I started my layout some 10 -12 years ago and did spend many hours constructing same. It has grown to a rather large layout and I did enjoy the building aspect. I did construct some scratch built building and did have some success with kitbashing. I reached the point where I had no room to expand the layout, thus no more building and adding to my layout. I never did get into running my trains on a schedule, no waybills, etc., but rather just operated the trains over various tracks, through switches and so forth. However, after doing the construction of my layout I have not spent much time with it for the last two years or so. I do have a loss of interest with no more contruction plans (this my be due to my 85 years of age). Query, are there others that have had the same loss of interest or am I alone?
You are probably finally old enough to stop playing with the small trains and start with something serious ;o))
I think we all have gone through that at one point of time - regardless of our age. It´s maybe one of the reason I favor to build small layouts - it doesn´t take ages to complete them and they can be sold if my interest ceases or changes.
Unless you have no interest in operations, consider developing an operations plan for the layout. This need not be complicated. The standard car card/waybill system (available from Micro-Mark and other vendors) is a good way to start. Another way is to develop one on your computer, using Excel or something like the JMRI operations features or a commerical project.
Just thinking about how you want to implement this is an interesting exercise. Some insist on using a timetable, which can be a project to develop in itself, but a sequence scheme, where trains start in an order, but without the pressure of the time component timetable ops add, is very easy to implement. This may or may not include passenger trains.
The goal is to take things you already have and fit them into an ops scheme with the purpose of simulating real world operations. Especially if you model a prototype, but still needed even if you don’t, the research to find out what was done is often very interesting in itself.
The good thing about all this is it’s mostly non-physical work, which may be a factor if you’re no longer a youngster. The bonus is that such mental stimulation has been proven to lessen the effects of aging on the mind and even in some case, physical aging, since it will eventually get you out of the chair and back to mving around the layout.
More seriously: some like running trains, others prefer the layout building part and are not so much into running it. Nothing wrong, everyone is free to pick what likes more!
If the interest in the building process is still there, but a new layout seems to be a too large project: why not build a small diorama /shelf scene? The time investment is reasonable, and at the end it is easier to sell/give it away!
sebastian
Can’t beleive your skill level has not changed in those 10 years. I bet it has improved so rebuild something you know is not up to snuff, add a passing siding, a spur or other change. Also one thing I have noticed is we tend to pick up too much stuff as we a planning our layouts so sell the stuff you know you will never use and is just bogging you down. Upgrade your rolling stock is another thought, I have been getting rid of stuff that just dosn’t live up to my currant standards, and on occation buying stuff that dose.
We all set our footprints in this hobby based on our personalities and our interests. I won’t offer you any advice since you seem to be more interested in seeing if others experience what you are experiencing, and not so much how they get around it or deal with it.
What you describes gives me the impression that you are more of a visionary and an ‘empire builder’. You have designs on creating a more and more intricate and vast picture, and you take steps to create it after a fashion. The actual movements of the trains is not something that interests you. By that I mean how and why the real rails operate to generate revenue efficiently. After running the trains for a few weeks, your mind wanders to other things, other possibilities, but not to improving your understanding of what you created and how it could be operated realistically.
So, you would be in very good, enduring, and a storied company if you were to tear it all down and begin to craft something new. It seems to be what you like to do. Those who have come to this point, even after many years of building their dream layout, are many. Legion. At some point, the vast majority heave a sigh, begin to dismantle what they have built, hopefully carefully harvesting all materials they can so that they can reuse them, and then they start over with another 20 year plan. If this is something that leaves your blood running cold, then those who have suggested you seriously find a way to enjoy the most realistic operations your creation affords you have advised you rather well in my opinion.
One other possibility comes to mind: it could be that after all this time you really have come to the end of your fascination with model trains and layout-building. At your age, other priorities, perhaps an important item on your bucket list, are weighing on your mind and you haven’t quite put your finger on it yet. However, trains no longer seems to be it, or at
I began my present layout 16 years ago when I retired. I enjoyed building it and testing and running on each section as I completed it. I joined a club, and I do so much work on the clubs layouts I have been neglecting my own layout not running or working on it for several years. This past summer I installed a new DCC buss and a 12 volt DC buss for tortoise switch machines and signals. Over the coming Winter I plan to work on it and do some running. It happens, priorities change and available time dwindles.
85 years of age says a lot.
My previous layout was fairly large, but I grew weary of it, could no longer get under the tables, and it needed so much repair, that I had not used it in years. After a young visitor from Germany insisted on running it, my interest sparked again. I tore down the layout and built the Route of the Broadway LION, originally envisioned as a commuter railroad, Life-Like had just released New York City Subway cars. Instantly the Layout morphed into a subway layout, and now has 14 miles of track, 10 trains running under full analog automation, and features a full size representation of a GRS model 5 interlocking machine.
LION is still going strong with this even though high temperatures in the train room preclude much summer use. Right now the LION cannot yet climb stairs again, but with the trains on the second floor of a building with no elevator him has been known to limp up asw best he can.
ROAR
I’d like to second the suggestion that you look a little further into operations. However, instead of jumping straight into operations on your own layout, find an operating group in your area and attend a few operating sessions so that you can learn what its all about. There are different operating sysytems and one might interest you more than others. Once you find an operating system you like, you can then adopt it for your own layout.
