When did you begin your layout?

[cnw1995]

I was struck by this question in Neil's editorial in the Sept. CTT - because I can't really remember. I am a relatively recent convert to the hobby - in the late 90s first in N scale - and then to this scale after a gift to myself of a Lionel trainset. But I'm amazed I have kept track of any layout milestones. If you are fortunate to have a layout, when did you begin and what do you consider it's milestones? I don't remember the first train, the last track, etc. Must be getting old... ;)

[Anonymous]

Thanks for bringing it to my attention that I am old and getting senile. My first recollection of train was in a house we moved into around 1947. I have scattered recollection of the house we lived in before that, but train is not among the recollections there. Not to say that there wasn't train there, I just don't remember it. Or, worded another way, I cannot specifically recall a time when there were not trains. Always freight trains, always Lionel, always O guage, always a simple circle or oval. Fast forward to 1983. New house, fairly new wife, even newer daughter. Saw a Lionel ad of a 1951 freight consist that struck a chord, because I had that exact train as a child, commented on it, wife found it in an old toy train store and bought it, and the rest is history. So, modern train history for Doug was probably Christmas 1984. I have a Lionel switcher that I bought for my daughter in a NYC repair train set that was manufactured in 1983. We were not yet settled in the house for Christmas 1983, or that would be my hypothesis. We built on Lionel tubular for the next few years, adding various pieces. The most impressive was an MTH rendition of the Western & Atlantic "The Texas" given to me by my wife and daughter. It had PS1, but I had an old ZW and couldn't control it. (No bell control). Thinking about it, I think the Texas was post Andrew, a small windstorm by which people who lived here in August 1992 reckon time. Andrew poured salt water on all my tubular, and I bit the bullet and went to RealTrax about 1994 (the tubular was really tough to clean). We ran on the living room carpet until about 2003, when I bought a Z-4000 and started building a two track oval eight on a sheet of plywood. That's where I am now. We still go to the living room at Christmas, but the oval eight runs all year in what used to be my daughters dance studio.

[eZAK]

I started my current layout in 1998.
Finished track in '99.
Revised it in '00.
Started upper level and mountains in '01
Started town in '02.
Revised upper level & added bridges in '03.

Doug,
You need to start writing thigs down [:)]
Started yard and more revisions in '04.
Completed yard, TT, Rnd Hse in '05.

[Jumijo]

Would you believe - Saturday? I starting cutting used 2x4's for the benchwork sometime very early Saturday afternoon (8/13/05). I was going to buy a bunch of 1x4's for the benchwork, but since I already had the 2x4's lying under my deck (last year's deconstruction), I decided to recycle them. So what if they had some old nails in them. So what if they have peeling paint. The wood is still solid. The plywood tabletops were also recycled 1/2" 4x8 sheets left over from my neighbor's recent addition construction. They were going to throw them out! I'm going to mark the underside of the tables with the start date for posterity.

I'm planning to have the area under the table looked finished. Maybe some painted beadboard would be nice. There will also be shelves for storage.

Jim

[Big_Boy_4005]

I actually started construction my current layout at my pervious home, though at the time I didn't know it. That layout was just in it's very beginning stages, and only the hidden yard was done.

In 2000 I moved, and took the yard with me, to be used in my current layout. As it turned out, it all had to be adjusted to fit the new space, so in a way I had to start nearly from scratch.

Serious construction started in 2003, prior to that it was just picking and poking. It's a good thing that digital photos have a date stamp. You can view it by right clicking on the photo, and selecting properties. It won't tell you the date the image was created, but it will say when it was uploaded from the camera. For me, that's usually the same day.

March 2003



May 2005

[palallin]

I have nearly finished room prep and am well into the Graphite Central stage. I hope to saw boards early this fall. Benchwork will include bookcases, a work table and supply/tool storage (since I had to rip out some book shelves, a storage cabinet, and my model work desk in order to make room). I plan to hav e at least a temporary lop by Christmas.

My biggest hold up at the moment is that I am still trying to verify that my dual gauge track idea will work. Several switches for testing purposes are on the way, so I should have the preliminary conclusions by the time I have to decide whether I can use the 24" radius Atlas 2 rail track or will be forced to use 027-profile 042 track.

[ChiefEagles]

Which one????? The upstairs 4X8 one when I was 7 [1953], the basement one at old house [1975 thru 85], the apartment one [1985], the 4X8 one to slide under Frankie's bed [HO 1986 thru recently], the carpet one in spare bedroom [March 2004] and the big one in the spare bedroom WELL!!!!!????? [soon [;)]].

