Are larger train layouts less boring?


Selector said:
No. Boring comes from lack of complexity. A small layout can offer complexity, but it takes understanding of real rail operations, imagination and patience to craft it. A huge layout that's just a loop of tracks will soon become boring. This is not universal as some are quite content with a loop of track on a sheet of plywood. But, most of us soon realize that we want more out of our model experience. We want something close to prototypical operations. This means some switching, some running, some maintenance, some passenger, some freight....you get the idea.

I don't think anyone would call the Gorre & Daphetid by John Allen a boring layout. It was quite small, but maybe 'compact' is more correct.
Click to expand...
I completely agree with this - with one exception. There are some people who enjoy building scenery and structures more than actually running trains. If your interest lies in that direction, you are unlikely to benefit from building a more operationally complex layout :)
As for me, I want a layout that captures the operational complexity of railroading in the real world!
 
I agree, too many "experts" saying it has to have "form" or "purpose", to me the purpose is to enjoy and have fun,
Click to expand...
...and that is a purpose. Form and purpose can be anything you want. Whether it's replicating a prototype transportation system down to the paperwork or its just making a photo diorama that doesn't even have power to the rails, both of those have form and purpose. If you want a loop to go around the Christmas tree it still has form and purpose. The form is a continuous loop and small enough to fit around the tree in the room and purpose is to keep a train orbiting the tree. If it doesn't meet the form, the layout won't be enjoyable because it doesn't fit or won't support running a train around the tree, and if it doesn't meet the purpose, to have a train running under the tree, then it won't be enjoyable.
 
cv_acr said:
For some of us, that's what keeps it from getting boring. You don't need to put "experts" in quotes there.

Not everyone is into operations, but for those that are, that's what holds the interest.
Click to expand...
Oh! 100% agree with you, I'm not knocking anyone who does, I love running trains, operations and switching hold no interest for me, others love the whole complexity of operations and switching, and if that's their passion, go for it, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it, because there isn't, it's what ever holds your interest or find exciting, that's what I love about this hobby, it can be whatever you want it to be.
 
Knowing yourself, and your own interests, in terms of what had drawn you to having an interest in railroads, trying to model them, if known, will give you the best idea of what you need to incorporate into your model railroad, to keep it interesting for you personally, even if it turns out that a 1x8' switching line would do you best, or some sort of loop on 2'x4' in N scale, might work best for you. Larger can mean more time required to work on the layout, in addition to requiring more materials for your modeling effort$.

Hope this helps.
 
otiscnj said:
Knowing yourself, and your own interests, in terms of what had drawn you to having an interest in railroads, trying to model them, if known, will give you the best idea of what you need to incorporate into your model railroad, to keep it interesting for you personally, even if it turns out that a 1x8' switching line would do you best, or some sort of loop on 2'x4' in N scale, might work best for you. Larger can mean more time required to work on the layout, in addition to requiring more materials for your modeling effort$.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

It sometimes takes a while to figure out what you want out of this hobby!

I got back into model railroading in the early 1990s after I got my first job. I quickly built several dull and uninspired layouts and I got bored with them even before I finished building them.

Then in 2007 I had the good luck to visit a friend who had built a large fully automated (computer controlled) layout. That was when I realized that what I really wanted was some level of realistic operational complexity. The next realization came when I discovered that I could get a lot of enjoyment out of switching operations. So those have been the themes for my two currently layouts. But as I said earlier, it took me a long time to figure this out :)
 
homersimpsonlikestrains said:
I’m stuck if I should build a 4 x 8 HO train layout or an L-shape dog bone HO layout. Which is better to avoid the train layout becoming boring over time?
Click to expand...
Well, lot's of good replies to your inquiry thus far, but maybe a few questions you haven't answered in this post.......................
What do YOU think sounds or looks like fun right now? Do you prefer loop running, or do you think switching out industries sounds more inviting? Is modern day your main interest, or do you think a previous era is more your fancy? And mainly, what's your personal model railroading experience? Based on your question, I'm guessing you're fairly new to the hobby, and therefore don't have as much experience.