I recently started operating with a group of about 25 to 30 people operating on several local layouts and have learned far more through hands-on training than I ever could reading books. Actually performing the various operating functions provides a lot more information with the added benefits of entertaining activity and social interaction with like-minded people. You’ll end up looking at your layout in a whole new way.
I’m the opposite… I hate building a layout so,when its finish I can obtain the real goal of that work…Operations! Nothing fancy since I build switching layouts instead of loop layouts.
As far as losing interest…Yes,especially during the construction stages!
You are all alone. This has never happened to anyone else. [(-D]
Just kidding. Welcome to the club. It happens to a lot of us. I have had this same conversation with others. For some of us, the thrill is in the construction stage, and the reality of completion leads to a certain degree of frustration. A sort of, now what? I don’t have an answer, but I did want to let you know that you are not alone.
Rich
Yup. Happened to me twice (so far). It lasted several years each time. And then I regained interest. Playing with trains isn’t COMPULSORY. If ya don’t feel like it, it’s just fine not to do it.
When this “event” happens, it should be a positive thing. Which means you’re happily doing something else. Say skiing. Or stamp collecting. You may come back to model railroading. Or you may not. But as long as you’re happily “doing your thing”, that’s great.
If, however, it’s a negative thing, that needs consideration. If, for example, you find yourself unable to do things that you used to be able to do–or you find an irritting lack of energy or enthusiasm about way too many things, I would suggest getting what is politely called “counseling”.
I, for one, am NEVER out of modeling projects. In fact, I kinda tricked The Big Guy when I negotiated to live long enough to finish ALL my projects. So, I find it interesting that your “bin” of interesting projects isn’t automatically refilling. Again, though, it’s OK to take a break. If you’re in the mood.
Also, I strongly recommend maximizing interaction with other people. And model railroaders (many of them, anyway) are people. It can be at varying levels. Joining a club can be very rewarding. And very stressful. But yakkin’ with a guy over at his house while downing a beverage can be VERY pleasant. And even here, on this forum, you can get a goodly bit of interaction (and advice). I now know a whole buncha people here. Some are most wonderful. Some are a bit less. And some are kinda cratchety. &nb
I am still building my ‘empire’ that has consumed the past 7 years; I am 74 now and enjoy the building aspect. I realize that I may never finish the complete layout but if I do, I plan to continue building structures and rolling stock that can be used to ‘update’ current ones or just sell them on Ebay as a ‘continuing’ hobby. Don’t let the running of trains stop you unless you don’t have the interest in the other aspects of the hobby that you obviously ‘endured’ throughout the construction of your layout.
I have enough locomotives (60-70) that I can run each one and not see the same one for a couple of months. I don’t run my trains on any schedule or use any waybill system, I just run them to enjoy them going through the various ‘scenes’ on the layout. My roundhouse and turntable also give me pleasure in their operation and seeing a ‘Big Boy’ rumble onto the turntable and slowly move on through the yard.
Just revisit what you did enjoy in the hobby that got you to where you are now and see if you can’t rekindle some aspect.
-Bob
PS: Hope I never get to where I ‘lose intererst’ in model railroading.
I’ve been on and off for several years. I’m at the point where I am upgrading everything, but I also decedided to expand into another room. It is a life long hobby and I keep coming back to it but I also have other interests which I get boarded with too.
You sound like a goal oriented person. You reached your goal of construction and now you are boarded. Everything gets old after a while and you need a break from it or else someone to rekindle the fire. Maybe you should join a club or find some friends who need help. You could be around people who will restart your interest and there is most likely a lot of building on their layout to keep you busy.
You’ve got a few years on me but I’ve been there many times myself. I’m not into the scheduling/operations thing either and just running trains doesn’t do much for me. I do like everything to work flawlessly when I do run them and I really enjoy the big DCC sound from a Cab Forward climbing my 3½% grades.
With me when I lose interest I resort to restoring clunker locomotives to better than new condition or build up another scratch built catalog home and swap them around on my layout. As mentioned above model railroading is a life long hobby with me too, trains are in my DNA. No trains, No Mel.
I still have some ballast work to do in my yard area so as they say a model railroad is never finished.
My main problem is eBay, there is always something listed that I must have or would be great to restore. That’s when you build a display to house all the junk that won’t fit on your layout. The last year has been the year of the E7s, I have restored a dozen E7s. I can’t possibly run all of them but it’s still model ra
Since you don’t seem interested in operations, I suggest you tear down the current layout and build a new one in a different scale.
Give Proto48 some serious consideration if you like building track. Otherwise On30, O 2-rail, or S may be just the ticket.
Good luck
Paul
I don’t like operations also but I like to build scenery and run my trains. Nothing wrong in what your doing, the whole point of our model trains is to have fun no matter what you like.
Change a portion of your layout, make a new town or building, rearrange some track. Do what you like but most of all have fun.
After working logistics for 36 years that included more than a few adrenaline filled days, Ops on a layout do nothing for me, even though I have tried on more than one occasion to get interested in it.
To me building the layout is what I really like. I want to make a scene look as real as possible and have a train run through it. Watching a train (or two, or three) run through different scenes I find is very relaxing.
I have had periods when I have wondered if I have lost interest in the hobby, but most of the time I get a warm fuzzy feeling, knowing the layout is in the house and I can go in and pick up where I left off any time I wish. It would be much worse if I was always at that stage where all I could do is dream about the layout I hope to have someday.
Well said, Brent.
Rich