On another thread I stated that your first layout is always a throw-away. As could have been predicted, a lot of people don't agree with that statement.
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So... I would really like to hear from as many people who are willing to share: What was the lifespan of your first serious model railroad.
I built a 3 by 7 N scale layout on a door that very closely followed the track plan of the first GORRE & DAPHETID layout. It did not have a turntable, but I made allowances to update it with one later.
There were tracks that left the layout for future expansion. It was powered by a Troller Autopulse 5 Amp Dual Pack. All trackwork was Atlas code 80 snap track. The trackwork, wiring, and controls were all bulletproof. My dad helped with this part and it was way overbuilt. That would have lasted a lifetime. I really thought this layout would be incorporated into all future STRATTON & GILLETTE layouts.
Scenery was questionable at best. I wanted too much in a small space, and it was really a mess. Mountains, farms, a neighborhood, engine service, industries, just way too much.
My dad held onto the layout until I graduated from college. Then I moved out, and I had no interest in it. It stayed in the back of my closet for a year leaning on the wall. By this time I was planning my "dream house", and the layout that would be in it. The little door layout no longer interested me at all.
When I moved out of my first apartment, the layout landed in the dumpster. It had not been run in more than two years.
Please share the life storiers of your first layout.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
My first layout, 1956-or-so, was a 4'x8' built for me by my father...brass track on fibre ties, Atlas switches, built from kits (and one scratchbuilt), full remote mechanical control of all turnouts, including rotating switchstands, Kadee couplers on everything, and remote mechanical uncoupling, too.I have photos of it, but can't find them. Features included a scratchbuilt wooden trestle, with a coal dealer's siding running off it, and a scratchbuilt, from milled basswood shapes (angles, I-beams, and H-columns) through truss bridge.That layout was in use for about 8 years, and was sold, mostly intact, after a lifespan of about 10 years.
While I still have and use some of the original rolling stock and locomotives, I also have a scratchbuilt water tower (built by my father from an MR article by, perhaps, Jack Work) that will eventually find a home in Park Head, on the upper level of my current layout...
The second layout was a while coming, until we were able to finally buy our own house. Most of my time was spent re-doing it, but I finally got around to a second layout which filled a smallish room in the basement with a very ambitious trackplan. It lasted only 4 or 5 years, and I was going to take it down when we sold the house, but the buyers asked if it could be left, so it was. Code 100 ns Model Power track and only one very small sceniced area....
My one regret was that I had to leave a scratchbuilt #12 curved turnout, my first attempt at such stuff - worked like a dream, with a Fulgurex motor-driven switch machine.
I honestly don't recall when my current layout was built. I built our current house in 1988, and we moved in in the Fall, but I was still doing finishing work (trim, kitchen cupboards, etc.) for some time, and, of course, working full-time, too.
I'd guess it would have been early or mid-'90s. I made pretty good progress, but doing work for others did take away from my own stuff, and after retirement, it seemed that I had less and less time for the layout. I'm still doing work for others, but when the current stuff is wrapped up, I hope to put a major push on getting the whole layout looking at least presentable.
Wayne
First layout was my Dad's O-27 layout 16x8 with center operating pit and 4x6 ell addition. My Dad was either the consumate scratch builder or cheaper than the Lion. He made his own three rail track from used oil cans. He had some amazing jigs to facilitate the fabrication. The layout survived a move with nary a scratch. We tore that layout down when I got to Junior High School.
Second layout (really the first I built by myself) was a traditional HO 4x8 with Varney and Marx locomotives. I thought I was in hog heaven when I got "upgraded" to Athearn BB. Scenery never amounted to much, but I think I had just about every building kit that Revell ever made. That layout lasted through High School. It "disappeared" when I left for college. I sure would have liked to save the Revell buildings.
Ray
My layout will most definitely not be a throw away... even when I have a bigger layout the first will still be used as a display layout for shows and stuff...
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
First layout was a 4'x8' built by my mother. Single loop with a passing siding, Life-Like steel track, still the longest-lived of my five layouts so far (lasted about 4 years, age 7-11) and the most comprehensively 'finished' with trees, a lake, a 12" mountain with a tunnel, a little town... even with downsizing over the years, I still have some of the metal Tyco cars from those days, refurbished and repainted to serve my current purposes.
2nd layout was another 4'x8', this time with double-main encircling a small town (age 12-13), the first one I built on my own. I was obsessed with winter and practically destroyed the whole shebang overusing Woodland Scenics snow on the lot.
My last two layouts were built in the past five years-- No. 3 was a 6'x9' donut, No. 4 a 13' shelf layout. Neither progressed beyond wiring and a few swipes at scenicking, but taught me a lot about my tastes in operation, detail, and size. (No. 5 is in-progress, an 8' portable shelf with handlaid track.)
I think the process of building a layout tells you a lot about what you want for the next one. Maybe that's why mine have gotten progressively smaller over time.
