Hello all, this is a question I’ve been mulling about in my head. I’ve been in this hobby off and on for 20 years, and by and large, most layout concepts I’ve had have been freelance. The problem being that with the exception of the very first one, I haven’t gotten past the wiring stage. I’ve built layouts with a lot of operating in mind, and ones that are scenery based (in concept).
What usually happens is I get to the wiring stage, and get it about halfway done, when I see another concept (different era, locale, etc…) I get distracted and want to pursue that idea, instead of the one I’ve already halfway built. ( I have managed to recycle most track and lumber, so all is not lost monetarily)
My latest one I’ve concocted is a modern southwestern rr, with the name derived from my grandfather’s name, since he was into trains as much as I am. As much as I’d like to build something with this concept in mind, I’m hesitant because of how my other attempts have gone.
My question is, what was different about the layouts you’ve completed versus the ones you haven’t (not counting because of moving)? What made the concept “stick” and keep you building instead of seeing something else and changing your mind again?
LION has had layouts as a cub at his parent’s lair, but since coming to North Dakota, I have built three layouts. The first was removed because the room I was in was renovated and re purposed.
I found a new space, a former classroom 24x27 feet. My first layout there was the Eregion Railroad, but I built it far too complicated, and could no longer maintain it, and actually never really ever finished it.
Well my current level was conceived as a “Commuter Railroad” but during its construction inexpensive plastic subway cars became available, and I shifted the whole theme of the layout. The main line was increased to four tracks, more of the layout will be underground, but then the lower level along the walls was supposed to be staging anyway.
Do not be afraid to pull things out and make changes, but keep the thing moving.
I at least finished the wiring and had trains running on all my layouts I have built since I was a kid (which was a long time ago).
Most had limited scenery!
I built my first HO layout in an 8 1/2 x 11 room and I had all the track and turnouts wired and was running Operations and very little scenery started (as scenery doesn’t make a great running layout).
But I stopped working on this layout when I joined a Club
Why work on such a small layout when I had 2000 sq ft to play with!
I finally purchased a 2500 sq ft basement with a house and began my latest layout .
Again the Trackwork DCC and OPERATIONS came first - But this time the Scenery is getting done as this is my last layout as I am retired now and I can devote 40 hours a week to the layout.
And one this size will require a bit of work!
I am also doing a prototypical layout so the research of the prototype makes for a much more interesting layout instead of just throwing track down and hoping for the best!
I guess the concept stuck because the concept I chose was more interesting that most other concepts. I also think that the layout design had a lot to do with it as well. I have tried to build my layouts with operation in mind at the start, but also realized that once the track was down and running, I had to get the round and round thing out of my system before I could move on.
I also think DCC control has a lot to do with how fast the wiring gets done these days. Since you don’t have to have block switches to be able to run more than one train, it makes it a lot easier.
My self analysis (contemplates navel) says the reasons why I haven’t changed my themes all that much:
I never got into diesels beyond the 1st (possibly 2nd generation). They just don’t appeal to me.
My time, space, and money constraints for model railroading have always been pretty severe. So I just cross off modeling Class 1 right off the bat as not cmpatible with these constraints. Do I occasionally wish for a 12 car streamline passenger set? Yes, but then I look at the cost and size of the layout required to enjoy such a train, and go back to my short lines and narrow gauge. Same with large articulated steam. I found I can be just as happy with a 4-4-0, 2-6-0, Shay or Climax with less than a dozen cars behind it. So my budget, time , and space constraints reinforce my choice of theme.
I’m not afraid to alter things without altering the primary theme as my interests have changed over the years. I’ve introduced narrow gauge in addition to standard gauge short line, and have tightened down on the era over the years. Now that I live in Colorado, I find Colorado influences creeping into my coastal Oregon theme. And I’m OK with that.
Modeling an era that is outside of personal memory takes lots of very interesting research to understand the times, and why things were done the way they were done. Superimposing today’s values on the era often fails to properly explain the culture. I have to understand their priorities and values, as well as the technology of the day, to understand their decisions.
Modeling a plausible free-lanced prototype requires more thorough understanding than just following a known prototype. The imagineering (to quote Disney) is a lot of fun.
I’ve never “finished” even a small layout. Moves or changes in family circumstances, along with excessive procratination, have always forced me to
Go small. The small layouts I have built get further along faster. If you have a big space design it so that you can build a small part to start. Wire it and scenic and then move onto the next section.
Or, go big but get the mainline in first and start running trains. Add other track and wire in easy stages. Then scenery. Even if you don’t finish, at least you ran some trains. That happened with my 11x18 two layouts ago.
Or build 2 or more layouts at the same time with different eras, themes, scales, or whatever and switch between them as your interests shift around. I’m trying this one out now - one layout is 5x12 and the other is 12x31. The little one is so I get some trains running and have a little operating fun.
It’s a personal connection that keeps me going. Modelling the trains that my grandfather rode when he was young and in love with the woods plants a seed. Running said trains through the territory I walked with him during his sunset years waters the shoots.
There’s more to it too, something ineffable. It’s some weird compulsion that you feel, some ‘pull’ that keeps drawing you back to a particular concept. I can’t explain it, but you’ll know it when you feel it. It won’t override anything else you try, but it will keep calling you back. Quietly. Persistently.
My basic concept has been set in stone since September, 1964, when my family (self, wife and two toddlers) spent two weeks in a place that I quickly decided to model. Prior to that time I had worked up a couple of ‘interim’ layouts and gotten them developed to operational status, but the nomadic life that I was leading simply didn’t lend itself to permanent layout construction.
Since 1964 I have concentrated on getting ready for the big one - sketching scenes, acquiring appropriate rolling stock, covering reams of paper with layout designs large, small and in between. However, most of my running was done on club rails, as was most of my active construction. Through that, I never deviated from my intended course.
