I am building a layout and we are only halfway through the process. We started over a year ago! I am wondering why this is taking so long. I can not wait until that train is chugging down the line.[banghead] It is killing me. I look at the photos in CTT and say to myself, why isn’t that my layout? [sigh] I hope i am not the 1st person this has happened to. Tenacious G out![bow]
Took me 5 years to reach 95% and I’m still adding details as something catches my eye. To put it mildly - Your never done_.
18 Years and still adding details and such. Track and wiring have been done for years as well as the major structures. Still find myself adding scenery items as well as some recent HO flats for a background prospective. Actually the benchwork, track and wiring seem to go quickly if you only do it once. It’s the detailing that takes time and a fair ammount of money as well.
Why is it taking so long? You have been working on it and still no trains are running? I would try and get some trains running even if its only on part of the layout. This will help keep your interest high and gives you an excuse to take a break from construction and do some “Testing” of the track and wiring.[;)]
TenG,
I have been running a temporary layout for over a year, on plywood, amd am just now getting the wiring together. It has taken over a month just to do permanent wiring…and it’s only 4’x7’.
Hang in there…Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Kurt
I agree with Reading T-1. I temp wired my three loops to just get the trains running. It really keeps you moving forward. Ive been working on mine for 4 months now and its only 7 x 11. Just got the final wiring done this week. You’ve got to do the wiring right the first time so you don’t have to tear up ballast later on but that shouldn’t keep you from running trains now. I got some of my best ideas while I was temp running the layout. Best of luck.
STEVE
When I started the layout I read something that made a lot of sense. The journey can be as good as the trip. That is the fun and challenges in building the layout can be rewarding as running the trains.
An advantage of getting track down and running is it shows progress. Also it allows you to work the bugs out of the track plan, andthe wiring, especially if there are switches and accessories.
I had my track down and accesories in place for several months before making anything permanent. I made some amjor changes. After having the layout 90% done (see above, you are never done!) for a couple of years now, I’m thinking I may redo it. Who knows. Don’t beat your self up. Take pictures. Looking back ata time stamp on the pics will show progress.
Do it to have fun, not to get it done.
Jim
I see my entire layout as, at best, a 2nd draft of some future semi-complete (nothing is permanent) layout. The wiring is rather temporary, and as I operate, I recognize the layout changes I want to make. This layout is cork roadbed on stained and varnished boards; nothing else. I’m happily running a 23 car freight, but that’s all I’m running 'till I enlarge the layout somehow. Planning, planning…
runtime
An 11 X 11 walk-in style HO layout took about 3 to 6 months to go from benchwork to an operating mainline. Then from there to a fully operational layout with decent scenery was prob. another 2 years with breaks included for summer activities away from the hobby, money problems for new materials/supply purchases, and agrivation factor 5 when things when wrong to take a break from it.
A 4X8 Lionel layout took exactly 1 week from benchwork to running 4 trains without scenery or landscaping of any kind. Maybe another 2 weeks on top of that to get at least a few accessories going like signals or whatever and get things on the bench work painted & presentable.
I noticed most non-model railroaders to visit the layouts will look at it and say “Well, now that’s it’s done, what are you going to do”? Just goes to show that not everyone understands that it’s constantly a “work in progress” and that they don’t even see the details & small changes being made a little at a time. -B
I think your progress is fairly typical, especially if you have a job and money constraints. The important thing is to at least set up some track and run trains, you will know immediately whether you like the track plan and then go from there.
I can’t tell you how many times I started over from scratch with track plans, it was silly. However, I ended up with what I thought was a pretty good track plan for our first permanent layout.
Hang in there, you’ll be fine. Building, IMO, is the best part of the hobby 
I find my time for working on the layout gets interrupted quite often with playing with the layout. I purposely downsized to approx. 100 sq. ft. to not feel overwhelmed by the task at hand. However, I still carry 15 to 20 unfinished projects at all times. With all the work and family pressures I often want to simplify more to a classic Post War style layout and skip all the fine details which demand lots of time. But any time spent working or running trains is great relaxation, so enjoy your time spent!!!