[FJ and G]

I've lost track of time. I've started as many layouts as I have novels and am beginning to feel I'll never complete either one

[tmcc man]

i am in the planning stages of a permanent layout right now. it will be approx. 12by8by4, and will be Lshaped

[Anonymous]

Luckily my memory stretches all the way back to April of this year. I struggled for a few months prior with bench level a shelf layout decissions along with whether to go O gauge or Standard. I chose O gauge on a plate rail shelf so as not to overpower our humble sized family room yet still give me enough layout space for more than a simple circle of track. At present all the track is laid with only a section over LayZBoy Canyon bridge to be permanently attached. I've learned loads about soldering without melting Atlas ties, troubleshooting engine woes on #5 switches and the general hanging of 300-400 lbs of layout on 4 walls. I even surprised myself that a homemade bridge of curtain rod and extruded aluminum "L" can support 2 trains without bending it's 8' span....all without a degree in engineering. Next comes the installation of signals and other train activated lights before I move on to scenery.

Bruce Webster

[Anonymous]

Started with a 4x8 plywood layout in 1962 I think. I was 9 years old. Ren the wheels off an old Marx train. Still have it. Remember buying some extra cars and switches at Sears. My older brother was an electronics whiz so he wired it for me. Had that thing for years.
Somewhere around 1985 I set up a little larger layout and started buying some Engines and assorted stuff.
First large layout was in Willis, Tx in 1993. It was a L shape 14x8 along the large fixed glass windows we had in that house. Put a park bench outside so the neighbors out walking could stop and watch the trains.
Current layout started about 18 mts ago. It's a 12 x 24 U shape with a walkway up the middle. Track and switches are all installed . Am currently accumulating scenery to try and finish it this winter/spring...Tim

[wrmcclellan]

8x12 - started in 1998. About 90% complete. Have been stalled on details completion but I run it a lot.

So Doug - do we need another post - "will it ever be finished?"

Elliot - good to see you here. Glad to hear you are still progressing on your new layout!

Regards,
Roy

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wrmcclellan

8x12 - started in 1998. About 90% complete. Have been stalled on details completion but I run it a lot.

So Doug - do we need another post - "will it ever be finished?"

Elliot - good to see you here. Glad to hear you are still progressing on your new layout!

Regards,
Roy

Thanks Roy, the reason I haven't been posting more is I've been working on the layout more.[:D]

[cnw1995]

LOL, Roy. Well said. Frankly, in my personal experience, I don't think a layout is ever completed. Or rather, when I've felt it 'done' - I usually muse about starting over again - a point I have not reached with my layout - so much to do / fix on it.

[Roger Bielen]

I completed construction of the trainroom, i.e. painted walls, ceiling and lighting in, and carpet down and covered with plastic in Feb. 2000. I started benchwork and painting the scenery on the walls March 1, 2000. Major construction has been done since late 2003 and I'm at the stage where I add some details as the mood strikes or an idea comes to mind.

[IronHoarse]

Construction of my layout started around May 1 of this year. It is 4' x 17' in size. At one end it has a small yard with two sidings and three lights. The other end has a mountain and a truss bridge that crosses a ravine. As soon as I get two more switches it will have a passing loop at the end where the yard is. I also have a gantry crane in the yard. I am rather new at this so I only have two trains at the present time. I plan on adding some operating accessories in the spring and maybe an elevated section with a third train on it.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Phase I was started in 1999 when Mrs Buckeye said that the train board under the Christmas tree was getting to be a real pain in the butt and why didn't I set it up permanently in the room over the garage. About two seconds later I was at the computer ordering software to design the track.
2003

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Planning started in fall of 03, started construction March 05. Track and accesories in place and in operation to ensure proper operation before landscaping. Landscaping start, maybe September. No rush, just having fun.
Jim

[Anonymous]

Hello All : Started in 1995 ( Had a layout in 67 -75 ) Dismanteled in 2004, hope to start building in Oct. if basement is finished. Buckeye: Unfortunately you have to keep your eye on the South or you might be finished. Chief : You spend too much time keeping the pot stirred or you might be at least off of the floor. [(-D] Regards Steve

[daan]

I made layouts as soon as I started to walk :-).. but my present layout has started this year, after finding the four routes trackplan in the CTT and after redrawing it into proportions that fitted my space.
I started 0 gauging last year, after a find on a local buy/sell internetpage from a legoseller in germany..
The first layout was on the atticfloor, and after that several layouts on a benchwork construction. Begin this year I've redone the table and started to build a landscape..