Do you have more than enough room for a 4' x 8' layout? Would you have room for two 4' x 8' tables, joined together in an "L" shape? If so, this might be an extremely good and affordable way to get started on seeing what you like. It would also give your trains enough room to stretch their legs without seeming too cramped, so to speak. Build two 4' x 8' plywood tables and join them together in an "L" shape. Paint the top a good tannish-gray color with some flat latex house paint. Search the web for good "L" shaped track plans until you find something you like (or close to liking, in either HO or N-scale). Buy some track and switches and tack down straight to the plywood. Run trains on it for awhile and see what you think. I think a beginner could do a REAL interesting layout with this type of setup. Try it for a month or two, then re-arrange the track plan if necessary. Once you get it to your liking, remove the track, put down some cork or foam roadbed, re-apply the track, and get going with ballasting, scenery, structures, permanent wiring, and all the other aspects of layout building.

A layout like this should prove to be entertaining for quite some time without becoming boring in the short term. After being in the hobby a large portion of my life, I've still never done an "L" shaped layout made from two 4' x 8' tables, even though I have thought about it on many occasions. I still might one of these days!
 
Large layouts allow trains to go somewhere. Large Layouts need more maintenance. Large layouts sometimes fail to reach a stage where the scenery is completed.


Several decades ago, I had a multi-level point to point in half a basement. At least 3/4rds never had scenery it was fun to operate but between dust, dirty rail and turn out maintenance was not very fun. Two moves later I built a folded oval to practice scenery techniques. Boring.

Bryan Hendersen (I hope that's the correct spelling) is a layout designer. He modified Model Railroaders the Virginian Project Layout from a 4x8 to fit around the walls of a 9x10 (or so), spare bedroom. The result was a loop for when you just want to run trains, a branch line to service a coal mine for the trains to go somewhere and a yard to provide operations and switching. In his sidebar article he explains how a 4x8 sheet of plywood in the middle of a room takes up more room than using the same square footage as a 4x8 around the walls while reducing the need to walk around the four sides of the layout plus the long reach to the backside. I like this layout design because of the concepts, go somewhere, continuous loop and switching operations. This plan can be found on-line. There are other fine examples of this with Georgia Northeastern MRR being another.

Also take a look at the original Model Railroad Beer Line Project Railroad. Interesting concept about rearranging components to create different track routes.

Good luck and best wishes with whatever you decide.
 
Last edited:
I watch some layouts oh U tube that have 30,000 feet of track and I fall asleep after 5 minutes. Big doesn't make it less boring. Working on the layout regardless of its size is half the fun. I get more fun inventing, adapting, building than running. A layout doesn't need to be completed. Tearing up, rebuilding or adding to a layout can be part of the overall experience. Imagination can play a part. Children demonstrate how they can keep occupied with a set of building blocks for hours. Adults can do the same.

My layout for example uses Marklin 3 rail track, is set in the United States and runs European style steam, electric and diesel trains. What an imagination!
 
Last edited:
Mr. Ron said:
I watch some layouts oh U tube that have 30,000 feet of track and I fall asleep after 5 minutes. Big doesn't make it less boring. Working on the layout regardless of its size is half the fun. I get more fun inventing, adapting, building than running. A layout doesn't need to be completed. Tearing up, rebuilding or adding to a layout can be part of the overall experience. Imagination can play a part. Children demonstrate how they can keep occupied with a set of building blocks for hours. Adults can do the same.

My layout for example uses Marklin 3 rail track, is set in the United States and runs European style steam, electric and diesel trains. What an imagination!
Click to expand...
Mines set in the UK, but I run OO scale UK Diesel and Steam, plus HO American Diesels, so I definitely agree with you, it's our layout, we can run what we want.
 
I've heard it said you only need 3 things to be happy: "Someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to". Whatever you enjoy doing, be it running trains, creating scenery or building structures, your railroad dream needs to constantly provide you with something to look forward to. Otherwise, it will become boring, no matter how big or how small ;).
 
Last edited:
I would say it’s only boring if you make it boring…

Size is a factor, resources are a factor, time you have to model is a factor, your age is a factor, your ability to translate ideas into results is a factor…to whatever design you settle on…

eg, for most of the summer I have been unable to finish a 3 ft long section of fence on layout…

Bored…nope, I’m still thinking hard about finishing that fence…weathering the factory roof and the parking lot…adding desert scrub vegetation…cutting and painting some wood panel for backdrop mountains…
 
kleiner said:
It sometimes takes a while to figure out what you want out of this hobby!

