I too am a lone wolf. I do belong to a round robbin group here in town. We all have our own layouts, but we meet once a month and "tour" selected layouts during each of those meets.
I have a small switching layout that is DC operated, point-to-point, HO scale, 20 feet long, with two throttles. That gives me the option of operating by myself or giving a friend the opportunity to do the switching chores on the other end of the layout. Presently I can run trains, the track is all wired and the controls are all in place, but it is not fully operational yet. I have a couple of spurs that need to be completed and some mock-ups of some of the new planned structures to build before I can actually have any kind of an op session. I have found that, even with a small layout such as this one, there's plenty that can be done. I don't really think I'll actually get bored with it.
BRAKIEBesides I want to enjoy my locomotive and car investment by using them.
I agree. Trains (and guitars) are a lot more fun to play with than a coin collection. lol
For me its switching cars in a yard or at industries in a prototypical manner while observing basic operation and safety rules.
If all I did was build and then tear it out I would have quit the hobby decades ago.
Besides I want to enjoy my locomotive and car investment by using them.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
As others have said or implied, I like to replicate realistic train movements. For me, one train at a time with five trains in a scale week trundling over the countryside and swapping out cars along the way. One scale week of ops takes about 2 hours.
I don't go to the layout room every day, sometimes not for a few weeks, but that length of operating session keeps me entertained.
A more robust layout with more trains and more ops, schedules, etc. would seem overwhelming to me and would probably not be so enjoyable to manage.
- Douglas
I have to agree with Richard.
Not having room for a proper operations orientated layout, or even room for crew members, I tried doing the "display" type railroads with continous running. I thought, incorrectly, that building structures and rolling stock would be enough.
When it came time to redesign the layout and start over, the Micro Layout web site run by the late Carl Carendt was inspirational. Carl's assertion that even the smallest layouts can be operated informed all of my planning. At that time, Tony Koester was publishing a series of essays about the joys of operations.
Even though I am a lone wolf operator, I am extremely happy that I took their advice.
Kevin
Have been a lone wolf since 1970: HO for some years, then N scale. My interest never flags and being retired, I spend hours on my current (since 1992) layout of the Union Pacific overland. I construct most buildings of cardstock and freelance grain elevators, coal operations, towns and yards. Years back, I developed my own card system which detailed train #, commodity, tonnage and estination. Then I began keeping records with monthly summaries and annual reports.
My goal is to approximate train movements and commodity ratios of the Union Pacific. Am running over 100 locos and 650 cars, often with 15-17 trains on the layout at any given time. These vary in length up to 65 cars with a five loco consist. Since I run practically every day, tracks seldom need cleaning. As others have noted, there is always something to improve or add. I use the old standard DC set up with a number of control stations and avoidcomplex switching. 200 ft mainline, a dozen or so cities and even several National Forests. Point to point, not much of a spectator sport, but keeps me busy and enthusiastic.
Hello all,
I'm a lone wolf by geographic isolation not by choice.
Eventhough I am an NMRA member the nearest club is 89-miles away (almost a 2-hour drive). My closest opportunity to volunteer is the same distance and time in the opposite direction.
I am also in the minority by using the Dynamis DCC system for control of my Digitrax, TCS and Bachmann decoder equipped motive power and rolling stock.
My re-introduction to the hobby was reading Linn Westcott's book; Model Railroading with John Allen, about the famous Gorre & Daphetid Railroad. Shortly there after I bought a D/C starter set with single cab control.
I built a 4'x8' table top pike; a freelanced coal themed pike, set in the 1980's with a 3% elevation gain/loss.
This first itineration was a D/C layout with dual cab control with 16 control blocks.
Along with the coal branch mainline there is also a coal loading/unloading raised platform. I also incorporated a time saver into the pike.
Some op sessions are focused on making and setting out cars and/or cuts for servicing the mine with mixed trains. Others are focused on mileage over the mainline for the coal trains. While other sessions are focused on the loading/unloading ops of the coal train.
Because of the historic spiral trestile an "Olde Tyme" excursion train; made up of a 0-6-0 steam engine with Vanderbuilt tender and two passenger cars with a bobber caboose share the line on special run days.
All of this allows me the flexibility of deciding what I want to do at any op session.