[rlplionel]

I began my present pike in 1993. I started with a single 4x8 train table which I eventually expanded to encompass the entire 17' x 19' train room. Also added a second level with O72 curves to handle prewar streamliners.

Like many of you, I couldn't recall layout milestones. I started my toy train website in 1999 and, to keep web visitors returning to my site, decided to add monthly layout updates beginning in the year 2000. While the updates are there for all to read, I think I did them more for myself than anyone else. I now have a record for the last five years of layout development/maintenance that I can refer back to when I feel like reminiscing.

Robert
http://home.surewest.net/rlplionel/Robert.htm

[Anonymous]

We moved into our new house (not brand new, new to us) in September of 2002 and the layout began at the end of that year. The track plan has stayed pretty much the same since it was first setup with the exception of changing out some O42 curves with O54. I also added a run behind the furnace and have worked in some O27-O54-O72 curves in my inner loop to reduce layouts on just O27 curves. I have changed all but 6 switches to the K-line (O-27) low profile ones - they have cut down on the derailments tremendously and also look and work better. The layout plan is below, see my website for pictures.

[Anonymous]

Completed work on my high, 5-track shelf railroad in January--March 1992. Started my benchwork layout here in the Condo in 2000. No substantial work on it in 3 years due to health problems, but can run trains on 2 tracks.

[palallin]

We held a simple "first screw" ceremony (as opposed to a "last spike") at 6:30 pm CDT this past Sunday, 8/28. Starting with the youngest, everybody got to turn the screwdriver one or more times on attaching the first L-girder to its support. By 8 pm last night, most of the benchwork for the first section had been finished. On the side facing the outer aisle, there will be two bookcases and a cabinet under the layout. The cabinet is an older piece of furniture which stores my modelling tools and supplies; the first bookshelf section is also finished.

We're making physical prgress!

[RRCharlie]

I am on my 4th layout. First from 1948-1962. A 4x8 table that grew to take up half the basement of my childhood home. Second from 1963-1966 in a spare room in an apartment about 8x8. Third from 1967-1971 in the home I bought in 1967. Fourth was begun in 1971 in a room 8 x 9 feet. Crawl under to get to center of room. 2nd level added after a couple of years. 3rd level a little later. Fourth level built on 2x4 frame hung from chains from the ceiling to run old Lionel pre-war standard gauge. Fifth level built on top of level three when Century Club Niagara arrived and I needed wider curves. Put in the lift bridge. Moved it a year later in preparation for the swing bridge. Had to cut hole in paneling and plaster to make enough room for swing bridge to operate. I run Lionel Pre-war, Lionel post war through present, American Flyer S gauge, HO gauge, N gauge, Z gauge, and LGB. Oh yes--it's not finished yet. Have two loops side by side above windows and doors in dining room with two more loops to come suspended underneath. My wife approves which is the greatest!!!

[Anonymous]

I've had my layout up since 2002 it was 75% complete and running fine. Then i decided to tear it down and wait till my daughter gets married so i could take over her huge room to expand. My layout was outside in a 12 x 19' shed to seasonal i want to move it indoors.

[Anonymous]

I did my first layout with my brother, gave it up in 1971. I just got back into things, and I'm in the planning stage of a layout in our living room. Here's some pics:

http://guzdziol.tripod.com/mrr.htm

My latest idea - use casters on the legs so I can slide it out away from the wall to work on the back half of the layout. Any thoughts on doing that, or any other suggestions?

[zwbob]

January 2004-benchwork

March2004-double track man line in place and powered,able to run trains

Spring and summer 2004-put in sidings and started ballast(on rainy days)

Fall 2004 to present-scenery

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jobiwan


My latest idea - use casters on the legs so I can slide it out away from the wall to work on the back half of the layout. Any thoughts on doing that, or any other suggestions?

My layout is on casters so that I can move it to work on the backside. Make sure the legs are x braced and knee braced. Purchase casters that can handle the weight of your layout. That's about all there is to it. Very simple.[:)]

[FJ and G]

Doug.

Began about 3 weeks ago and it is now complete except for some grass and trees, which I'm scouting the forest for this week.