What do you consider a layout ?...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainluver1

To some people, a layout is nothing more than a table with a track, transformer and train on it, while others have to have it all. I personally am one of those people that has to have it all or it just ain't a layout...

Technically, I believe the "layout" would be the track plan of anything with track. All model railroads would therefore have a layout, but not everything with a layout would be a model railroad.

Didn't we run this topic into the ground back in February/March?

I hate to tell you this Texas Zepher, but topics do get repeated once in a while here on the forum-though not always on purpose. I apologize if I've offended you by doing so.
I'll be sure and return the favor by pointing out any topic you might write as being "run into the ground" as well if I get the chance.

trainluver1

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

I look at it like this...

Ribs... you might like yours slathered in bar-b-que sauce, while some of our friends from Texas might insist that the perfect rack of ribs consists of nothing more than a hand-full of spices and time spent on the perfect smoke pit.

In the end, they're both still considered ribs.

Deep thought, isn't it? (Now I'm hungry!)

Bergie

Bergie, it's a real honor to have you reply to one of my topics...

As for the ribs. I'm from south east Texas, and almost everyone down here owns a BBQ pit including myself. And yes, we prefer the spices on our meat rather than covering it in sauce. There's nothing like the taste of good, slow cooked beef.

Regards,

trainluver1

[vsmith]

Is track attached down?
Is power hooked up?
Does it run?

It does? Congradulations...you have a layout.


Now just to clarify with someother posters here....a LAYOUT is just the beginning...the bare minimum if you will, track LAYED OUT on plywood or stringers (which many never get past).

Only after all the scenery, buildings, yadda yadda yadda is added on and it can be considered substantially complete would I then change the reference and refer to it as a MODEL RAILROAD .

So while many can have a LAYOUT not all of them are MODEL RAILROADS.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainluver1
I hate to tell you this Texas Zepher, but topics do get repeated once in a while here on the forum-though not always on purpose. I apologize if I've offended you by doing so.
I'll be sure and return the favor by pointing out any topic you might write as being "run into the ground" as well if I get the chance.

Yesh, lighten up, sounds like you're really stressing over this. Nothing offends me! It was a real question. I didn't remember if it was here or some other form. It ended up being a polarized discussion where there were two apparently unmovable points until some 3rd party people came in and began putting definitions to the terms people were using. As it came out almost everyone agreed on the principles but were using different terms. When some people say "layout" they are talking about their whole model railroad.

But now that you mention it, there does seem to be a sudden rash of trivial and/or redundant 'polls' and 'topics' being posted. It is like some folks just want to read what is on the first page here, ignore the rest, and others possibly just want to run up their "star rating"?!.

And actually I really like the polls. I just wish people would put a bit more thought into properly formulating the question and even more thought into proper answers.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainluver1
I hate to tell you this Texas Zepher, but topics do get repeated once in a while here on the forum-though not always on purpose. I apologize if I've offended you by doing so.
I'll be sure and return the favor by pointing out any topic you might write as being "run into the ground" as well if I get the chance.

Yesh, lighten up, sounds like you're really stressing over this. Nothing offends me! It was a real question. I didn't remember if it was here or some other form. It ended up being a polarized discussion where there were two apparently unmovable points until some 3rd party people came in and began putting definitions to the terms people were using. As it came out almost everyone agreed on the principles but were using different terms. When some people say "layout" they are talking about their whole model railroad.

But now that you mention it, there does seem to be a sudden rash of trivial and/or redundant 'polls' and 'topics' being posted. It is like some folks just want to read what is on the first page here, ignore the rest, and others possibly just want to run up their "star rating"?!.

And actually I really like the polls. I just wish people would put a bit more thought into properly formulating the question and even more thought into proper answers.

Okay. So we'll call it a case of misunderstanding on my part, and I retract my statement, but I won't ever just sit there and take it if I feel I'm being insulted-especially in a bar after I've had several beers...[B)]

trainluver1

[Anonymous]

A layout is a miniature world, created by imagination.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by glcole61

A layout is a miniature world, created by imagination.

So what you're saying glcole61 is that a person doesn't have to have bench work, a track or a train, that all they need is a good imagination and wa la, instant layout ?!. Man, and I went at it the hard way and built a real one...[;)]

trainluver1

[Train 284]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jetrock

A table wiht a track, transformer and train is a train set, not a model railroad. It doesn't need to be an empire, in fact a few square feet is all you need, but it's just more fun when it looks like a layout, not a bare circle of track!

I have to agree with Jetrock, if all you have is a circle of track on a table, how can you really call that a model railroad? Even though for a model railroad you just need a few square feet. It is definitly more fun putting together a model railroad, and runnuing it then just watching a 3 or 4 car train go around in a circle!

[davekelly]

I'm sure there are folks that say "unless you operate using timetables and schedules how can you reall call that model railroading?" "Unless you model a specific prototype and time period how can you call that a model railroad?" Same with a "circle of track on a table." What if the person likes watching the train go around in a circle? What if a person love operations and does so exactly like the prototype but just hates scenery and so decides not to have any? Does he have a layout? What of the person that has totally 100 percent accurate structures and scenery but just isn't into operations and likes having his trains follow some continuous running path? Does he have a layout? Granted none of these are my idea of a layout I would want - but if their owners are happy - then it's their layout.

I think perhaps there is a miscommunication and maybe a misunderstanding between "what is a layout" and "what do I want my layout to be."

Some folks actually think that watching the grass grow is more fun that spending hours detailing and weathering a box car.

[Anonymous]

Let me spell it out for you, Trainluver 1. I built an 8 X 20 ft. layout with my own track plan, and my own landscaping plan. That's what I meant by using your imagination.