Yes, I miss out on the camaraderie of including fellow modelers in my op sessions. On the other hand I can do what I want, when I want, at any time I choose without explanation, frustration and/or confusion.
Eventually I would like to let go of the lone wolf monicker, but for now it suits my situation and purposes.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
I have a simple folded dogbone mainline, with one long stub (single end) siding off the mainline. That is partly because I experienced some issues with voltage drop across the Kato turnouts over time.
I just enjoy running trains and "railfanning" my own trains. I put together a consist I like and put an engine on that I want to watch, and simply sit back and watch the train go around and around.
My day job as a consulting civil engineer can be challenging, as can dealing with my kids, so watching a train run around in relative circles late at night before bed can be very relaxing.
That's what I do.
I am lonewolfing it, too. Operation and construction/modification are a hand-in-hand sort of thing here. I have many hobbies and I work MR in spurts. Each spurt in MR is an adventure all over again. I tend to like doing things in my own way, from operation to construction.
Unlike most narrow gaugers, (too serious for me), I play rather fast and loose on what many might look at as "failure to adhere".
I figure, if you can't do it your way, why be involved at all. (part of the lone wolf's creed, I guess)
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
richhotrainWell, golly, Mr. B., if you are gonna conduct yourself that way, how 'bout I come over about 8PM tonight and pop a brewsky with you. BeerYes
Sure, but my railroad, my rules.
I've got 4 throttles, but only one bar stool.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley cudaken That nails it for me. I like a quiet evening alone in the train room, preferably with no one else home to bother me with requests. Let the sun be gone so I can dim the lights and turn on the structure lighting and streetlamps. I'll probably click on Pandora and play some era-appropriate music. Then I'll sit on my lone wolf barstool with a chilled bar glass of a nice hoppy India Pale Ale and just run some trains. There is an inner serenity that comes with watching the crossing gates come down as a freight slowly makes its way through town.
cudaken
That nails it for me. I like a quiet evening alone in the train room, preferably with no one else home to bother me with requests. Let the sun be gone so I can dim the lights and turn on the structure lighting and streetlamps. I'll probably click on Pandora and play some era-appropriate music. Then I'll sit on my lone wolf barstool with a chilled bar glass of a nice hoppy India Pale Ale and just run some trains.
There is an inner serenity that comes with watching the crossing gates come down as a freight slowly makes its way through town.
Rich
Alton Junction
Shut out the outside world and immerse yourself into the miniature world you created. Step back in time to when you were younger, or into a era in which you were not yet born.
Forget about the real world, forget about your problems.
Same with playing guitar.
I've got a 2'x12' switching layout, a U-shaped 3 track 'staging yard' and some other temporary track around the basement walls to represent another town. The switching layout and 'staging yard' are FreeMo modules, the other temporary track is on a (more or less) permanent shelf. I like switching the industries and have operated it using different methods...this keeps things interesting (doing research and then implementing the different methods).
Currently, I shuffle a deck of modified playing cards to determine the makeup of a train and then I deliver those cars...it's prob not prototypical, but I like the randomness of it so each operating session is different.
Of course each time I operate I see, or think of, something that 'needs' to be done. Also, since I'm alone I can really 'get into' the layout...focusing on where the rest of my ho scale crew is (whether they're riding a cut of cars or walking to the next turnout...etc) and imagining what is going on at the various industries to warrant the required switching (a lack of cars means production is down for some reason, etc).
Try turning the room lighting down to run in the dark and see how that affects things, run slow and use all the correct sounds (bell, whistle/horn, etc) or sit back and watch your models roll and think about if your track arrangement needs any tweaking (is your runaround or passing siding a half a car too short, or maybe there's too much track and not enough scenery, etc).
Some days I'm just not really feeling it and running the railroad seems more like work, other days my ops sessions can't be long enough. Don't force it and go with the flow. In this hobby there is always something to do...it never gets stagnant for me. Belonging to a freemo group also keeps things fresh (I only take my U-shaped modules, not the switching layout because they don't all fit in my small car at once...I need to get a full sized van or maybe a small trailer.lol). Hanging out with those friends once or twice a year gives me some ideas too, and motivates me to complete projects in time for the next 'set-up'. I encourage everyone build a simple module and get involved with freemo...it's a fun weekend and I've met good people from far away of where I live.
http://delray1967.shutterfly.com/pictures/5
SEMI Free-Mo@groups.io
i'm glad to hear many of you enjoy operating your layouts.
my experience with the Pacific Southern has convinced me that 50 years may not be enough time to complete a layout, but that a layout does not need to be complete to operate.
