My layout, the Poco Valley, is over 30 years old. I designed it with operation in mind, and it was virtually finished many years ago. I still add signals, lights, more figures, etc. from time to time, but it is operated in a prototypical fashion every week or so, sometimes alone, but usually with a group of five or six. We still love it, and wouldn't think of taking it down.
Ken Nelson, Poco Valley Railroad
Hi!
I believe the answer is fairly obvious. The layout is "done" when you begin to dismantle it - for whatever reason.
Since the mid '50s I've built a couple of O, an N, and a few HO layouts, and while some may have looked "done", there was always something to add - typically details and upgrades to structures or scenery.
Only when I tore them down, were they considered "done".
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Once your layout is done (whatever that means to you, personally), begin taking photos of it. Not just snapshots, but try to make them worthy of printing in a magazine. Write about your layout as if it was in a magazine, or have an objective person (your significant other perhaps?) write the faux article and send it all in to Model Railroader and see if they are interested in printing it. Does MR pay authors for sumissions? Use that money to buy more models.
Keep your home layout up as long as it makes you happy. Look for modular club's and get involved with them. Free-Mo is always an option too; design and build a module, take it to a 'local' setup and enjoy the weekend running trains on a different layout which you helped build (by using your new module). After your first setup, plan a new module for your second setup. Free-Mo setups are a nice weekend away from your home...it's a great excuse to take your wife to a new town and do some sightseeing and railfanning.
Just being around new people may give you ideas on how else you can enjoy this hobby. It's always nice to have a finished layout you can run trains on while you work on a new project. Free-Mo modules make up most of my layout and I take whatever module sets I wish to local setups...sometimes 1 module and sometimes all 10.
http://delray1967.shutterfly.com/pictures/5
SEMI Free-Mo@groups.io
I never met anyone whose layout was done.
Ken Vandevoort
I too love the building part and am not much of a train operator. My layout is pretty simple loops with an emphasis on the scenery and scenes. I am set in modern time with a fictional small town built at the foot of the mountains. This gives me mountains, town and farm for a diversity of interests. I am about 25% done with everything but I can see me hitting a wall when it's fully "scened" :).
I have seen a lot of layouts for sale on eBay and Craigslist so you might want to consider that if you're still weighing options. I've built a few structures that didn't fit well in my scene and I simply sold them on eBay. Now, I order cool buildings just to build them to sell them on eBay... Like I said, I love the building part. I don't make a profit, I do it to keep me busy when I am not working on my empire.
This discussion shows the diversity of members here. Personally, I really, REALLY dislike the planning stage. I did plan, however, and build. Then, after a good hard look, I went back and tore out about 60 percent of the track that was laid, (all switches hand laid) cuz it didn't flow like I thought it would, and actually wasted a lot of "real estate" Well, it had looked good on paper...
So I rearranged and relaid the above amount, and it was a huge improvement. It improved train operations, looked better, and added space for a roundhouse and TT, and had room for more structures and nicer proportioned scenery.
Then I was looking at one long siding I'd added going up a steep grade. That "one too many" siding. Out it came, the grade became a vehicle road coming into the layout, and that was the point where the whole layout suddenly looked balanced. Especially regarding scenery. There were some other smaller adjustments too. So the layout is a product more of evolution, some of which has been painful, rather than good original planning, try as I might have.
Tear it out and start THAT process again? No thanks. There's enough building and scenicking potential to last the rest of my life right here, now. But that's just me.
KisNap No model train layout is ever done. Once you hit that saturation level, it just means that major changes can't be made. Have you installed road lights, operating crossing gates, working signals, telephone lines. The list is endless and when all else fails you can redesign the town.
No model train layout is ever done. Once you hit that saturation level, it just means that major changes can't be made. Have you installed road lights, operating crossing gates, working signals, telephone lines. The list is endless and when all else fails you can redesign the town.
Rich
Alton Junction
My Z scale briefcase layout has hit the major change saturation point so my next project on it is the working crossing gates, a working signal, and a spinning merry-go-round. The type you find in a playground where the kids push it around with the feet.
Can you post a picture of your layout?
The N scale section of my website is now uploaded with a lot of various things. Check it out: www.CarlettaTrains.com
Hi. I constantly try to get out of my comfort zone... I ultimately would like to get to a point where I could build everything from scratch. That for me will never be achieved in my lifetime. But it will keep me busy. I also build things for the local club, and will eventually build portable stuff in other scales...
