Neat topic. Would be a good set of questions for a proper poll.
1)What scale do you model
HO layout under construction with Christmas O scale layout
2)How large in sq ft is your layout?
45 sq ft (9x5)3)How long in feet is your mainline?
21 feet aprox
4)Do you run a single track main or more?
1 now, double under construction.
5)Roughly what era do you model?
1980's-2000s
6)How big is your collection of rolling stock and locos?
Aprox 20 locos and 100 rolling stock
7)At what approximate scale speeds do you do most of your running?
No idea.
8)What is your layouts minimum radius curves and average curve radius, and longest cars you run?
MInimum radius 18. Average 22-25.Longest cars 72'
9)What type of layout do you have? (i.e. Around the walls-primarily switching, around the walls-primarily running, Island-running, none at this time, Etc.
Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading.
Great topic with a lot of different answers. I too must ask what is the purpose of this survey? Who will compile the information? What's the end result?
HO, though I have enough of the "Lone Star Treble O" to fill a 5' x 10' sheet of plywood. It is all boxed up.
Pretty much fills a 15' x 24' room.3)How long in feet is your mainline?
230'ish
4)Do you run a single-track main or more?
Single.
The late 1930s with a lot of cheating.
Six steam, five diesels and just over a hundred pieces of rolling stock.
Older era steam (4-4-0) 25mph, newer 1930s equipment 40+
Min 32+. Longest cars Rapido 85' Supercontinental passenger cars.
A (sort of) folded dog bone.
- How old is the owner?
62
- Who designed the layout?
Yours truly.
- Who built the layout?
Me, myself and I.
- How many layouts has the owner had/built?
Lots of Plywood Pacifics as a kid. Didn't miss a beat stepping right back into it as an old geezer.
- If you did it over, would you change scales or anything else of significance?
Nope.
- Do you consider yourself a layout builder or operator?
Builder. I like a train running while I work on the layout and like a real MOW crew, I have to remember one comes by every six minutes.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
1) HO
2) 24 sq ft (4x6)
3) ~16 ft
4) Single
5) ~1955
6) ~20 cars, 5 locos
7) low speed, 10-20 mph
8) minimum 18, avg 20, longest cars 60'
9) island-switching
Oops, had previously replied to first part.
I designed the layout in Microstation (a cadd package used for real world design) using Kato sectional track lengths, when I was about 37 years old. My father built the benchwork. It was designed to get operational fast--took about 2 hours to originally layout all the track, which was subsequently glued down with Liquid Nails, to the pink insulation foam sheets. However, I had a plan of what piece of track went where to follow.
I have built or assisted others in building 5 layouts.
I did ok scenery, now a bit the worse for where, and I am an operator, not a builder. I buy cool trains (mostly big six axle Alco Century or MLW M-630/M-636 diesels) and let them roll. My son wants big 40 to 50 car trains, mostly of coal hoppers, but they can be anything and he has some modern diesels.
If I had it to do over? I would go smaller for my next move. For me, I just need something big enough to run the Alcos...
John
Here is my second half of the poll.
38
I designed it myself in Solidworks based on the BN project in 1990 MRR but in and around Cheyenne, WY.
I am building it myself. It is a work in progress at the moment.
This is my first real layout. My first layout was a 28" x 48" piece of plywood I built 27 years ago.
Wish I would of done a peninsula to get more mainline, lots of empty space in the middle of the layout. Had to design the bench work section to fit in my hatchback so I could get the sections home after building them at work. Can always change it in the future.
50/50
- How old is the owner? 43
- Who designed the layout? Leonard Blumenscheine (although I slightly modified his plan)
- Who built the layout? Me
- How many layouts has the owner had/built? Too many to remember. With parents that divorced, having layouts at each one's home, and both moving way too many times, I can't keep track. Layout's didn't get re-used at each new location.
- If you did it over, would you change scales or anything else of significance? Nope. With divorced parents I got to have one layout in HO at one house, one in N at the other. Certainly prefered HO. If I had huge amounts of space, I would seriously consider two rail O before I would look at N again.