Unlike some of you, I have a short point-to-point and cannot just let a train run.
Like others, I started a layout to keep be busy during the winter. While I doubt I'm going to get a sense of accomplishment from operating my railroad, I believe I'll need to learn to appreciate it in other ways, as it continues to be completed with scenery and structures.
Perhaps it will be similar to when I play guitar by myself. While I still enjoy learning new songs and techniques, I play well enough to keep myself entertained.
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
I built my layout so I can have both operations and run trains. I have a 2 track mainline on the upper level. On the lower level I can have one train run around the bottom of the helix and thru staging, if I so choose. I host operating sessions 5-6 times a year with 6 or more people and other times with 2-3 guys. Other times when I’m solo, I will restage trains from the last sessions, or choose some industries to switch out. When I have friends over who want to see the layout run, I will purposely leave trains all over the place. The next time I go to the train room I can put the trainsets away. There’s always things to do on my layout, even though most of my track is in place. I still have a lot of structures to do, as well as the dreaded ballast work, although I found a victim/volunteer friend to do it!
Neal
yougottawantaWhat about the Wildebeest ? Did you eat all of them too ?
Burp!
Pardon me!,
LION has run six trains at once, the plan of him is to have 12 trains running at one time. The four express trains, (two in each direction) are on their own.
The Local trains must be switched in and out of 242nd Street. If I push the red stop button (or any of the blue stop buttons around the layout) everything stops including the timers and the railroad clock, Thus I can pick up a session wherever I left off, after all subway trains NEVER stop running.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I really need to get some scenery done. Ever since I got the trackwork done, all I do is run trains.
Lion wrote "As for operations, the wolves got eaten, so we anre now left with a Lone LION opearation."
What about the Wildebeest ? Did you eat all of them too ?
Well since you asked…. Most people can’t wait to start running trains, including me. Other’s above have said most of what I would say. I use car cards and have a sequence of trains to run in a specific order. I can stop or start anytime I like. When I do stop I usually try to park all the trains on sidings so the main is clear in case I just want to run something random.
That is kind of the key, do what ever you want. One thing I do to keep it interesting is let real world events affect my railroad, such as extreme weather, natural disasters or human events both good or bad. For example, when the city celebrates Train Days at the Santa Fe Depot downtown I do the same on my layout.
My ideal operating session changes depending on mood etc. One of my favorite scenarios which I do annually is to pretend that it is Christmas eve and a major blizzard in dumping tons of snow in the mountains. The maintenance department is working hard to keep the pass open. Somewhere along the line there is a passenger train which must make it over the snow covered pass and then down into the valley so that travelers can be with their families on Christmas. There is always the danger of an avalanche crossing the tracks and closing down the line, possibly stranding the passengers.
Nice scenery, mood lighting, music on the stereo (You don’t really think train engineers just listen to the noise of their train all night do you?), your favorite beverage and what ever else you normally do to make your life more enjoyable, make for a satisfying operating session.
Another thing is I still have my childhood imagination so I can pretend to have interactions with all of the people on my layout. When the train passes by a store I can pretend that the shoppers are talking and the cashiers are asking for money etc. It’s not all just about dropping off a boxcar. And if it is maybe there is some interaction between the brakeman and a receiving clerk….
J………
A very interesting thread to read because everytime I walk down the basement steps to "wake up" my model railroad community, I often debate with myself about what jobs needed to be done, which trains need to be run, which businesses need to be serviced and/or switched out or perhaps maybe just run the track maintenence train and do some ballasting. One thing I have started doing to help in switching out cars was to stratigically locate some of my switchers around the layout to help with yard entry and sidings. I don't know if this is "real life" correct practices or not, but it seems to help me control a layout with entirely too much rolling stock on it. I have also taken on some you tube videos showing how others run their yards and even some Friday night operating sessions. Some one mentioned golf season in a previous post and I too have "Car show" season rapidly approaching and keeping a big block camaro tuned for summertime can be a little time consuming these days. I guess I will just keep watching and learning from you tube and MR's video vault............all good stuff guys!!
gregc Rich created a thread about a year ago, What's a Lone Wolf to Do?, which discussed what to do with a completed layout if you're not interested in operating.