As I posted before I recently started a new layout that included tearing down the old one and rebuilding the train room. Work started on the room in March and as of today all of the benchwork is done, a few of the hidden tracks are laid and the main block conrol panel is built. It has been a long ride trying to fit in building the room and layout with work and a baby but it has been worth it! I took longer on the benchwork on this layout then the trackwork took on my other layout. Building a double decked Lionel layout is not common it seems and the chalenges were many just with the benchwork!
For those who know…I went with a ramp between the two levels rather then a helix. The grade is about 4% but my engines pull the 6-8 car freights up the 45 foot hill with no problem!
I have to say that working through the challenges has been a great learning experience.
I’ve been working on my 6x11.5 layout for what seems like forever. It’s a mixture of time and money, and layout direction. I spend as much time as possible with my family. I also spend “extra” money on trains, which never seems to be enough. Some guys here just have more to spend (retirement, or the kids moved out, or they are just rollin in the cash!) I try to limit my day to day train spending to under $100 a month. I usually fail. I have all of my track and switches purchased and on the layout. I have a couple of buildings, bridges, autos, signals, and some tunel portals propped up close to their final resting place, as well as DCS. I move them often. I have my basic mountain structure framed up. Not a lick of scenicking done yet, but everyday is an improvement. This week I purchased my first Woodland Scenics ground cover…it’s all a process. I do play with them just about every night. I have a track plan I really like, which seems like a requirement before I would do anything else.
I think that it’s important to not build the super large and detailed layout your first time around. Some of the guys on here have been doing this their whole life, and they are good at it. I’m pretty green, but I love the learning process. This will probably take years, which is fine with me. My son is too young to play with them now anyhow, but I know he will enjoy it at about the same time I get this mountain done…
Wes
I jump around. I focused on getting my layout functional (running trains) and am now focused on upgradeing some of my engines to TMCC (that aren’t already TMCC). I have 5 to go before I’m done, maybe 7 if I decide to convert two PS1 engines to TMCC (which I am highly considering since I really like those two engines). I have enough scenicing material to get started with that, and I have a ROSS 4-way switch that I need to get installed for my underground passenger terminal, but I need more track before I can finish that and well since I blew a boat load of cash earlier in the year I have to cut back big time (plus I have 2 engines and two passenger cars on pre-order)… [:-^]
Susie-Q will be a bit ticked… no… she will be really ticked… IF she finds out! [;)]
And so it goes…
If your kids are pre high school, you don’t have much time.
If your kids are in high school, they don’t care.
Ifyour kids are in college you can’t afford it.
After that, you might have some options.
runtime
I know what you mean, runtime, but I still encourage everyone to try what they can fit into their life - having a hobby - this hobby in my opinion - is a wonderful thing - and the chance to put something together - just an 027 oval, then a switch, then other track - and run something as soon as possible is a great motivator to then rearrange things, or think of better ways to lay things out - get in scenery or accessories, etc.
Hi GIZ,
Yep these things of building a layout does take time. First one took 3 years then tore it down and built another in 2006 and I am about 85% done. Remember all good things take time and this is fun.
laz57
I agree with all the posts that say get something down and run some trains!!!
It doesn’t have to be fancy and running on a plywood top is fine.
Last summer I got a 10’ x 12’ section of my table top benchwork done on my new layout. Since I didn’t have all the swtiches and more importantly the time to finish the benchwork, I got a double main, a reversing loop, and three sidings temporarily laid.
Within the last couple of months, I tweaked the layout and did the permanent wiring on the 10’ x 12’ section. I’ve also added a 2’ x 12’ four track yard.
Still to do is the final 3’ x 6’ extension for the turntable.
Bottom line is do it in pieces and in the interim run some trains!
Jim
I’ve been working on the present layout for over 8 years and it is still not complete, although I have been running trains for most of that time. Made several revisions along the way and am thinking of more. Don’t really ever expect to say it is finished.
I haven’t started my layout yet, but I will by September after we move into our new home in July.
But last year when I started assembling the components, I had it in my mind that the actual construction process will be part of my layout - if that is possible. Since it appears that most folks make layout construction a multi-year process, I made it a point to acquire numerous construction signs and worker people to be located amidst the various sites under construction, at least during the periods when the giant (me) isn’t working on those areas. I will make it a point to purchase several “work train” pieces in the coming months - essential “capital equipment” to make sure the construction progresses on schedule.