My dream layout would be the whole chicago northwestern mainline and branches. I talking the real thing here. I would use Sd9 frames and chassies with ge electrical system from the dash9
How about a large kind of scale outdoor ride on RR! Think about, the chuffing of livesteam locos, the rumble of diesels. All in a 20mi by 30mi area. My real dream.
My dream layout would be much larger than my current one. It would fit in a finished 2-car garage, and be 12’ x 18’. Mostly around the wall with a peninsula. Having 5 main lines would be the fufillment of a dream. [:)] I would also welcome wide curves so my locomotives can negotiate easier.
Lots of rivers
Lots of Mountains
Lots of bridges
Lots of deep cuts
Pastures
small industry
A big Freight Yard
A Big round house
Full of Allegheny’s, Selkirks, Mountains, Northerns, Consolidateds and Mikes
All big enough for the engines to meander for a time without crossing the same track.
My dream layout doesn’t have to be the biggest–I just want it to captivate me each time I’m ready to turn on the power and watch the trains roll. Ideally, I look forward to the day when I can construct, in the basement, a layout with at least one section of it with minimum straightaway of at least 40 feet. This would be a blast, to watch at least four long passenger trains race over the ‘countryside’, before disappearing into tunnels or behind rolling hills or buildings. I’d also like an ‘E’ shaped track plan, with the middle section of the ‘E’ devoted exclusively to a major train station with stub-end tracks and intricate throat trackage. And long coach yards! I’ll have the house with the desired basement soon enough, so maybe this won’t be a dream for much longer after all. Oh: one other modeler said that he would want to be able to operate his layout exclusively if he wanted, and I have to agree that would be very, very important to me as well. It shouldn’t be so complex that I have to seek out five other modelers to help run things. Continuous running and me staring in awe–now that’s a dream layout.
Given the opportunity to model in a larger space with decent headroom and no furnaces and other appliances to negotiate, I think my dream layout would have space for much larger sidings than what I have right now. Trains of much more realistic lengths could be run.
Enough space for: mainline running, branchline operation to a lakeside port, and a working interchange with another road.
All this being said, the layout would be small enough to operate and maintain on my own and not become another workday.
Charles
Hillsburgh Ontario
My first response is, “I’m building it now.”, and in reality I am 'cause this is the BIG one I’ve wanted since I started in the hobby almost 50 years ago, and at this point in my life and situation, I probably ain’t gonna have anything bigger. But since we’re dreaming here, I would like a bigger area than my 24 by 38 foot area mainly to add more scenic opportunities to rural, urban, towns, residential, and industrial areas, in addition to being able to make my scenes a bit deeper and my aisles wider. And oh yeah, longer mainline run between towns and/or switching areas.
And the REALLY big dream – I think it would be super neat to have one of those outside layouts where you can actually ride on the trains (1/8 scale?) built on many acres of land. It would be built like a giant model rr but you could actually operate it closely to the prototype. Major fun, IMO.
Well I haven’t thought of my dream layout in a really long time, but if I can remember correctly, I wanted to model the CP Mainline from Calgary to Vancouver. It would include all the scenery along the route, the tunnels and bridges and everything else. Once it reached the city I would include the entire port of Vancouver with Container Ships and miles of tracks. I had it all calculated out how much space I’d need and if I remember correctly it was in the miles, so if I want this dream to come true I’d need billions of dollars and an army of guys to help me build it, but to see a 100 car train winding its way through the Canadian Rockies would be well worth the time and money.
As a child I was taken to the R.H & D. Miniature Railway almost on an annual basis, if not the largest it is definitely one of the worlds bigger layouts. Lots of live steam, big enough to ride and carry passengers. 13+ real miles of layout space. Serious boredom diversion. http://www.rhdr.org.uk/rhdr/rhdr.html
With money and space not being factors…the Denver & Rio Grande Western in HO scale from Devner to Salt Lake City, complete with branch lines. Could be FUN!!!
Lots of people have dreams of their dream model railroad. If you had unlimted money, space, time, etc. What would your dream model railroad look like?[?][:D]
Why it would look just like the Denver & Rio Grande Western and associated narrow guage lines.