I got back into model railroading in the early 1990s after I got my first job. I quickly built several dull and uninspired layouts and I got bored with them even before I finished building them.

Then in 2007 I had the good luck to visit a friend who had built a large fully automated (computer controlled) layout. That was when I realized that what I really wanted was some level of realistic operational complexity. The next realization came when I discovered that I could get a lot of enjoyment out of switching operations. So those have been the themes for my two currently layouts. But as I said earlier, it took me a long time to figure this out :)
Click to expand...
I could go both ways on this one. I got into the hobby in the 1970's, after PC filed for bankruptcy, but before Conrail came into being. As a kid in elementary school, I liked the NYC-DC PRR, (or NEC, which wasn't called that back then, the way it is today), subways, lines with catenary, and mountain scenery, too, if at all possible, too.

In the late 1970's I took a long, one day commuter excursion, along a route that turned out to be a very good concept for part of a model railroad, I started planning sections of it in the early 1980's.

Back in the late 60's and early 70's my parents pushed me into HO scale, from O, for a number of 'legitimate' reasons in their minds, however, 40-50 years later, I now find myself back in O, and trying to dispose portions of my HO collection. My Dad also was from outside of the NEC region, and had worked for a large western US railroad, and had a rather poor opinion of my main modeling interests, which were not based on any sort of employment experience(s), or using their long distance passenger services.
 
Mixed Freight said:
Well, lot's of good replies to your inquiry thus far, but maybe a few questions you haven't answered in this post.......................
What do YOU think sounds or looks like fun right now?
Click to expand...

Mixed Freight said:
...... what's your personal model railroading experience? I'm guessing you're fairly new to the hobby, and therefore don't have as much experience.

Do you have more than enough room for a 4' x 8' layout? Would you have room for two 4' x 8' tables, joined together in an "L" shape? If so, this might be an extremely good and affordable way to get started on seeing what you like. It would also give your trains enough room to stretch their legs without seeming too cramped, so to speak. Build two 4' x 8' plywood tables and join them together in an "L" shape. Paint the top a good tannish-gray color with some flat latex house paint. Search the web for good "L" shaped track plans until you find something you like (or close to liking, in either HO or N-scale). Buy some track and switches and tack down straight to the plywood. Run trains on it for awhile and see what you think. I think a beginner could do a REAL interesting layout with this type of setup. Try it for a month or two, then re-arrange the track plan if necessary. Once you get it to your liking, remove the track, put down some cork or foam roadbed, re-apply the track, and get going with ballasting, scenery, structures, permanent wiring, and all the other aspects of layout building.

A layout like this should prove to be entertaining for quite some time without becoming boring in the short term. After being in the hobby a large portion of my life, I've still never done an "L" shaped layout made from two 4' x 8' tables, even though I have thought about it on many occasions. I still might one of these days!
Click to expand...
You mean what if you were limited to 2 4x8 sheets of plywood, or 1 4x8 + 1 4x4 sheets? Either as an L, or end to end?

Some people don't even have room for 1 4x8, and have to use a 4x6, or 2x4 portion of a 4x8.

I think you could make each of them work, in several different scales, however they would each be very different trackplans, scenery, etc. There are plenty of trackplans, or layout designs you could copy of adapt, or even come up with something completely original on your own, of your own design.

Published plans have the advantage that someone has probably made it before, and can offer you advice if you run into trouble.

Choosing the scale will immediately make a number of choices for you, as to how much you need to eventually invest in things like rolling stock, locomotives, structures, etc. It will also most likely determine how long a wheelbase for a locomotive or say passenger car, that will operate reliably around your layout can be.
 
I know these questions were addressed to the OP but seems like it might be relevant.

Mixed Freight said:
What do YOU think sounds or looks like fun right now? Do you prefer loop running, or do you think switching out industries sounds more inviting? Is modern day your main interest, or do you think a previous era is more your fancy? And mainly, what's your personal model railroading experience?
Click to expand...
Through the years I do say that "doing whatever one wants" is not as fun as choosing something specific and sticking with it. Have tried both. I now always recommend to pick a place, and time, then whether one goes prototype or freelance (essence of V&O or Utah Belt) stick with it.