Rich created a thread about a year ago, What's a Lone Wolf to Do?, which discussed what to do with a completed layout if you're not interested in operating.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/239518.aspx?page=1
I first posted it back in November 2014 at the start of model railroading season. For me, golf season runs from April through October, then model railroading season from November through March.
Back in November 2014, I felt that my current layout was completed, so I was looking for something to do during the model railroading season. I finally undertook some remodeling projects on a portion of my layout, then tore it all out this model railroading season and built something different.
So, these past two seasons, I have been relatively bored with my layout. I am a lone wolf, and I am definitely not an operations guy. I am a builder much more so than an operator.
For years, I have been planning my Dream Layout, and I seriously thought about it this year, but I share a house with a tyrant - - LOL. I simply could not get the go ahead to build the Dream Layout.
Golf season begins in a week or so, so I won't be worrying about this again for about 7 months.
I just like running trains thru the scenery I have built and sometimes change. Operations for me is like watching grass grow but relaxing with my favorite beverage ( Mountain Dew ) and running my trains is the best feeling in the world.
Whatever makes you happy is what you should do, don't listen to others about the right way to play with your trains. Yes I said play, because no matter how you do it from prototypical operations to just running trains in circles, we are playing. Enjoy it, embrace it.
In my opinion, I don't feel that there is anything that you can do to make operating alone enjoyable. It is either entertaining to you or it's not. If you are constantly having to find new ways to keep yourself involved, then maybe you should step back and take a look at what your goals are, or should be. If you do realize that you really dont care for solo operations, there are plenty of other facets of model railroading to focus on.
Personally, I prefer operating alone to being in a group. I like to make my own rules and do things my way. My layout was purpose built for me to operate it alone. However, sometimes I just like to watch trains run, so I also made sure the layout supported that too. If there is a part of the hobby that you dont like, dont feel bad about not doing it. Don't do something just because everyone else expects you to.
Greg, my layout is a 30'x42' basement-filler that I planned with operations in mind. I am mostly a LW guy, although I do have some guys that come over now and again.
I knew I'd be operating alone 95% of the time.
That said, I run 28 trains in sequential order for an ops session. That session can last about 5 hours or 5 days. I use car cards/ waybills to move traffic, so if the wife hollers "dinner" I can stop where I'm at and pick right up again anytime later.
Right now I'm in the middle of breaking down and making up 2 trains that arrived in the yard. Have been since Tuesday.
I have what is basically a HUGE oval, so continuous running is allowed.The most trains I've had running at one time was 3. 2 mainline and one switching. I probably won't try THAT again! I did it but it was more stress than I want out of a hobby.
If I don't feel like running, I'll do a little scenery or update rolling stock. That kind of boring stuff. LOL!
I don't mind being a LW, but I would like to host regular Ops sessions. Just to see 5-6 mainline trains and two guys working the yard all at once.
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
I think each of is different and there can be differences caused by other factors. Some times you go down and want to operate, so some switching, then some more. Then there is that day when you want to go down and just let it run and watch as your train passes through the scenes you have created. This is one reason I feel I want a layout with continuous running capacity. You may spend an evening doing scenery work, new or upgrade, then just sit back and see how the train looks in its new environment. There are those who seldom run a train, they like to build and do scenery work, then, there are those whos layouts are plywood central with very little or no scenic work, yet both layout owners are happy.
Do what feels good to you.
Have fun,
I know what you mean. For me it will be train makeup in the yards. I picked up a set of Micromarks stuff for operations on e-bay and will proubly use that.
Construction and Maintenance is a never ending project.
As for operations, the wolves got eaten, so we anre now left with a Lone LION opearation.
Him Runs the subway of him by the book!
438 daily trains at the 242th Street Tower, not counting the Express trains running through the Lenox Avenue and Nevins Street Towers.