Simon
I have a good size layout and am about 75% done; all trackwork is done, buildings are about 50% done and scenery is about 40-50% done. I often think about 'getting to the end of the tunnel' when I realize how much I have already finished, but I like building models (structures and rolling stock) as much as any phase of the hobby. I have a problem of NOT building models that I don't keep but sell on Ebay. This has caused me to let the layout go for a while so I can indulge in my other hobby (which also supports my railroad needs!). I now look forward to the day when I can build other models while running my finished layout. I also assume I will be replacing or upgrading other buildings on the layout with newer and better ones as my skills improve.
If you enjoy any phase of the hobby more than others, why not pursue them as a second hobby and maybe even as a small business. Just a thought.
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
UNCLEBUTCH My wife was looking at my most recent build, and commeted that I had only room for 2-3 more buildings. After takeing a good look, I reailze she"s right. So,,after every square inch of table top is under track,buildings, trees or road, what then? I can't expand anymore, I guess you could super detail, but that's mostly a buy and place type of thing. I can't believe I'm the only one who built himself into a corner. To just run trains is fine, but I think I would lose interest soon. Do we tear it all down and start over?
My wife was looking at my most recent build, and commeted that I had only room for 2-3 more buildings. After takeing a good look, I reailze she"s right.
So,,after every square inch of table top is under track,buildings, trees or road, what then? I can't expand anymore, I guess you could super detail, but that's mostly a buy and place type of thing. I can't believe I'm the only one who built himself into a corner.
To just run trains is fine, but I think I would lose interest soon.
Do we tear it all down and start over?
There have been a few comments about the investment you've made in your layout.
Really, there two investments.
The money and your time.
For most of us, both of these can be considerable.
But if you find you're not getting the same satisfaction out of running and there's little more to do as far as constructiuon is concerned, you may very well have reached the point where starting over is the best option.
The pros and cons of tearing your layout down and starting over have been covered.
But if I may, I'd like to offer a couple of other ideas you may want to consider.
You may want to think about changing eras, geographic location and even scale.
A move a couple of years ago meant taking my large HO scale layout down.
I sold everything.
I had made the decision that the next layout would be smaller and thought I'd take a close look at N scale.
I was pleasently surprised at the improvement in quality and detail from what was available a few years earlier and decided, that for me, it was the right choice.
I stayed with the same era and geographic area. But the change to N scale has worked well for me.
That's one of the great things about this hobby. We can made significant changes in what we do and still enjoy it.
None of these options may be right for you, but I'd respectfully suggest that if you do decide to re-build, take a little time to consider all the options you have.
Also, never think of tearing a layout down and starting over as anything but an opportunity to take the lessons you've learned to make the next layout even better.
Keep current inside layout and move to the outside with a garden RR that runs through your plants, bushes and trees. If done right, it will involve your wife doing landscaping her flowers in with your track.
I did something like this by building my mainline first and then going back and adding various sidings. Landscaping is NEVER done because the landscapes change with the season and there is always something new to plant.
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's
You need to rethink that unused fruit cellar and build another layout there. Maybe in a different scale just to be more interesting.
Or build a heated/cooled shed in the backyard.
Or build a second level.
Do you really use dining room?
There's always a way to build more layout.
Good luck
Paul
Hi
You only have two opptions because every layout reaches a point where this descision has to be made.
Option one part ripdown and up grade using better products and techneques that are now avalable that where not back whenever.
This can fix some of the bits your not happy about and bring new things into play.
Or option two total rip down and start again making sure everything reusable is saved for reuse.
regards John
You join the OpSIG and get social. Run trains with friends on their layouts, then invite them to operate on yours.
Then the conversation starts about what yu like and don't like, so you can make improvements to your layouts from the good observations running trains on the other layouts.
Then you join the LDSIG and read about new and unique ideas about layout desings and decide whether it's time to start over, over modify what you have.
Travers, 7-22-16
I have a similar problem. I designed my small 8x8 layout when I didn't know much about prototype running. It's almost completely scenicked, but I get bored with the round and round stuff. I'm determined to start a new one, but I want to be smarter about it this time. You could try what I'm doing. Make a new track plan, but only do a section at a time. I'm going to start with the grain elevator and corresponding yard. I'll be able to operate it as a switching layout under my existing one. Once that part is completed, I will dismantle the existing layout and continue so I don't have to be completely without something to operate.
richhotrain Tear it all down and start over. Just think of all the fun that you will have in designing and building a new layout. Sounds like a lot more fun than detailing stuff or building new scenes. Go for it! Rich
Tear it all down and start over.