Mixed Freight said:
...... what's your personal model railroading experience?
Click to expand...
For the record...
1. (pre school days) Layout on a fold up board over my bed (probably 4x7) Simple oval with two spurs. Atlas hot frog turnouts.
2. (2nd grade) Similar layout on a board in the basement. Had a curved strip of wood on one edge to hold the curve that ran over the side a bit.
3. (3rd-6th grade) 4x6 stupid Atlas oval with "expansion". Had this for many years. Tried to add slot cars too it but it was too small for even that. This was the first model railroad that was with my trains not hand me downs from my father.
4. 4x4 with 2 cut off corners had a loop with spurs all over the place.
5. N-Scale 2x4 simple oval with a two track spur to center, later modified to be double track but only 1 crossover.
6. N-Scale 4x3 single track with two passing tracks - ran two train operation with only 4 selectors it was tricky.
(through 3-6 mostly set up the HO trains on the floor in different arrangements with and without slot car crossings, plus in this time period I discovered the wonders of simple wiring of both the track and assessories of 3-rail O-Gauge track ).
7. N-Scale 2x8 started as a simple loop, then a double loop, then a single loop with an alternate route center "loop", then a yard, then a reversing loop, then completely reworked as my first "real" model railroad. Was my first cookie-cutter layout. It was single track mainline with 3 hidden staging tracks in back, in front was a passing track with two spurs switchback style and a "branch" up to an elaborate mine on 2nd level.
8. 8x6 open grid O-Scale (not 3 rail) made to exhibit at the first "Great Train Expo" in St. Louis. My first open grid benchwork and wire mesh scenery. Simple oval with one passing siding, two spurs, and a quarry.
9. Platte Valley Model Railroad Club (21 years) - 36x24 basement of Union Station Denver Colorado
10. Operations on tens of various layouts up and down the Colorado Front range.
11. Youth in Model Railroading children's 2x4 or 4x4 modules, made a simple double track loop (size depending on number of modules included) Usually with a spur on each module.
12. My own modules 2x6 or 4x6. Can be configured as a dog bone or a double track mainline. Some massive industrial switching areas.
13. Greeley Freight Station Museum - now the Colorado Model Railroad Museum. Central dispatched 90x60 single track mainline. Was invited to bring my operations experience to the club and certify new members for operations.
14. Boulder Model Railroad Club - no layout

Also include various S-Scale American Flyer stuff in the 1960s and 1970s.
Got into G-Gauge (1:22 and 1:20.5 scales) in 1984 which has developed into a very elaborate Christmas Display every other year. Also last year got my first 1:32 scale (1-Gauge?) locomotive.

I got my first sound locomotive in 1983 (PFM type), first command control in 1979 (long before DCC was even imagined). Been installing sound and decoders in locomotives ever since. Got my first DCC had to be 1994. Discovered nickle-silver rail in 1964 (on fiber ties no less) long before it became a "thing".

None of it has been boring.
 
Last edited:
I’m going to echo what Ken said, if you have the space build big, it is a hobby and you may or may not have some boring moments but it will always be in your thoughts. Also I highly recommend to do an around the wall and I won’t get into the depth subject because some can handle the long reach better than others. One last thing on depth of layout that I have as my general rule, take what you need and model back to front and if you‘re going to do scenery in layers do large sections at once because it can be painful. :)
 
Revisiting this thread and have some additional thoughts.

I was cleaning track on a friend's layout, and we were discussing this topic. I have secured a bedroom inside the house that is 10x10 and could place a well-designed layout in this space. Earlier I mentioned a custom redesign of MRR The Virginian project layout. That redesign would fit perfectly.

On the other hand, I have a two-car garage that for the most part stores camping equipment and household handy man tools, my wife's earthquake supply pantry and me being a retired mechanic and awesome set of tools. I mentioned that even though I don't work on my own cars anymore the idea of a mechanic without a garage space is a bitter pill. He responded you don't park in there and all your cars have warranties. If you don't build big (in the garage) you may regret not knowing what could have been. He added just build a single-track branch line with sidings, one or two small towns and a small junction point with a 4-5 track yard that could serve as staging.

Still thinking about the possibility, but at 65 I am the youngest by a lot in this round robin group.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.



Back
Top