ModelRailroader.com Reader Poll – March 4, 2003

[Anonymous]

I made the space for a new layout this winter. Finished off the whole basement with studs, insulation, heat, and wall board. Just finishing the taping and mudding, then to painting, and on to building that new layout later this year. Will have a double layout with one room HO and one room O. Also will have a shelf layout around the TV/Grandkids play area. Retirement is great. Will be glad to be able to open all those stored boxes and get out the rolling stock again.

Hope you all have a good year.

[Anonymous]

yes I am doing more this winter than last year I have completed two scenes,now in progress of rerouting the trolly line. I am now stalled by a bug in the wiring Charlie 4 Akron Oh.

[jligthart]

I finally found a layout design program that suits me. I've made a design, now wait till next winter to start building ;-)

[Anonymous]

I had a nasty Winter and spent most of my time working on mine. Great progress. When it looks just right I will post a pic of it.

[alpreston]

Since I was, to quote GaryA above, in "analysis paralysis" last winter (and spending far too much time on my computers), I made virtually no progress on my layout last winter. This winter, I've managed to do some wiring, start on corrections to the little bit of scenery I'd done (badly) a while back, and organize some kit projects that have been in limbo for a while.

[willy6]

did about the same , it seems like we had a warmer winter here in the south so that did not help my progress.........................HONEY DO AND HONEY DO SOME MORE in warm weather...................

[Noah Hofrichter]

I put less because last winter i "finnished it" to the point of basic scenery and being able to run the targeted 1 man operating session. This year I mainly operated and didn't do to much of acctually working on the layout.

Noah

[ngfred]

Much less. Spent this winter redoing the kitcchen. The ceiling, refinishing the cabs, new counter tops, and tile behind the sink counter and behind the stove and counters. One must keep the lady of the house happy.
Fred in NC

[Anonymous]

I to sat around afraid to start building because I didn't know quite how to start. Finally said I was going to have a train running by summer and started laying track. Then got introduced to some guys that knew what they were doing and now I can run a train around a 4x8 table. Will have more shortly. Have bought dcc and hope to have it hooked up shortly.
Paul Located in northern Indiana

[RedGrey62]

No layout in my current apartment, so devoting time to a local RR club instead. Did get some display shelves built though, so I can at least enjoy my Burlington Route trains visually!

Rick

[Anonymous]

Lets see now.....

1 - 5 foot double track Free-mo module with facing point siding, track down,
ballasted and basic scenery done. Grain Elevator for siding should be
complete this weekend. Module name: Barford

1 - Two section, 11 foot Free-mo module with 30 degree curve, two cross-overs
passing track, industry sidings. Ballasted and basic scenery.Named: Indover
Working on structures and siding stuff.

Winters not over yet, there's still time to finish..........Oh wait, they're never "finished" are they? (Layouts and mdules I mean)

See the website. (also under construction but worth the visit)
http://calfreemo.millarwebdesign.com/

Lets Play Trains!!!!

[Anonymous]

No! I tore it down this winter and started re-building in a different area of my basement.

[jjbmish]

Definitely got more done this winter. After 10 years of having no layout I was able to start building benchwork, paint the backdrop, start laying track and I actually had some of the track powered up for the first time last evening. Man it was good to have trains running again. Since the weather is still cold I plan on getting more done before camping season gets here.

[Anonymous]

I don't have a layout yet. Have 8 steamers, one sw switcher, most with decoders. The wife is vacating a section of basement and might have either a 10'X10' area with a seven foot by 26" wide panhandle for a yard. Constructing more buildings and rolling stock than a year ago. Just need to come up with a layout design. [:)] Retirement maybe this year, then L-O-O-K O-U-T!!!!![:D]

[Hawks05]

considering last year i never thought i would have model trains i'm doing pretty good. i have the benchwork up so now i just need to designe a track plan, paint the benchwork and start laying track i'll be on my way. i have come along way in just over 6 months.

[Anonymous]

A lot more progess. this year.( I just started my HO layout in Nov.}

[Anonymous]

Last year my layout was 100 square feet in size and this year it is about 400 square feet. Almost all the bench work is in and most of the main line. I also have two yards completed that will hold over 200 cars each installed and one of the industrial areas started. And best of all my DCC is working and those Canadian Nation trains are running on most of it. Still lots to do but I have definitely made progress this year.