- Do you consider yourself a layout builder or operator? Both. All depends on my mood. I build more than run when my personal schedule isn't jammed packed around the kids sports. When time is short, I rarely build, spending what little time I have running.
Mike
restorator What am I planning to do with this data? Myself, absolutely nothing but satisfy my curiosity about the current state of the hobby and some clues to it's future. However, it may just be helpful to and vendors/manufacturers watching too. Its not exactly scientific and it's completely voluntary. And it may even help newcomers feel more at home and be less intimidated when they find that most of us are just enjoying what we have and making the best of our own situations, recommendations and rules notwithstanding.
What am I planning to do with this data? Myself, absolutely nothing but satisfy my curiosity about the current state of the hobby and some clues to it's future. However, it may just be helpful to and vendors/manufacturers watching too.
Its not exactly scientific and it's completely voluntary. And it may even help newcomers feel more at home and be less intimidated when they find that most of us are just enjoying what we have and making the best of our own situations, recommendations and rules notwithstanding.
I'm still up to compiling all of it at some point if there is enough interest...
I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.
1. HO
2. 200 square feet
3. About 150'
4. 4 track to 3 track to 2 track and 2 single tracks
5. 90's to 10's
6. Approx 100 loco, 200, rolling stock
7. Slow to medium except Amtrak which is fast.
8. Max 24", min 18"
9. "L" with duck under 10.5' w to 8' w at other end at 21' L, open duck under area 14' L x 2' W. running and switching layout
mobilman44 Have to ask.........why does the OP care about this, and what will the information lead him to do - or not do?
Have to ask.........why does the OP care about this, and what will the information lead him to do - or not do?
Curiosity. And seeing what the real people have at home, not just the squeaky wheels that post the most. For example, searching around this forum many people give the impression that it is incredibly difficult to run long cars on sharp curves, but although it might not look the best, it seems that a good portion of people with tight curves seem to do it just fine anyway although some may need tweaking. There was a time when I was majorly intimidated by what I have read, and if I didn't try it for myself and find out otherwise, I would have missed out on a lot of fun and vendors would have missed out on a lot of sales.
I was also curious about how the size of the layouts as that has some correlation to how much people can afford to spend on their hobby. It also, along with the new follow up questions, can tell a bit about the average age of the modeler.
mobilman44 Have to ask.........why does the OP care about this, and what will the information lead him to do - or not do? Whatever.......seems some very respected folks have replied to this request, so I guess its ok. But I would add a few questions to get a more comprehensive overview.... - How old is the owner? - Who designed the layout? - Who built the layout? - How many layouts has the owner had/built? - If you did it over, would you change scales or anything else of significance? - Do you consider yourself a layout builder or operator?
Whatever.......seems some very respected folks have replied to this request, so I guess its ok.
But I would add a few questions to get a more comprehensive overview....
So for context, I have copied my earlier reply:
Ok, here goes:
1) HO scale, at present I don't even own one piece of equipment in a different scale.......
2) Just moved, planning a new layout similar to the previous one. The new layout will fill about 1500 square feet in my basement.
3) The visable part of the mainline will be about 300 feet or about 5 scale miles. Then there will be about 150 of hidden mainline to reach hidden staging for about 30 trains.
4) Double track, plus several single track branch and belt line extensions.
5) September 1954
6) Well the layout is designed for freight trains in the 35 to 50 car range, and passenger trains in the 12 to 15 car range. And again it will stage about 30 trains. Most freight trains are powered by double headed steam or 3-4 unit diesel lashups.
So, at present I have about 140 powered units which counts B units separately, and counts self propelled passenger equipment like RDC's and doodlebugs.
I have about 900 freight cars, about 300 of them still need to be built or refitted to be layout ready.
I have about 200 passenger cars.
7) Mainline freight speeds, between 20 and 50 mph, passenger speeds, 40 to 80 smph.
8) Minimum mainline radius 38", most mainline curves more like 42", some even larger for cosmetic effect. Easements on all curves.
9) Around the room with peninsulas, deep scenes, typically 3-4 feet deep, with most all visible trackage in the front 2 feet. Mainline operations and separate belt lines and branch lines for industrial/switching operations. Like two separate layouts in one, bigtime mainline/display running and an ISL tucked inside it.
