Toy train operating and collecting

As I look at my 4x8 layout, I've decided to build a new 5x8.  I will encorporate some Dept. 56 buildings on the layout and will use some of the items on my existing layout.  I've been planning this in my head for ... let's just say a LONG time.

So as I think of the steps that are ahead of me, I get overwhelmed ... and in the past ... this is as far as I usually get.  Then when I think to myself that I should go get started - BAMM, the kids want to go to Dairy Queen ... and I usually give in.  Another evening of new layout time gone.  Not that I don't appreciate the time with my kids, but I need to stop "thinking" about the new layout and actually "start" doing it.

How many of you actually schedule "Train" time for yourself on the family calendar?

nap time is the only time i get much of anything done.  If the family has anything that they need to do, it takes priority.  it has taken 3 months just to get time to build benchwork.  I am going for a simple carpet layout just so I can get trains running again with my son.  He asks about them almost daily.  Once this is up, I'll make sure I always have at least one loop up on the benchwork to give him something to do. 

Wes

 I'm in pretty much the same boat as Wes. I lived in this house for about a year before I got my tables set up. And the table tops were built already (from our previous layout)!  I've had them up for two years now, and still haven't gotten much of the wiring done.

 During the school year I can usually sneak in an hour in the train room before my wife and daughter get home. The trick to this is breaking a task into hour sized bits. One day I might pull wires from point A to point B under the layout. The next I might hook up everything at point B, and the third day hook up everything at point A. Naturally after three hard days of work like this, I'll spend the fourth day "testing" everything and hopefully enjoying the results.

Neat topic. I hope more people chime in on this one.

J White

Summer time is oh-so-hard to get cranking on a railroad.  But, it is an excellent time to start planning what you like.  Keep a sketch pad or marble lab book nearby, and start drawing ideas.  Even pick up a track template to check your dream against reality.  Start hunting and gathering your buildings and scenery materials now as well.  Decide on what season you want to model in too, which will help narrow your scope.  I would set a goal of starting by Halloween, and be up and running by Thanksgiving.  You want to have things near complete by the holidays, and you'd be surprised how much you can get done when people are coming over to check out your display.

Or, get Whitmore to sell you his old dogbone layout I still loved.

Ouch Fife...that hurt...I wish I never tore that one down.  All I have is videos to remember her by...

Wes

Fifedog - you hit the spike right on it's head!

I guess my biggest fear is that if I dismantle my current layout that I won't have anything to show my nieces and nephews when the holidays roll around.

Then again, a well designed ... let's call it a ... methodology should help give me a few millstones on the calendar with a project completion date.

Interestingly enough, I brought this topic up with my other half last night.  Gently, she said, "You know, there are other projects around the house that need to get done too."  There has to be some kind of balance here.  Home projects never end - we all know that.  To me, it means I'll never get any "Train-Time!"

I like the idea of a design notepad.  Detailed steps will help in that I could complete "Quick Steps" - knocking off small items in short amounts of time.  I see it as a Micro-Divide and Conquer technique.

Great input gentlemen!

Taking "Train-Time" when I can get it ...

For me train time is during naps or after the kids are asleep for the night. I do however have my weekly work session on Wednesday nights which helps to get me motovated to do stuff and also gets stuff done!