Finally, in 2004, my dream acquired a home. Two years later I was given title to the entire two car garage. Since then, the layout has been growing (slowly) and operations are carried on within the limitations of available track and facilities. While progress is somewhere between snail and arthritic turtle (which I resemble) it’s all in a uniform direction and aimed at a consistent goal.
I don’t know that I changed my mind between layouts but that I wanted to try different things. For a “final” real layout I had planned on encorporating them all: large industry (steel), mainline highspeed rail, branch line (short line feel), interchange, passenger/express switching, and way frieght. However; getting involved volunteering with a large layout like I was planning on building and seeing how much it takes to maintain and run the thing, I don’t think I could ever nor would ever want to attempt that, so I’m back to the drawing board again.
Since you asked, I have had a layout since I was six months old (built by my locomotive engineer father). that was Lionel.
During my last few years of college I statred looking at HO and fell in love with it. In fact, my dorm room had a sheet of plywood and a layout under the bed. When I graduated in 1961, I moved from Oklahoma to Topeka Ks where I went to work for the Santa Fe in the Topeka GOB from 1961 until 1970. I worked a third shift in the Supt. of Car Service office, learned a lot about routings and movements (at the same time I was an ordained minister serving a small church that couldn’t afford me. Santa Fe decided I should go to IBM school and when I finished all those classes I was a programmer in DP. I had an HO layout all those years in Topeka that was a freelance railroad. I took an offer from the Federal Reserve in KC in 1970 to join their new computer/information department as an analyst/programmer. From that day, until now, I remained in Kansas City serving small churches as a pastor while programming/systems work for the Fed. I built one freelanced layout when I first moved to KC, the Mojave Western which had a theme, plan, color scheme and purpose. In 1983 I decided I wanted to model Santa Fe in Oklahoma. That layout was started in the basement of our new home and has remained my only layout since then. It is a three deck, helix connected railroad serving the old Oklahoma line from Oklahoma City to Guthrie on the top deck, Guthrie to Enid and Kiowa/Waynoka on the bottom two decks.
I guess I planned well as that layout is still running, has been updated with DCC and other goodies but is still the same basic railroad. Lots of big grain elevators, the old Champlin refinery at Enid and so forth. I set my era as 1989-1990. The layout also has the BN modeled in the Enid District
I guess I am trying to say that planning and purpose gave me a layout that is finished (
Thanks for all your feedback guys. I do feel the compulsion, like a slow pull, towards one over all the others. While I find certain themes attractive, I think my latest, because it was really created with my grandfather in mind, has more of a personal pull than any of the others. Yes I enjoy the creating aspect of it, but none of them had a “personal” connection until the latest one. The reporting marks and name are derived from his initials and his love of halloween, and some of the towns are named after my other grandparents.
I also like the idea of building 2 small layouts at once, so I can get the non-conforming stuff out of my system, and still have the main theme I want to pursue.
Thanks again guys, I really appreciate your feedback.
Hence small layouts, perhaps not bigger than 4x4 or maybe a 2x8. With the lumber track I’ve salvaged, I shouldn’t have to buy anything, and I like the idea of keeping one generic and changing the theme as I see fit. Thanks again for all your ideas and suggestions guys!
Have you thought about building modules instead of a permanent layout? If there isn’t a modular club close to you, you could go the Free-Mo route (nation-wide standard so no matter where you are, there is sure to be a group close by and operating on a large layout every once in a while is really cool).
If not into the modular thing, how about a novelty layout? Buy some cheap trains at a show, some sectional track and keep it simple - no ballast, track not glued, etc. Scenery could be Lego, painted boxes (great for kids to do), etc. This is a ‘play’ layout, turn it on and let it make circles while you work on your ‘real’ layout. You can try out different track arrangements because it’s sectional and not fixed down (I have found that a piece of tape on the bottom of the ties keeps track together and is easy to change). Realistic operations can still be had; operations is dependent on track arrangement, not scenery or scale and what you learn here can be used on your ‘real’ layout and it shouldn’t cost you much and once you’re done, you can hand off the ‘play’ trains and track to a beginner to lure another into this hobby.
It’s the journey, not the destination; as long as you enjoy your time spent working on your railroad, it doesn’t matter if you ever finish.
It has been about a year since “Philosophy Friday” but this thread seems somewhat in that mold. More than half a century ago, and two or three years after my dad died and mom sold off his (our) Lionel because my brother and I were becoming teenagers, too old for toys, I started fiddling with a little HO bought with my allowance and summer job money. My concept then was 2-rail trains and scratchbuilt cardboard buildings that didn’t look like a “standard” train set. A loop, a siding or two and a cardboard village made up a start. But I saw pictures of John Allen’s Gorre and Daphetid and liked the idea of a layout with spectacular mountain scenery, and some old timey trains I had never had on my Lionel layout. CONCEPT: A vaguely Colorado setting with around 2 ½ walls of a garage room with a tall curved timber trestle in one corner. Got as far as 4 feet of track and a couple spurs in the flat town portion. WHY ABANDON? Poor skills, college, girls and student filmmaking. But I dabbled in reading model railroader and rode a lumber mill shortline mixed train in east Texas. One developing concept was a layout with a sense of place. Several kinds of places to mode sparked interests- mountains, backwoods shortline, Santa Fe streamliner in the southwest. I bought an N scale boxcar or two and a Pullman, scratchbuilt a wood house to see if it could be done in N. Took a train and mountain studying trip to Colorado. Not ready for my “serious” layout, but built a 2x4 foot N mountain layout for a friend’s kid with a loop of track and a couple spurs.
Built a 3 foot by 11 foot HO layout for a friend who had some HO trains but never put together a layout. A crude attempt at spectacular scener