Some other facts of potential interest.
Type of control system - DC advanced cab control with CTC, detection, signaling, radio wireless throttles, and ATC.
No onboard sound, considering some layout based sound ideas.
Maximum grade - 2%
Railroad/region modeled - Mid Atlantic Piedmont platue, fictional ATLANTIC CENTRAL, B&O, C&O, WESTERN MARYLAND.
Planning to begin construction before fall.
Sheldon
Now for the new questions from Mobilman:
I am 62 years old.
I have designed all my own layouts, going back to age 15, as well as designing a number of layouts for other modelers over the years.
I have built all my own layouts, except the first one at age 10, built for me by my father, then I took over and expanded and modified it. I will build the new one myself as well.
Counting the one my father built, the new layout will be my 6th.
I would not change anything, in fact the new layout will be an expansion of the exact same concept of the last one - I now have more space. I have never seriously considered a different scale, and I have modeled the same era and theme for the last 30 years.
I am both a layout builder and operator, as well as a model builder. I have never taken a layout down just to build something different. Once built I continue to improve, and enjoy operating.
Mark R.For all the people claiming to run in the 25 to 35 mph range .... have you actually timed / measured it out to be certain ?
.
Yes. 30 MPH in HO is painfully slow, but it makes the layout more fun to operate.
Harrison & Isaac: I love your repsonses. I built the first STRATTON AND GILLETTE when I was 14-18 years old, and your reponses reminded me of all the fun it was back then.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good Extra Questions mobilman! I’ll answer them!
17
Your Truely!
Well I did, if you call a Plywood Pacific build! I guess building the table top did take some work!
None before this one, unless you count putting together sectional track on a desk!
I would not use a plain 4x8. It’s too big compared to the space my track actually presently occupies and therefore need up being 50% workbench, not layout. I think if and when I do it again I will do a shelf layout, or a much smaller isand (like 3x4ft)
Operator, that’s why nothing on my layout ever changes or progresses and all there is is bare plywood!
Also I’ll copy/paste my old response. A few things have changed, so I’ll indicate that.
SPSOT fan Please not everting in Italics is addition not in my original post from last May (including this sentence) 1) I Model in HO and N. N is what I currently have with HO being in storage for now. 2) My layout is sectional track in folding tables for now, each table is 3’ by 3’, So with two tables that’s 18 square feet. I have a 4‘ by 8’ board with some more wood that will become a more permanent 32 square foot layout soon (whatever that means...) Actually now I have turned the 4x8 into a table top, though one end is really my workbench. That makes the layout 32 ft^2 with 16 ft^2 Of actual trains! Track arrangemen has not changed since May! 3) About 6’ or 7’ at the moment, will likely add more eventually... 4) Single track! I would never do a double track “racetrack”! 5) I model late 60s, just before the BN merger. Make that first half of 1970, I’ve got a bit more specific since May! 6) HO; 2 locomotives and about 5 or 6 cars, N; 1 loco with 4 cars. Ho is the same, but N is not 3 locos, 20 cars! 7) No idea, but slow! Usually under 50% on DC and below 25ish% on DCC. 8) 15” for N scale. Longest cars are 50 scale feet but my U28C is a longer locomotive. I now have one 83 foot auto rack, but it runs badly! Everything else is still >50. 9) Island running for now in N scale, but next layout will be a HO switching layout on the walls. Or N shelf/around the walls. I no longer have much attachment to HO!
Please not everting in Italics is addition not in my original post from last May (including this sentence)
2) My layout is sectional track in folding tables for now, each table is 3’ by 3’, So with two tables that’s 18 square feet. I have a 4‘ by 8’ board with some more wood that will become a more permanent 32 square foot layout soon (whatever that means...) Actually now I have turned the 4x8 into a table top, though one end is really my workbench. That makes the layout 32 ft^2 with 16 ft^2 Of actual trains! Track arrangemen has not changed since May!
3) About 6’ or 7’ at the moment, will likely add more eventually...
4) Single track! I would never do a double track “racetrack”!
5) I model late 60s, just before the BN merger. Make that first half of 1970, I’ve got a bit more specific since May!
