I’m just curious how many layouts eveybody has built for their own use and how long you have had them. For those who have built more than one, how long do you use each one? I’m just getting into my first one and I hope it lasts for a while. I don’t want to get it done and then want to make some vast improvements right down the road!![:D]
I am building my 2nd layout. I am taking a lot of the things I learned on my first layout an improving them for my 2nd layout. I used my first layout for a year…and still would be using it if my wife did not make me move it out to the garage.
Do what I did, get rid of the wife!
I’m working on my second layout. My first was just a little 4’ x 8’ beginner layout. It was cool, but I really wanted a big professional-looking layout so I tore it down and just fiished building the benchwork. [8D]
-Brandon
No…My wife wanted the extra room for my mother-in-law. I did not mind because I am out in the garage now and she is inside with the 7 kids [:)] Did I mention that I have an LCD TV, Garage heater and air conditionar, computer, Cable TV, and a fridge.
So in other words, your garage is better than my house!?!?
Man, If I had a garage like that… you wouldn’t see me for a few years… or maybe when I went to the grocery store for snacks. [(-D]
-Brandon
I’m 61 been MR ing scince I was 12. I always thought thats what layouts were for ,is tearing out and starting over. Look at Tony K. and Bruce C. Man they got big layouts and a posse to rebuild But what fun!!!
I have built 4 HO layouts:
1> 5’ by 9’ with a pair of 2’ wide extension. Based on the PH&C series in Model Trains/Model Railroader. Lasted about 3 years.(1965-1968)
2> 8’ by 13’ with hand laid code 70 rail.(1968-1972)
3> 8’ by 13’ with Lambert/Shinohara code 70 trackage.(1972-1975) Moved out of my parents home, and got interested in other things that took up too much of my time).
4> Current layout since 1987. 20’ by 25’ area. Code 100 on the mainline and staging, code 83 on the branchline. Was Cab Control, but went DCC in 1996. I figure this layout has about 5-6 years left in it(retirement in 6 years). Not sure if I am going to move and build a new home or just build a new railroad in this one at that time.
Jim
ONE!!! I just kept changing it, adding to it, moving it round. It started from a 4x8 and grew out to 8x20-10x15 L shape in my basement. It took 25 years of trial and error and it keeps changing.
I’m a bit limited in space and time… have had the same layout with mods for over 20 years and rebuilt to much the same plan three times in HO then N then HO again. However I have probably built (incompletely) about 10 scale layouts and god knows how many Triang layouts in the 42 years I’ve been doing this as well as quite a few layouts for others… Its not so much the size as what the layout does
My web site www.xdford.digitalzones.com FYI
Regards
Trevor
As you build layouts you develop your skills, which may make you want to improve your earlier work. That’s a reason to strive for high quality, so you can continue to be happy with it. Also you may have to move. So go modular, or at least moveable.
I built a couple layouts when I was a teenager, back in the 60’s. But since I have returned to the hobby as an adult I have built two home layouts. The first one I started in New Orleans in 1979, moved it to Portland, where it was in five different basements, growing and changing. I scrapped most of it in 1998, and am working on a shelf layout that incorporates one section of an earlier modular layout. Along the way I did two or three project layouts for train shows and such. They were more portable race track style layouts for kids to run or Timesavers.
Just keep learning. My philosophy now is to seek inspiration from prototyp0e track arrangements and to build something that the kids and I can enjoy. Also don’t bust your budget. And have fun.
Regards
Peter
conford
My first one was back in high school and was never completed, 11years later I’m desiging my next one. It will be a 4x8 again but its all good for preperation for the big one that will come some day.
Just finished my 15"x26" N-scale micro layout,…looking forward to doing something really cool…maybe a 2’x3’ N-scale…eventually ill get around to a 5’x6’ L shaped “dream” layout
As for total…this is my 2.5nd layout
Ryan
I’d say this is # 75 or 76…If you count LGB in the garden. Otherwise, 1st n scale. (actually…it’s more like negative 1 unless my suppliers decide to ship my order sometime)
Lets see, I’ve built three layouts in N guage , first one was a 4x8 in a spare bedroom, second , one was 12x8 also in the same bedroom, got evicted by our little bundle of joy and moved to the basement where my buddy and i built a 10x 20 around the wall, Kids grew up moved out and so did we, to a smaller home with a bigger basement( which I immediately claimed) I am presently working , along with my buddy a 26x16 around the wall (we built the room for it ) it also has a 15’ hidden yard (staging ) track work is 99% done, wiring is 85% done, so I have a lot left to do, but thats half the fun of modeling, building . by the way I have been into model railroading since the late 60’s and will keep on doing it as long as I can.
Radioman2
A common question here are a bunch more answers:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=15413&REPLY_ID=347617#347617
I am on my 2nd layout. My first was a 4x4 layout I had as a kid; later, I upgraded it to a 4x8 layout. I eventually dismantled it and now I’m about 50% done on building my new 4x16 layout. I am modeling the Illinois Central Railroad from 1996-2006 as IC from 1996-1999 and as CNIC from 1999-2006. My line is similar to the CNIC line through Bluford IL. The only difference is that on my layout NS trains come off of the NS line through Fairfield and get on the IC. So you could say that I’m modeling both the IC and NS.
One–just over a year old–started life as a 4.5 x8 now is a 5 x 8 with staging.
I’m a plan a you go type…I like to just start building and see where it takes me.
So let’s see…if you add up .25+.50+.25+.30+.10+.30+.30…that should put me at about 2 layouts…the .10 was my brief dabble in N.
I’ve also moved alot, so just about the time my benchwork is complete and I have the first train running…it’s time to start tearing it down.[|(]
But I am taking a different approach this time…I am armchairing it for awhile to come up with a solid plan…I have been to very few operating sessions and so I am trying to find a club or group nearby so that I can learn more about operations to incorporate in to my planning.