne kit with the idea of expansion to start out, while I figured out more about what I really want to end up with. Mianne bench work is very easy to re-configure and add on to. I have some ideas for the first expansion, but can't seem to come up with a final plan. I may be suffering from the age old problem of wanting more layout features than there is space available for, the old fitting ten pounds in a five pound box problem. Not to mention that funding one of these things from scratch, starting out with nothing is a challenge all to itself.

Beyond contemplating.  Already taking action.  Sawed off about 25% of my HO layout to give Mrs. SantaFeJim more room for her crafts. 

The sad part is the area that I removed had all the track and about 80% of the scenery finished.  I was able to salvage the track and clean off all the ballast.  I can use it on the rest of the layout.

Good new is it sparked my intrest in HO again after being dorment for longer than I care to admit.  I now spend about 30 hours a week in the basement and I am enjoying it.  The fact that the baeball season in Chicago is "OH-VA" really helps.

Rebuild,  I'm not finished!!!!!!!!!!

 

Brent

There are three more curves on the outer loop of my layout that need to be widened to 72” so I can run a M10000.  They are close now and just need to be tweaked.  Doesn’t sound like much but there is a lot of scenery and structures in the way.  I can’t imagine doing a total redo.  I’ll widen the curves one at a time to avoid putting the trains out of operation for too long…need my train fix.  I’ll also wait a few months till it’s not so hot in the attic.

Nearly done with the track, and there's no looking back. I feel that I have put enough thought into the design, that changes are unnecessary. My layout will have no operating accessories with the exception a few crossing signals and working track signals. There is just way too much to do the first time to consider any re-dos.

I start last thanksgiving with a post war layout. In January of this year I purchased a big boy and command control. That triggered taking 3/4 of the layout down to make larger radius and longer loops. Then I took over a closet attached to the train room and that added another 800 sq ft.
Now I am watching Clugman post because I want to do a long yard to park passenger trains in the 1/4 that is still post war.  I have a Ross 8 yard, but it takes up a lot of space.

I don't have a layout at home.  I run my trains at my train club.  I've been a member for over 25 years. The club layout gets an update every year. Sometimes it's just a minor update, a new feature or accessory. Other times, it's more involves. Last year we started a modification to our main line track plan that shut down the mainline for 8 or 9 months. The mainline is running again but there is still some staging trackwork, switch motor installation and scenery to complete.

 

The big event on our calendar is our Holiday Open House. This is a major event in that it is the time when we give back to the people that keep us running. The layout must be up and running by December, although, it's ok to have some areas under construction. Our regulars often comment on the changes that took place since their last visit. Donations received during the open house make it possible to keep the layout fresh and operational for the following years.

 

Changing and updating the layout keeps it interesting for us as well as our visitors. It is important to keep working on the layout to keep the hobby and the club interesting. It is also important not to shut down the layout for repair for too long so the operators of the club stay interested.  The projects planned for the next few years will not disable the mainline like last year. 

Well as most of you know I'm in the middle of tearing out my layout. (53' x 40'). It's a lot of work and I debated for a long time but finally decided to get into it. I wanted to make so many changes to the layout that the only way it could be done was to start from the beginning.

When I had my layout, I was always changing it.  whether it was just moving arounf the buildings or pulling up all the track and starting fresh.  I was mostly limited to a 4'x8' except my last layout which had another 4'x4' section forming an "L".  Now I'm in the dreaming phase until I have space, but even my sketches are constantly changing.  although, I think I have the concept down based off a postwar style "L" shaped layout I saw in classic toy trains.  has two outer main lines, a bent up and over "8", and two small inside loops.  I'd replace one small inside loop with an 027 figure 8 and the other one with a switch yard.  There's a mountain in the corner to tie it all together.  need to lay it all out to see how much space I actually need

This is my third layout and everytime I get done after about a month of running trains, I say I should of done this or that.  Seems like "hindsite" is always 20/20.  Or I'm never happy?

I am in the beginning stages of revamping the layout. As I sink deeper into the "tin side" of O-gauge I am wanting to take the layout in an even more old toy train direction. More tinplate and "tinplate-like" buildings. Even swapping out the 1/43 scale cars and trucks for 4" Midgetoy and Tootsietoy vehicles. Mmmuuuhahahahahaha!

I have changed layout themes and track-work four times over the past 15 years. I'm still happy with the current layout though I am taking advantage of some very humid days to tinker just a bit with individual track pieces - cleaning or replacing them. 

Urban renewal and Mother nature on the RR are always thinking and creating!!!!

Many of us are continually looking for that next hill to climb. That's what makes the hobby both challenging and fun. From your comments, most of you agree with this.

 

Whenever I spend time at the layout, I am re-evaluating what we have done. There are areas like the winter scene portion of the layout that I believe I got it right the first time and would not consider a change. What we redid a couple of years ago, I also like. However, fortunately, there is real estate left that could change for the better. That keeps the hobby fresh.

When I got into O gauge years ago, I used to frequent a local train store (now gone) that was conveniently located about 20 minutes away. A modest place but fairly well stocked and very friendly owners. On one my visits for more track, or scenery, or whatever I made the comment that, "I am almost finished." The owner laughed and said,  "...your layout will never be finished..."

 

In the spirit of this thread, truer words were never spoken.

 

 

Current layout is 8x12 and was pretty much finished.. I know.. but it really was. (see CTT Dec.2010 & Toy Trains & Christmas 2 TM videos) It was also never meant to be permanent but more a practice/Christmas layout.

Now the whole basement is mine .. room size 14x27.. so I have the opportunity to build the "dream layout"

It seems that I am constantly changing this and that on my layout after a complete rebuild last year.  Guess that is the real reason why the scenery and the other finer details (like ballasting, etc.) never seem to get done!

I've been stalled on my layout for the last 3 years: once I laid the track and put in the upper level I just couldn't figure out how to scenic it.  I also screwed up on the track plan in that too much of the upper level obstructed the view of the trains on the lower level.  I've made the difficult but necessary decision to remove the upper level entirely.  I can incorporate the grade track into the lower level, and now it will be much easier for me to put in some sidings and such for operational variation.

In the past ten or eleven months I have totally redone all my scenery. Tore out the old freight yard and put in a better designed one. I still have to put in a small engine facility. Adding a town with train station in an alcove off the attic and where the stairs come up I have just enough area to put in some small industries for switching. This layout will not change once I do those to sections. For change I am going to start construction of a nice size switching layout in the basement ..............Paul

Spence - What an ambitious project!  You may have already shared it, but could you tell us what some of the elements that you are going  to incorporate in your new layout?

 

Art

Rich - I was lucky enough to see your old layout in operation which is why I am so anxious to see your new one.  You did a fabulous job on the old one.  How far along are you?  The suspense is killing us. 

 

Art

Small, scenery related changes only. Do not have the strength or energy for a rebuild. I think my track plan gets the most out of my space and meets my design goals. 

Absolutely! Every night I head down and turn the basement light on.

 Took me a while to put this puppy in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brian,

   I really do not fall into the complete rework category anymore with my Christmas layouts.  A few years back I had to disassemble my larger layout for space/work reasons.  Now I simply add to my Christmas layout each year making some village changes and maybe even another track/switch level on the multi-level layout.  I wish I had the space to re-engineer another major layout, I did love having it thru out most of game room and home office.  I do enjoy seeing pictures of what you and some of the other members are building, lots of great stuff going on right now.

PCRR/Dave

John, in your Sante Fe consist in the video, are the passenger cars K-Lines. They look like the 21" size. Sure nice looking passenger train.