6) HO; 2 locomotives and about 5 or 6 cars, N; 1 loco with 4 cars. Ho is the same, but N is not 3 locos, 20 cars!
7) No idea, but slow! Usually under 50% on DC and below 25ish% on DCC.
8) 15” for N scale. Longest cars are 50 scale feet but my U28C is a longer locomotive. I now have one 83 foot auto rack, but it runs badly! Everything else is still >50.
9) Island running for now in N scale, but next layout will be a HO switching layout on the walls. Or N shelf/around the walls. I no longer have much attachment to HO!
I really do enjoy reading these to see what kind of layouts others have, and I did enjoy making this! Hope you enjoy it too!
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
14, but my parents own the basement...
I did, using prototype track arrangments.
Other than some of the benchwork its all me.
this is the first real layout (scenery, roadbed ect.)
I would build better benchwork and make a point to point, around the walls with greater curve radius.
50/50.
Harrison
Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.
Modeling the D&H in 1978.
Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"
My YouTube
Mark R. For all the people claiming to run in the 25 to 35 mph range .... have you actually timed / measured it out to be certain ? I've measured and timed various scale speeds on my layout for programming purposes, and the results were surprisingly different than what my mind's eye THOUGHT was right. Mark.
For all the people claiming to run in the 25 to 35 mph range .... have you actually timed / measured it out to be certain ? I've measured and timed various scale speeds on my layout for programming purposes, and the results were surprisingly different than what my mind's eye THOUGHT was right.
Mark.
My Atlas and BLI locos give audio speed reports which I tested for accuracy around a 60' loop and found them to be quite good. I then check my other locos against those taking note of the setting required to maintain a certain speed. With this info, I can run tree trains all day long and they will never meet.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
How old is the owner?: I am 51.
Who designed the layout?: I have designed all my layouts, including the next one, but I do not claim to be good at layout design.
Who built the layout?: I have built the cardboard version of the next layout. The actual layout has not been built yet, but I have built a test segment as a proof of concept.
How many layouts has the owner had/built?: I have built the previous five STRATTON AND GILLETTE layouts. I have also built other layouts. I built two N scale layouts for Scale Rails of Southwest Florida. I built an N scale layout for Reynold's Hobby Shop, and I co-built my freind Randy's NORFOLK SOUTHERN N scale layout.
If you did it over, would you change scales or anything else of significance?: The STRATTON AND GILLETTE has switched scales and eras before. If the next layout is in fact not the last one, I might build an O scale ISL.
Do you consider yourself a layout builder or operator?: I build. I need to build. I also love playing with my electric trains. I hate operating a layout. I have a job. If I am going to role-play as a diffierent job, it will not be as a train engineer. I will be a noble High Level Lawful Good Paladin slaying the Rat People, Vanquishing Evil, and Defending the Helpless against the Orc Mobs.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
1)What scale do you model? HO
2)How large in sq ft is your layout? 900 sq. ft (27*29 - double level)3)How long in feet is your mainline? 211'
4)Do you run a single track main or more? Single
5)Roughly what era do you model? Freelance (modern, transitional, steam)
6)How big is your collection of rolling stock and locos? 146
7)At what approximate scale speeds do you do most of your running? 30
8)What is your layouts minimum radius curves and average curve radius, and longest cars you run? 26, 26, 70
9)What type of layout do you have? (i.e. Around the walls-primarily switching, around the walls-primarily running, Island-running, none at this time, Etc. Folded dogbone with peninsula
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
1) N scale
2) 40 sqft 10' x 9'3) 60ft
4) Double main
5) Today
6) 75+/12
7) 45-75mph
8) 12"/19"/89'
9) Around the walls with runing and switching.
Since some time has gone by, I wanted to resurect this poll and see if any people that havent yet seen it want to add to it
Trainman440I just fix engines in my free time
I fix things for a living, so I guess that is why I hate to work on repairing model stuff.
If something breaks, I tend to retire it, and buy a replacement.
The exception is my brass locmotives, those I will work on, but they are very easy to work on.
I cannot even figure out how to get the shell off of some new diesel models!
SeeYou190 Wow, that is an aspect of the hobby I had not considered.