Scale 1:1
Power: coal or wood
Layout area: about 1/2 of the state of Colorado and a good part of Utah!
I am beginning to suspect model railroad layouts are kind of like yachts. Generally people feel larger yachts are better, whoever has the biggest wins. About three weeks ago, the 12 largest yacht in the world was moored about two blocks from my home, owned by Peter somebody at Microsoft. The thing was massive with more electronics than the Canadian Navy. Apparently it is staffed by 30 people.
For me the perfect size yacht is about a 37 foot sail boat. This size is big enough to feel large, but small enough to be single handed. For me, it is important to be able to single hand a boat as sometimes I like to cast the lines lose and just go out in the harbour at night and look at all the lights and activity by myself.
I think it is the same for a layout. I don’t think I would want a layout that really needs eight people to bring it alive. I want to be able to go into the room and run a train by myself and feel satisfied, even if I am alone.
Also for me, having a “completed” layout is important. I don’t want to have a layout that might be done 25 years from now, if ever. I would be happy with a half to two thirds basement layout.
Currently I have an N scale layout in a study, approximately 9 1/2 by 13 feet, not a bad size; but the major limiting factor is the number of operators. I will only be able to have three operators maximum so that is the only item on my current layout I don’t like.
A completed operational layout.
Rick, just for your info, the Tatoosh is owned by Paul Allen, late of Microsoft and was originally built for Craig McCaw. It is 301’ 8". I also saw it sail in before the Indy as my office has a harbour view. Interestingly, it was back for the fireworks finale and, when I was visiting my daughter in Prince Rupert last week, it showed up there. I do know if I had his money, I’d be spending it on my dream model railroad and not a yacht . . .
David
Well, in about one week some large ship is going to moor about a mile from my front door. And it will sink itself so that the main deck is below sea level. Many yatchs will appear and will be floated into the “holding” area, the water drained, the ship raised and the yatchs secured. This large ship will then head to California and Florida with its “cargo”. Some yatchs will disembark in California, the remainder in Florida.
The first time I saw that ship - about three years ago - I knew the yatch owners were people with “real money.” I can’t imagine the cost to ship a yatch up from Florida and back in one season. But I’m sure it makes the CEO of Kalmbach look like the guy living on the wrong side of the tracks…lol!
This one’s easy! [;)]
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Purchase an old Kmart (or whatever) shopping center.
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Set up a mega-layout in N-scale (so more can be modeled). It would be all DCC, feature wireless operation, and have full computer control (with train sensors and video surveillance everywhere for a centralized computerized operation center). All viewing areas would be wired for sound (complete with subwoofers). Lighting would be extensive and simulated different times of the day (and night). Extensive behind the scenes staging areas, workshops, and storage for the 1000’s of locos and cars not in use. Would be able to accommodate a healthy crowd of visitors, be “windowed in” (for layout protection), and yet have enough viewing areas so people would not stack up.
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Open (and designed) for regular public viewing – no or very nominal cost.
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Have an on-site discount hobby shop. Proceeds would fund continuing operations.
Ahhhh, to dream… [^][^]
for now my dream layout is SOMTHING BIGGER THEN MY 4X8.!!! mabey a larger version of my under construction Oklahoma, Mexico, and Gulf clarksvill branch. I would be happy with a 20x20 but that does not seem likely until i have my own house ( I’m only 11 yrs. old 12 in one month).
Alex in the sooner state[:)][:D][8D][;)][8)][^][:p]
Well… I must be the luckiest person in the world as I have a 25ft by 75ft area to build my layout in! The basement is all drywalled and has a drop ceiling. I am doing a prototypical design of the Conrail Low Grade line from Driftwood to East Brady PA in HO. I have over 2600ft of track in so far and am using Digitrax Radio DCC. The scenery is only just been started but have operating sessions every other Thursday night. I have held 3 OP Till U Drop sessions and the next is scheduled for early September.
Yes this is a major project but have been at only 3 years. It is my retirement project (5 years to go, hopefuly) so I feel that I will have the time to get it fairly well completed.
BOB H Clarion, PA
I would just like to have more space than my 10’ X12" trainroom with higher ceilings