Phil
Twelve months. Then wife wanted to finish the basement, so it all had to come down.
I had Lionels by the time I was 5. That layout, a couple of 4x8s in an L, lasted 7 years until I sold it to convert to HO. I think that layout lasted 8 years. My parents wanted it packed up once I went to college, so I salvaged every building and every piece of track and put it in boxes. 40 years later, I opened the boxes and built my "grown-up" layout. That one is in storage now, awaiting its new home.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
My first, the Rock Ridge and Train City I, was a 4.5 x 8 --started as a 4 x 8 designed on Atlas Track Planer, then built with EZ track--oops didn't fit.
I think it lasted 2 years, before I tired of the EZ track and ripped it out.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
My last layout began in 1983 as a 4x7. It then began to expand unti it has reached the level it is today.
PS It's still alive and operating.
Roger Hensley= ECI Railroad - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/eci/eci_new.html == Railroads of Madison County - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ =
My early layouts - Lionel & HO - lasted about 3 years until we moved. But my last layout (HO 11x15 two level) was built in 94 and lasted almost 14 years. It was demolished because it was overly wired DC, too much dark rockwork, and space squandering reverse loops. A new layout (similar in size/type) was built in 2008 and remains in play.
While the first one had solid benchwork, trackage and wiring, the new one is much improved and "as good as I can make it".
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
My first layout, I was like six or so. My grandfather took a sheet of plywood (4x4, I think), covered it with that old grass mat stuff that was sawdust on paper, and tacked a circle of HO track around it, with another circle of N in the center. Town in the middle, styrofoam mountain, a few trees... ran my old Tyco Chattanooga set on it with the 0-8-0 1263 locomotive. (Still have the loco and a few cars... loco's dead as Hoffa though).
That ended up stacked against the basement wall until my parents threw it out. I also had a 4x8 N-scale from my father that was never run. That ended up rotting in the tool shed out back. Bad juju there.
Then I got one from a great uncle who passed. HO with brass track, some switches and sidings. Royal bear to clean, but in hindsight, it was really nice. But I was young and stupid and really only wanted to watch trains go around. Never really got the point of all those spurs, so I ended up ripping out the track and buildings (still got most of them, and I'll use them on my new layout) and starting fresh. Well, with college, several moves, jobs, getting married, money crunches.... it never went too far.
So now I'm in my new place, with room for a layout that can give me the best of both worlds, solid plans on paper, and a good amount of saved and scrounged items to start with. Money's still crunched, but I can work around that, albeit slowly. But this one's going to be designed to break down and move with me if and when the time comes. Kinda tired of reinventing wheels.
- Adam
When all else fails, wing it!
My first layout when I was a kid was slot cars and trains on a 4x8 sheet of plywood. It only lasted a couple of years. When I got bored of the slot cars I took it all apart and then used the plywood as the start of my first serious model railroad layout. This layout used the plywood as the center section with a mountain in the middle. Behind the mountain there were staging tracks. On one end of the 4x8 was a 4x4 section of open grid bench work that was covered with grass paper. Then there was a scrap of 4x8 plywood coming off of the side. On the other side of the original 4x8 was another section of open grid which was about 4x12. All of this made a C shape. This layout lasted from junior high school through part of college. It had 18 inch curves. I had Atlas and Tyco locomotives and mostly Tyco cars.
My first layout (if you can call the floor a layout) was a Tyco GP-38 set painted in "Bi-Centennial color's . It was a 5 foot oval. It was picked up and put away every few day's ( basicly whenever Mom told me to clean my room. )
My first "real" layout was a 4X8 piece of plywood in a storage shed behind our house. Double track oval with a figure 8 bridge in the center. Ran that layout for about 4 year's. 1977 to 1981.
After that, well ..... thing's got a little out of hand.
Rust...... It's a good thing !
My first layout (not including childhood) was 15'x30' finished to the point of just needing weathering and more detail parts.
My first layout was 4x8. I used a plan in the back of John Armstrong's book Track Planning for Realistic Operation 1st ed. (not in the the 3rd ed.). It was a twice around with 2 passing sidings, 3 track yard and turntable - but I never did the turntable. I built it with Atlas brass track and wired it using Atlas components. I built it in the spare bedroom of our 2 bedroom apartment. It lasted 5 months until the birth of my first son, my wife then said he got the bedroom.
But my wife let me build my second layout in the master bedroom. It was 6x6 1/2 and was my own design - double track oval with a town based on the timesaver, a branch line led out of town up a hill to a small town. Most of the track and some scenery was in when I tore it down after 2 years -we were moving.
I think those first 2 layout were the ones I had the most fun with. The hobby was new and exciting. I was learning and trying out lots of new stuff. I build better layouts now ( I think the one I'm about to start is number 12) and they're stiff fun, but the first 2 were special.
Paul
IRONROOSTERmy wife let me build my second layout in the master bedroom.
