Does anybody else miss the old "round and round" layout?

[DigitalGriffin]

Darn right I have a round and round. I have a double main line dog bone that spans two levels in my 28x32 L shaped basement. I finally got the passenger train around it last night without derailing, shorting, or stalling. The total mainline length is a little over 270' (give or take) or about 4.5 scale miles.

I figure if I don't run my train fast (say 20 SMPH) that it will take about 13 or 14 minutes to make a round trip. This is just enough time for yard to build up another outgoing consist from the docks and steel mill.

But there are times I just want to sit and watch the train pass from city->country because it's realaxing to hear the chuffs and watch the trains go by peacefully. So loops are mandatory.

Although I broke one of the cardinal design rules in the process. I made the main city/industry level about 50" off the floor, and the second country level 30" off the floor. I know the lower level is much shorter than most would probably like, but it's perfect when I plop down in a chair to watch the trains go by.

Why can't MRR'ing be fun and relaxing? Who says you have to constantly do ops to enjoy it?

~Don

[mondotrains]

Hi Guys,
I've enjoyed reading all the responses I've gotten to my posting here. While it may appear that some guys have been a little "forceful" in their responses, I don't think it's meant to be critical or hurtful. You know how us guys can be....when we think we're right, that's it. You don't get my point, then you must be a dummy. Like my wife always says to me "it's not what you're telling me, honey, it's your lousy delivery". And you know what? She's right. My delivery sucks.

Just remember that most guys on this forum are just trying to help you better enjoy the hobby.The fact is that I think they are trying to say that with a little planning up front, even a small pike, built small either due to limited space or funds, can offer some "operation" and I think they are right. The more experienced modelers have had their turn at layouts that didn't offer much operation and ultimately may have had to replace them with something a little more operational. They are just trying to help the newer guys avoid having to start over or make major modifications later, which are usually more difficult and expensive.

It's kind of like the situation my wife and I are in now, with planning our new home. Better to add that porch or family room now, rather than to get into the new house and try to add on later....usually a lot more expensive and a messy proposition.

I have to say that when I first read about "operations", I was very intimidated and said to myself...no way am I going to watch a fast clock and worry about timetables etc. To tell you the truth, I still don't want all that stress, at least I don't think so. I've never had the opportunity to try it. Who knows, I may like it. But, I'm certainly enjoying simplistic operation on my current layout afforded by using a car-card forwarding system, like mentioned above by another reply. I've come to realize that operation doesn't have to be stressful,,,,,it can be a lot of fun.

I want to share something with you folks that have never tried operation. The real kick is that you get to decide how to best uncouple your train, run your engine around to the back, if you're switching a facing-point spur, and then slowly push your car into the appropriate track for the industry. The real fun here, if you haven't tried it, is that you get to really enjoy a section of your layout's scenery, whether it be a wharf, industrial section of a city or a grain elevator out on the prairie. The operative word here is "slowly"....because you're moving slowly, it slows down the action and allows you to really "see" your layout. That's the best way I can explain my pleasure while operating. It's a lot different than watching the train on the mainline, even if you're running it slowly.

I hope I've provided some insight that you can use. Remember, all of us guys, as long as we're in this hobby, will be fascinated by trains running by. Just remember what another guy said above and I'd like to reinforce it here; you probably didn't know what you were missing before you got into this hobby. If you haven't tried even some simple operation, then you don't know what you're missing. Please, I'm not insisting that roundy-round by itself is no good....I'm just trying to incent you to go beyond that because as a model railroad friend, I don't want you to miss anything. Sincerely!!!!!

Mondo

[cmrproducts]

Well I see that we still are arguing the difference between Operators and Roundy-Round.

This is not the point I am trying to make. So I guess I will have to get a little more blunt, SO I will go at this one more time!

We are all crying that the hobby is shrinking or dying and if this is true, just WHO is leaving the hobby?

It sure as heck isn’t the serious OPs modeler! It is the Roundy-rounder. You say that the majority of the modelers are only Roundy-rounders. If this is true then WHY is the hobby group shrinking.

And the WHO that are leaving, NOT all of those leaving are dying! I ain’t gonna ever believe that, and you know it too.

It is the Roundy-rounder that is bored to tears with the 1 millionth revolution of his engine, that’s who !

So what does it take to keep this modeler’s interest going so that they stay in the hobby, or those that are thinking about joining the hobby but see the Roundy-round as too boring and they never ever begin the hobby.

All of the serious Roundy-rounders and serious OPs modelers and the rivet counters are set in their ways so preaching to the choir is not going to change anything. It is those that are unsure as to the direction they need to go or don’t know that there is another direction (OPs) to go that need help.

When they go see exhibition layouts DO they SEE OPs?

NOPE! They see Roundy-Rounders.

Does this do anything to those that do not want to do Roundy-Round?

NOPE!

Does anyone even offer to explain that there is any thing to do with trains OTHER than Roundy-Round?

NOPE!

This is what I am getting at, so don’t waste time trying to defend your position on Roundy-Round! That is your problem. We need to get talking to those that are leaving or thinking of leaving the hobby and find out WHY they are doing this!

And being a closet hobbyist is not going to help the situation. I know you are not worried as you have all of the trains you will ever need and you are happy just the way you are. Yep and keep on believing that the world centers around you.

If the situation (modelers leaving the hobby) and the attitudes keep on going as they are the hobby will be gone and you won’t know why!

BOB H – Clarion, PA

[Pruitt]

My layout is designed for operations (someday I may get far enough along in construction to so some), but if completely "unwrapped," the mainline and major staging is two big circles. When I get the urge - and I do - I'll be able to just run trains around and around, though it takes abot five minutes to go around once on the staging circle, which is complete, and SHOULD take 20 or so minutes to go once around the mainline loop (I'll have several trains running on it at once).

When I see some of the "fifteen feet of mainline" point-to-point layout plans in the model press, I just think "not me!"

[selector]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DigitalGriffin

. .. I finally got the passenger train around it last night without derailing, shorting, or stalling....But there are times I just want to sit and watch the train pass from city->country because it's realaxing to hear the chuffs and watch the trains go by peacefully. So loops are mandatory...



~Don

I am soooooooo there right now.[:(]

[Anonymous]

I have three roundy rounds on dinning room tabel ( and yes my wifegave her blessings). Reminds me of the old Sears Lionel layouts at Christmas in the 50's. Would more space be nice. Yes but it beats no layout at all. Phil

[Anonymous]

I have given this subject alot of thought as i am building a new layout now. Originally I was going to go point-to-point as that seemed to be the 'thing' to do. Upon much reflection, I chose to have at least one continuous loop on my layout so that (as mentioned before) I can run a train around while I am switching and it will seem like traffic. Also, I have kids and they don'y yet appreciate the 'ops' side of model RR.

I would add another loop but my prototype was a single mainline and I'm afraid it would lose it's authenticity. Hopefully, I will have the best of both worlds which is more than anyone can ask.

[Anonymous]

I kinda have the best of both worlds. My mainline is an around the wall loop, with a small yard off one corner that is my logging camp, and an inside point to point and loop, with two spurs, and a runaround.