Wow, that is an aspect of the hobby I had not considered.
Yea, I find joy and pride in seeing engines that I purchase in shambles on Ebay running flawlessly on my track. This is why I don't weather my engines, in fact the opposite. I know its not realistic, but I'm not in this hobby for realism. I just fix engines in my free time. Although not as experienced as @DarthSantaFe or @DoctorWayne, I do my best!
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
Trainman440I enjoy this hobby mostly for the "train restoration" aspect more than anything.
Last year I tried to put together my own research post into how we all enjoy the hobby differently, but I pulled the plug on the project because I was concerned it would tailspin into a "what is a REAL model railroader" debate.
I am glad this one is going so well.
1. HO Scale
2. 220ish sq ft (roughly 12x18) plus staging
3. About 110'
4. Single
5. Late 1940's
6. Approximately 60 freight cars, 25 passenger cars, 17 locos.
7. Freight 35 mph, Passenger 60 mph.
8. Minimum radius 24", average 26", longest cars 85'
9. Around the walls, mix of running and switching, point to point with continuous run capability.
1)What scale do you model HO
2)How large in sq ft is your layout? Its a 4x8, so 32sqft. 3)How long in feet is your mainline? I dunno, my layout is "The Virginian" track plan, MRR 2012 project layout.
4)Do you run a single track main or more? single track, see above.
5)Roughly what era do you model? I try to keep my fleet around 1950s.
6)How big is your collection of rolling stock and locos? Wow, after reading other replies I feel like a hoarder... I got 46 operational engines(19 with DCC sound), 20 passenger cars, and 70ish freight cars. I enjoy this hobby mostly for the "train restoration" aspect more than anything.
7)At what approximate scale speeds do you do most of your running? I try to keep it under 50.
8)What is your layouts minimum radius curves and average curve radius, and longest cars you run? 16, average 22. Longest are 85' Walthers cars modified to somehow magically run smoothly on 22" radius curves ;)
9)What type of layout do you have? 4x8 "The Virginian", take that how you will. Being a senior in high school, I only get a small space in the basement for my trains...hopefully one day I'll have more space for a large layout!
restoratorI would say you have a collection, and an thorough investment in the concept and design stage, but in my personal opinion I don't really think a "railroad" actually exists until tracks hit the ground and cargo moves from place to place. Yeah, I know about paper corporations and all that in real life, but I doubt many would call them a "real railroad" if they arent actually hauling tonnage.
I would completely agree. I have enjoyed personally having five fully operational layouts, but I do not have one now.
When the list is compiled, you should leave my data off.
SeeYou190 How would we qualify my final layout? It is fully planned. I have built a full size model of the layout and built a test section to verify concept and material. I have also assembled and painted about 75% of the freight car and locomotive roster. However, the room for the layout is not done, so not one twig of actual construction has happened yet. Where am I? . -Kevin .
How would we qualify my final layout? It is fully planned. I have built a full size model of the layout and built a test section to verify concept and material. I have also assembled and painted about 75% of the freight car and locomotive roster.
However, the room for the layout is not done, so not one twig of actual construction has happened yet.
Where am I?
I would say you have a collection, and an thorough investment in the concept and design stage, but in my personal opinion I don't really think a "railroad" actually exists until tracks hit the ground and cargo moves from place to place. Yeah, I know about paper corporations and all that in real life, but I doubt many would call them a "real railroad" if they arent actually hauling tonnage.
- HO
- Current is a 16 sq ft ISL. Plan for the big one will be roughly 90 square feet of floor space.3)How long in feet is your mainline?
- 15 feet currently, 94 feet planned.
- Single track with passing sidings where needed.
- Mid-late 30's
- I currently have one operational steam loco (2-6-2), and one operational diesel (SW-1500), and 27 pieces of rolling stock.
- Under 20 mph.
- Both current and planned layouts have 18" minimums, and 20" on average. I could probably run 60 foot cars, but most of my rolling stock will be 40 footers or less.
- Shelf-type ISL currently. Plans for an around-the-walls point-to-point with one loop built in for continuous running, with a focus on operation.
- Adam
When all else fails, wing it!