Just think of all the fun that you will have in designing and building a new layout.
Sounds like a lot more fun than detailing stuff or building new scenes.
Go for it!
Rich,my pal, I will never understand that logic. We pour thousands of dollars building a layout buying cars ,locomotives,scenery material etc,etc,etc and so on and when finish some tears it out.Now if the track and switches can't be salvage there's hundreds or thousands of dollars more buying replacement track switches ballast and roadbed.
Even my small ISLs see use for several months simply because my hobby pocket has never been that deep(my late wife always said I was Ebeneser Scrooge when spending my hobby dollars) and I think that pocket may have shrunk since retirement..
Whatever floats one's rowboat.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I should start out by pointing out that the title of this thread goes against everything I've ever read in MR magazine since I was in Jr High in the 1970's. Your title says: "What do we do when it's done?"
You sir are in error Have you not heard the belabored slogan? "A Model Railroad is Never Finished"?
If you have been around the hobby for very long, you surely know the options:
1) Operate2) Tear part down and re-do3) Tear all down and build a totally new one.
So my guess is you posted this because you wanted people to convince you of one of the above. IMO, thats totally up to you.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
You can even add some ''fun'' scene's.....they don't have to be permanant.....great attraction for the wee' Modeler's.
The Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago has a few scene's on it that a lot of people overlook...... but the kid's see them! One such scene in the city, has people waiting at a bus stop. One older lady is sitting on a bus stop bench. with other people standing...sitting next to Her on the bench, sits a ''cow'' reading a newspaper. Many other scene's as well. Push buttons...kids height, to open and close drawbridges for street traffic, etc.
Take Care!
Frank
I'm never done with mine. I just add more detailing. I have many details to build/model for my transloading yard, such as dry bulk trucks, augers, conveyors, my AMTRAK station, my street scenes, my locomotives and cars, refreshing landscape details, (such as static grass), it goes on and on!
Mike.
My You Tube
UNCLEBUTCHTo just run trains is fine, but I think I would lose interest soon. Do we tear it all down and start over?
Food for thought. You spend $XXXXX amount of dollars on lumber,track,buildings scenery materials,vehicles etc,etc. Then you spent $XXXXX amount on cars,locomotives ,KD couplers metal wheels etc.
After all that investment run trains and get a return on your thousands of dollars investment.You can always add details to the layout like working crossing gates,signal cabinets, working block signals add interior and people to those vacant buildings,place drivers in your cars and trucks,then add license plates,DOT decals to your big rigs add Dumpsters to your industries,add rip rap like blade covers from disposable razors for machinery.Weather your cars and locomotives.
Or you can rip out that $XXXX amount and spend $XX,XXX by starting over.Remember everything cost more.
Your money,your call.
Saw a fellow at a recent train show in Canada who ONLY builds structures. They are fully detailed and lit and sit on very nice bases that include a small power supply. He had a very nice display. He also placed well in the contest they had. Bill
"...I think its OK to build a building just to build it,and then set said building on a shelf right?"
For you, why not...or absolutely...either way, answer for yourself because you are using your time and your money. We shouldn't dictate your choice of trains, or your track plan, or your way of running your trains. We shouldn't decide how or when you spend your time and talents. If you would like to try something new or different, or if you want to tear it down and start fresh, it's always your call. And if so, you are always 'right'.
There is also the possibility to build a diorama ...
... or a micro layout, just for the fun of it.
Plenty of options!
I'm not bored or burnt out, so mutch as nothing let to do. My house was built in 1884, basement walls are field stone,24-30 in. thick, a hole in the wall aint gonna happen.The next room is an unused fruit celler,dirt floor.
I came up with my own car card system for switching, have 14 spots to switch, with spurs coming off main both ways, so you have to do a little planing. But I found I grow tired of that after a while. But I can spend hours at the bench every day,there for I must be a builder more then a player.
I'll build till I run out of real estate,then perhaps go back to where I started, and maybe rekitbash some of my first kitbashes.
I think its OK to build a building just to build it,and then set said building on a shelf right?