If you were starting over, what scale, rr line, and era would you do and how big and every thing like that? DO NOT!!! say unlimited space!!!
Me, I would do HO scale, santa fe, 1950’s so I could run steamers and early desils on a 20x20’ double mainline, with a branch line to a hiden town that you have to get to a sertain point to see, passing sidings, passenger and freight stations, spurs for diffrent industries and a 4x8’ freight yard.
My list of loco’s, (all santa fe road name)
4-8-4, 2-10-2, 2-10-4, 2-8-8-2, 4-6-4 blue gose, 0-8-0 for switching, gp7 for switching, f7 2 ab sets (both freight) two aba sets ( one freight and one passenger) one abba set for super cheif, ft ab set and f9 aba cigar band set.
Tierd of listening to my dreams of a futer layout? then list yours!
I’m very happy with my currant layout but I would start a whole passenger service, I have all frieght service trains mostley SF.
I’d and a second layer to store trains in a hidden staging area under the layout and have more automated scenes.
I can still add to my currant layout but not the under layer staging area.
That would be about it, oh ya, I’d stay with HO, I like the scale size and availability of RTR stock and buildings.
I’ve actually never really seen any true RTR stock, it seems that all stock needs something weather it be more details, better trucks and wheels or added weight, whats up with that?
I start over all the time. Currently I am doing Ma&Pa in S scale in the early 1950’s in 14’x23’. Next layout will be the same except in 1200 sq ft. But who knows, I might change and do an On30 Turkey Bay RR in the 1920’s. Or a Gn30 WW&F in 1905. Or an N scale PRR in the 1930’s. Or a #1 scale. So many choices, so little time.
I’ve got a 5x12 foot table layout in HO. At the time, that was about the best option. In an ideal world, I’d go with an around-the-walls plan to get a longer main line run and allow for more variation of scenes.
I have no staging. The planning for Phase I of my expansion into the rest of the room is more for staging than anything else, although it will also significantly lengthen my main line run.
I’d like more industries to switch. That’s a real shortcoming of my current layout, too. I’m thinking of a car ferry as Phase II of the expansion, because that has a lot of different possibilities.
I would stay with HO. For me, it’s the right compromise. I would buy only sound-equipped engines, though, to save the bother of putting sound in later.
It depends on my mood, but based on how I feel lately, I’d go with three rail stuff. None of the toy like operating accessories or the lifesavers tank cars, but the blackened center rail, semi scale stuff. Big curves, large yards, and some light operation. Realistic trains, but the layout would not necessarily be tied to one era or location. There would probaby be wooden reefers and SD70ace’s, but they wouldn’t be on the same train (would most likely stage one or the other depending on mood).
First, the RR line: Stick to the same time, place, era, and freelanced road.
Space: 8 ft. x 8 ft. rectangular donut, w/ an 8 ft. by 4 ft. area for the laesing yard, and of course, staging that connects to a spur on each end of the 8x8 space for continuous running.
I would have to say that I am happy with my current layout as it is still a work in progress and continues to evolve a little here and there since I started it up about 2 years and 3 months ago. My only druther would be to have more space, but that’s about it, we never seem to have enough space in this hobby.
If I were to start with a clean slate I’d use the same space (double garage) but model the narrow gauge portion of my master plan in either HOe or On762. Either way, there would be a lot of scratchbuilding and handlaying of track involved.
If I were to start all over with my current roster, master plan and skill set I’d build what I’m building now. Since I’m already part way there, I see no reason to return to square one and start over.
It’s kind of a moot point, because no matter if I were to start over in my current circumstances I am seriously constrained by the space that is available to me. What I want is a layout with bigger radius curves and more open space for scenery, what I want won’t fit in the space I have now. So in my case the first step in starting over would involve moving to a different house with a much bigger basement.
Cause we love pickin’ each other’s brains and day-dreaming, lol. [:D][:P]
Too add to my first post, my only complaints i’ve got about my current alotted space is that from the yard, it gets difficult to transition to the curve on the eureka stretch (which might get replanned), the passing siding in Edgefield is too short, and that staging will be a little tight.