[Anonymous]

I would say I made progress, as I have torn out my old layout that was about 40 years old and started refinishing my basement to better showcase a whole new layout that will be almost twice the size in the same space as the old one. I will inclued DCC onthe new layout as well as use most of the new style of doing scenery like using foamboard instead of a plastershell.

[sparkingbolt]

I did very little last winter, some trackwork that had to be redone. Benchwork has been done for over 2 years.

This winter ,actually starting late summer,I made huge progress, went from very little track which wasn't wired, to getting 97% of the layouts track laid and operational, including manually thrown (from the panel) electrofrog handlaid switches -19, which were built in '91 on the workbench.

Also installed mechanically operated (hand throw lever) permanent magnet uncoupling devices that are invisible and extremely reliable.

No scenery done yet, I have a couple electrical problems to solve too.

I also assembled about 35-40 freight cars, from various mfgrs, the largest number being P2K, as well as getting some more locos running and buying others.

Plus progress has been made in other areas too. For my layout, it has been by far the most productive winter ever.

[Anonymous]

I haven't begun my own layout yet, but I joined a railroad club after retiring.
The club has been a very big help in getting me up to speed after being out of railroading for about thirty five years. Have purchased a couple of locomotives, some rolling stock and DCC.
Don

[Anonymous]

I got much more done this winter! built a new city section, bought a layout from a friend and added that to my layout, cleaned everything up real good, sold stuff i no longer needed and now ready to get the boat in water and do some fishing.. There is no better feeling then setting goals at the beginning of winter and making those goals. ..

[Anonymous]

I did about the same as I did last year, because my layout is in the basement and I don't like the idea of going down into a cold basement. I do most of my work in the other three months as I find it more enjoyable to work in the warmer tempurature. My layout is in a state of work, it will never be done as I think of new things as I go along.
PS For those of you that are thinking about heat, I do have heat but keep it low or off most of the time and by the time it gets warm the mood is usually gone

[Anonymous]

Well, sure. I had just started collecting things last winter, and spent a good part of the year accumulating locomotives, cars, tracks, buildings, power packs, etc.

Now I'm running three trains on the floor where my waterbed used to be (for the enjoyment of me and my cat, who is fascinated by these things -- I can tell she wants to touch them, but she doesn't while I'm there).

I don't know that I'll have any kind of beginning of a real layout by this time next year, but I'm glad I'm involved even at the level I am. It is a lot of fun and a great reliever of stress. I do need to get it off the floor though. [;>)]

[chapmon]

Although I know what layout I want to build, I have the basic benchwork built, but the industrial design I want to accomplish isn't easy.

After seeing all the great accomplishments by others out there, I keep getting new ideas, and trying to get past "track plan block" to figure out how to best implement them. I'll get started someday. Meanwhile I've been building structures, freight cars, and putting decoders in locos.

Mike[:)]

[nkpltrr]

It seems like winter passes by faster each year. I did progress some with rewiring my layout. I am trying to wire it for both dc and dcc operation. I do not have any dcc controls yet but I plan to add it to the layout within this year. I have so much old equipment that I wanted to be able to run either for awhile longer so hence the dual wiring. It has been a challenge but I look foward to being all dcc someday before I pass on to the great model rr layout in the sky!!!

[Anonymous]

The upcoming "Maritime Federation of Model Railroaders" Convention here in Saint John, NB is the motivating force--I have been working feverishly to get ready for a layout tour.

Steve
www.geocities.com/carletonrr

[Anonymous]

I may be able to start on my first layout this year, and therefore I am buying equipment and tools at a faster rate. It will only be a 4' by 8', but the (HO scale) Burlington Route in the mid- 1940's is still very much to look forward to building. Your magazine has also taught me a good deal about modeling in a very short time. I will get much more work done in summer, though. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and all the other "Hill Lines" are the best! EVERYWHERE WEST/WAY of the ZEPHYRS!

[Anonymous]

Due to moving I was set back a bit in my progress this winter compared to last winter, But am nearly ready to lay down all new track & turnouts as well as expanding my layout to twice the curent size. Modernizing & becoming much more hightech in its opperation thanks to some of the nice informative advice & comments that I have gathered from this web site. PS; So I guess that will make me a Hightech Redneck,......Just Kidding....................."Leave'm Laughing"

[Anonymous]

Not a lot of progress last winter mainly due to lack of funds. I had a jammed full house over Christmas for two weeks. My bank book took a severe hit, still, it was worth it. I'll make up for it over the summer.

[AggroJones]

The same slow pace.