Isn't that great? When I switched to HO right after our second daughter was born, my wife let me build a 2 by 6 switching layout in the master bedroom.
The layout was pretty high to clear the top of the dresser.
I got an American Flyer around 8-9,couldn't play it,my Mother was afraid I would get electrocuted, never did find out what became of it
. In my late 20s I wanted to have a layout, no money, bought some used stuff,turned out to be junk, gave up on it. Did that twice. Late 30s tryed again, got it running,kind of.A change of jobs shut that one down. Gave it to my nephew,who now owns a MR manufactureing co
. Late 50s was going to start again, this time doing it right.Got a good engine,peco turnouts ect. Built a timesaver on a 2X8 table in spare bedroom. Then added another 2X8 for an L. Kid came back home lost the bedroom. Moved to basement,old farm house, spent six mts.cleaning out cobwebs and dead mince,painted walls,started again. Kept addiing tables, ended up with a 14X16 folded dogbone
.About a year ago found myself up against all walls no where to go any more. Lost interest, and the whole thing sat idle till this last Dec. Found out we will need to replace the furnance,so the whole ting came down.Furance went in 2nd week of Jan,I've been rebuilding sence.
Wow the master bedroom !!! My wife is great but i think that would get the " are you kidding me" reply
My current first layout is the construction phase to be painted. It's a small 2.5 x4.5 foot, that will be decorated in desert with a bridge next to a secondary road.
The other side will have a industry building, some trees, and a parking garage.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
My first layout was a N scale L shaped layout. I built it when I was 10 (I think) and it survived until I was 15. It did not get much use. Anyway, that benchwork was saved when I moved and I decided shortly after my 18th birthday to build a three-rail O layout that still exists, incorporating that original benchwork on one part.
NWP SWP My layout will most definitely not be a throw away... even when I have a bigger layout the first will still be used as a display layout for shows and stuff...
Nothing is definite except death and taxes; it is a truism you will learn in time.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I'm not sure if this thread is meant to be about first layout we built or had? I was given a Lionel 4x6 Layout for Christmas at age 4.
But as an adult I didn't build proper layout until I was about 31 or so in my garage at a house my ex owned (and I got to live in) while I was in graduate school in Indiana University in Bloomington IN. That layout was a 16x19' hollow L shaped layout built with 30 inch minimum radius curves, and had 3 track return loops at each end, single track mainline and a yard and one passing siding.
It was a pretty ambitious for a first layout and I was just starting to build sub scenery when I was finished with grad school and had to move to NY for a job. I did sell the layout because it was built in sections which could be broken down. A guy from Kokomo IN came in a U-haul truck to buy it and haul it back up north.
My first ISL lasted from '62 -67.. I did it right and it was fun to operate.
Before that I operated on my dad's U shape dog bone layout which had a 4 track yard and had four or maybe five industries. My Dad was never into operation..He like to kick back and watch them run while sipping coffee or a cold soda.
He was amused by my "operation" which was a diesel powered local from the yard and after switching all the industries the local returned to the yard.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Thank you for all the shares in this thread.
It appears very few first layouts last veruy long at all. That is what I thought.
There are so many skills to learn and acquire when you are starting out. It would be foolish to think anyone has much of a chance of getting the first layout "in the hole" so to speak.
My very first layout was a 3x4 N scale which I later combined with another 3x4 board to create a larger layout. I kept the later one for about two years before we moved and I had to do away with it. After that I went without for about ten years until I built my current 3x6 table. The reason for its small size is due to the small space I had to build it in...
Well, my first layout lasted almost 4 years. It was built for me by my father when I was 10. It consisted of two 5x9 platforms in an "L" shape, two complex loops of TruScale track, elevated track, bridges, plaster mountains, passing sidings, hidden staging sidings in the rear under the mountain, Aristo trolley bus, lighted houses and more.
I built lots of additional rolling stock, converted the old rolling stock from dummy couplers to Kadee, and more.
I added some industrial spurs and more structures.
It only came down because we moved.........
I started my next layout a year and a half later after we moved back into the same house (long story) and completed an addition I designed, which expanded the basement. I now had a 25' x 25' "L" shaped space, each leg being 12' wide.
Side note, I guess this is why I'm spoiled about curve radius, at 15 years old my layout had 36" radius cuves...........
I filled that space with a layout that lasted nearly 4 years until I got married and moved out.
I have only once taken a layout down to simply change it. That would be the current change from a very permanently built multi deck layout to a single deck built in modules for a future move.
I have no desire to start over from scratch ever again.....tired of wasted effort.....
Sheldon
SeeYou190There are so many skills to learn and acquire when you are starting out. It would be foolish to think anyone has much of a chance of getting the first layout "in the hole" so to speak. . -Kevin
Kevin,I hit a hole in one with my first ISL only because I had a good teacher-watching my dad lay track and I read track laying articles in MR.
Anybody can do it all it requires is some studying then doing the job right.