After looking at the dates on some old photo’s of the layout I recently posted. I realized it is proceeding at a glacial pace. Seven years ago last month I started. Kids swim meets and lessons, coaching and helping out at Hockey tournaments and lots of family and other interest mean my time gets spread around. However I would not trade any of it for more time on the layout.
Seven years ago. The first of many sections of benchwork.
It got me wondering though. How long ago did you start your current layout?
But it depends on how you count. I moved out of an ex-GF’s in 1987 and decided then and there I wasn’t going to waste any more time on half-measures, having put model railroading on hold for being in college (drop-out), too busy at work, too busy after work, and – finally – what I thought was love.
I took the plunge into narrowgauge and never looked back. I started construction of a module of Red Mountain, Colorado in the living room of my rental while I started saving for a downpayment on a layout room with adjoining living facilities. In 1992, after some health issues, surgery, and rehab, I finally had my act together and found a nice dry basement to buy, the house above was a nice bonus[;)]
It took a couple of years of finishing 2/3 of the basement and trackplanning, but the layout as presently located started actively in about 1994. I was still in recovery mode, so building benchwork was just what the Dr. ordered. My Red Mountain module was fit into the new layout , so I count 1988 as the start date, so it’s our 25th anniversary. Track was basically complete (mainline in and running) in 2003, scenery roughed in a couple of years later, the basic scenery completion about 2 years ago.
I started building bench work in November 2012. I had been out of the hobby for 22 years but now had the time and room to start a layout.
Though the bench work isn’t complete, I have the mainline down along with a staging yard, freight yard, 4 interchanges and 2 industries so I am able to operate.
14 years ago. I retired in 1999 and began my present N gauge layout. It is nowhere near completion and I haven’t run it, with the exception of programming loco’s for about 1-1/2 years. Hopefully this winter will see me being able to resume work on it.
[bow] THAT would be very special. I’ve only ever operated on my own layout, so seeing one of my locomotives in unfamiliar territory and surroundings would be quite a ‘trip’.
In anwser to the question, I commenced planning for the current build about five years ago, and started construction in January of last year. I am not working at half the pace of layout #2, which was done in about 6 months over an eight month period in late 2006. So, I can see me taking until Jan/Feb before I wipe my hands for the last time and only have some odd placements, repairs, or additions of last minute thoughts.
Start? Oh that’s the problem, I’m supposed to start a layout at some point or another. One could say this one has been in the planning stage for 30 years.
I started my current layout just about a year ago, last Oct. 2012 in fact. The first few pictures are the sections that are finished. The last few are parts I am working on.
I’ve been working on the current layout about 10 years. Sad part is it’s pretty small. While there are a bunch of things I need to work on, I’m having really slow going, sometimes months between work sessions. Part of it has been work – seems like the last few years I’m putting in a lot more time than I used to. Add to that either coaching or watching, soccer, little league, scouts for two kids and there’s no time left. Right now my wife is at a cub scout den meeting (even though both our son is beyond cubs, we’re still involved with the pack), while both our kids are at soccer practice. I’m leaving in 30 min to pick my son up and then we head to boy scouts. Daughter is driving now so at least she can take care of herself.
But I guess it won’t be long where I have plenty of time for the layout. In less than a year, our daughter is off to college. Our son is now too old for little league. We’re going to miss that time in the bleachers.
I started my layout Dec. 2009. This is what it looked like in Feb. 2010.
I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. I put up the benchwork very quickly, and got trains running. I was a complete newbie. Boy how I’ve grown in this hobby over the last 4 years. Thanks to everyone who helps here on this forum.
Michael, I don’t know how you do it. From mailbox to installed in what seemed like minutes. I got a Walthers Turntable for Fathers Day and I still haven’t taken it out of the box yet.
Gotta go cut down some Hockey sticks for my son and his friends. Layout what’s that.[sigh]
Michael’s improved layout is impressive. He’s doing what anyone who is holding back because of uncertainty about their skills should be doing – go ahead and build it – and don’t be afraid to go back to square 1. The experience of just doing it will improve your skill set. This is especially important in the early stages if you don’t have hand’s on shop experience with wood, wiring and where to put things.
Don’t be your own worst critic, give it a start and if you end up going a different direction I can almost guarantee it won’t be wasted effort. The results will be seen in your next layout, which as Michael demonstrates can contain a considerable portion of the first one, depending.[swg]
Batman,
Still you keep your priorities straight. You’ll regret the loss of that time more than you will the layout and your time will come.
In my own intro, didn’t mean to sound like you should just throw everything to the wind and concentrate on the layout. I did and it was good, but only because the circumstances were right to do that. I was fortunate, not everyone is. And in the long run, through many more tribulations (job loss due to bonus-hungry bosses, returning to school, deciding to go to grad school, more medical issues), things worked out. I’m married to a wonderful woman who supports my hobby and the need for mental health time spent on it – and who’s a railfan to boot[{][O][}]
Life is good and model railroading is part of it. Only you know what the proper mix is for your circumstances. May all of us have the free time to eventually put our plans to the test. Because even having plans is a start…unless someone else beats you to the right of way![:'(]
Hmmmm…that depends on the definition of “current”.
If you’re talking about my layout as a whole in its existing configuration, construction started in the spring of 2010. Well, actually I demolished the old layout in December 2009 to make room for this one so maybe that’s a more accurate guess? The track is laid and trains are running, but I haven’t yet applied any scenery. First I want to have a few more group op sessions to identify any areas of track that still need work.
But as far as sub-sections, 65% of my steel mill trackwork was first laid in the fall of 1996 - in my previous home. I’ve been adding onto it ever since that time.
I feel your pain about the time demands of family commitments. I used to lament about not having enough time/money for the hobby. But now I’m glad I made those sacrifices; having well-educated children of good character/values is worth infinitely more to me than a basement full of expensive toys!
Ah, the joys of being self employed, time off when you like, Yeah right!!! Work has, for me, always come first, and even though its been to provide for the family I sometimes wonder if the amount of time away working was actually worth it? [sigh] ( at least my kids, now grown up still talk to me [:)] , actually so does my long suffering wife [bow]).
I’ve built enough at the club sporadically over the last 12 years to have a rough idea how to do it, What I’m really looking forward too, is that I don’t have to compromise on absolutely any thing. I’ll stop now before [soapbox]. No more procrastination!!!
I got title to my current layout space seven ([:$]) years ago, and started on my double garage filler. Of course I also have my, “End of the railroad,” module, which reached its present state of (in)completion in 1981.[:-^]
In between, I’ve run afoul of some health issues (souvenirs of my war zone service)[B)] and took about fifteen months off to write a novel.[8-|] Now that the temperature has crawled down to something reasonable, I’ll once again pick up construction, at my usual pace.[sn]
Don’t miss the big golden spike ceremony - some time around 2037…
The planning phase of my layout started about a year ago and has not yet left the drawing board. I am right now picking my plans up where I left them in January this year. There is an order of track on its way to me, so I am sure I will start within the next weeks…
