Is your layout too big?
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Whenever I want to have continuous operation on my layout I have to lower my lift up section. For safety reasons, I remove the door and lay it on a bed. It's a light hollow door so it's not a hard task.
Anyway this got me thinking of making a switching layout on the back of the door with a mainline on it. It obviously couldn't have buildings more than a storey high. If I ever got a bigger place, I could incorporate it into a future layout.
I thought of this because I've heard of doors being used as layout sections.
Never say completion or worry about time! I have a very large layout with only the track being completed and maybe 60% of scenery. This allows for Op sessions for the run-fun and still gives me plenty of hands-on with building, detailing, and even modifying for improvement. Now financially speaking, a large layout can be a challenge for even the large budget modeler. I have sections that will never be more than rural areas with plaster hills and valleys, so that I can direct my funds more toward the focal points.
Nope, I do not want to complete my layout and look at it more of a lifetime project
.
I want to complete my current layout. That is to get it to the point where there is no lumber, foam or other building material showing. Track work and electrical all in good working order. I do not intend to finish my layout. There will always be room for more details, changes, improvement etc. In the next ten years I plan to retire, move and start over on a new layout. In the mean time I have this one to enjoy.
I can see exactly what you're saying here Alan. While I have a "big" layout, I do have restrictions on what equipment will travel where. Nothing bigger than 2-8-0's and 4-6-0's, maybe a Mike, will proceed further up the branchline on mine past the coal mine. Artics and 2-10-2's can run up to the mine, but no further. The rest of the branch, about 3/4's of the branch, where a majority of the operations will take place, will be limited to the 2-8-0's, 4-6-0's, and an occasional Mike.
The Artics and my larger freight locos will have only 4 destinations on mine, the coal mine, the staging yards, the barge dump, and the main yard.
Yes a layout does take years to finish, but isn't that really the goal? To have a hobby where you take your time, build at your own pace, (to avoid burnout), to your own satisfaction, to your own timeline. This isn't a race, its a hobby. I've been in this hobby now for 50 years, and have really never had a "burned out" period. There were times where I did nothing but read and build kits, for months, but never have been truly burned out.
Right now, I'm building what I call my last layout. I figure that it will take me approx 10 years to get all track down, (I'm 7 years into it, and could start some operating sessions on it now, but that would slow down the construction), 1 year for basic scenery, and then the rest of the 20 year construction plan, detailing, improving and refurbishing what is there. By then I'll be in my late sixties and will be ready to stop construction and enjoy just operating it to its fullest.
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Whenever I want to have continuous operation on my layout I have to lower my lift up section. For safety reasons, I remove the door and lay it on a bed. It's a light hollow door so it's not a hard task.
Anyway this got me thinking of making a switching layout on the back of the door with a mainline on it. It obviously couldn't have buildings more than a storey high. If I ever got a bigger place, I could incorporate it into a future layout.
I thought of this because I've heard of doors being used as layout sections.
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TrainboyH16-44
Failfan
My layout is both too big and too small.
It's hard to get your layout too big. Large ones can be a problem for one owner who has to do all the upkeep and maintenance, but layouts, like gas, will expand to fill the available space. I think a good followup question would be how we make use of that space. I see some layouts where the owner seemed to feel that every square inch of space had to be filled with something, and I have seen many with too much track. Open spaces give the illusion of distance which is important.
Also how well did you do when you chose equipment? I have read some posts here and elsewhere where modelers were frustrated because their Santa Fe 4-8-4 didn't want to go around 18" radius curves, or where 85 ft passenger cars derailed. Time for a 2-8-0 or a 4-6-0 and some 60 footers!
Can you face the reality of your space limitations? Doing that is the secret of a great layout no matter what the size.
Also how well did you do when you chose equipment? I have read some posts here and elsewhere where modelers were frustrated because their Santa Fe 4-8-4 didn't want to go around 18" radius curves, or where 85 ft passenger cars derailed. Time for a 2-8-0 or a 4-6-0 and some 60 footers!
Can you face the reality of your space limitations? Doing that is the secret of a great layout no matter what the size.
Never say completion or worry about time! I have a very large layout with only the track being completed and maybe 60% of scenery. This allows for Op sessions for the run-fun and still gives me plenty of hands-on with building, detailing, and even modifying for improvement. Now financially speaking, a large layout can be a challenge for even the large budget modeler. I have sections that will never be more than rural areas with plaster hills and valleys, so that I can direct my funds more toward the focal points.Nope, I do not want to complete my layout and look at it more of a lifetime project
.
Gary B
The Fox Valley Railroad
I want to complete my current layout. That is to get it to the point where there is no lumber, foam or other building material showing. Track work and electrical all in good working order. I do not intend to finish my layout. There will always be room for more details, changes, improvement etc. In the next ten years I plan to retire, move and start over on a new layout. In the mean time I have this one to enjoy.
Cjcrescent
Master Mechanic
I can see exactly what you're saying here Alan. While I have a "big" layout, I do have restrictions on what equipment will travel where. Nothing bigger than 2-8-0's and 4-6-0's, maybe a Mike, will proceed further up the branchline on mine past the coal mine. Artics and 2-10-2's can run up to the mine, but no further. The rest of the branch, about 3/4's of the branch, where a majority of the operations will take place, will be limited to the 2-8-0's, 4-6-0's, and an occasional Mike.
The Artics and my larger freight locos will have only 4 destinations on mine, the coal mine, the staging yards, the barge dump, and the main yard.
OCN Guy
Member
Can a layout ever be too big? I'm sure - but it'd take an awful lot!
I see these layouts in MR that are 40' long, and think of my 7' long one. And weep. Well, not really, but I sigh in "If only I...' thoughts.
If I had twice the room, I probably could do everything I wanted to.
Then again, If I had room for a 22' long, I could do it in HO scale and REALLY be satisfied.
Rod Stewart's 128' long layout... maybe that's too big.
I see these layouts in MR that are 40' long, and think of my 7' long one. And weep. Well, not really, but I sigh in "If only I...' thoughts.
If I had twice the room, I probably could do everything I wanted to.
Then again, If I had room for a 22' long, I could do it in HO scale and REALLY be satisfied.
Rod Stewart's 128' long layout... maybe that's too big.
Larry
Long Winded Old Fart
If you had Rod Stewarts money I'm sure you could figure out a way to make a layout bigger. I've been trying to raise about $800.00 to add onto my layout w/Yard sales every month. About the time I get about half of it together the doctors & hospitals want their share & then I have to start all over again. My Goal is to add a section between my trainroom & my house(to get from one bldg. to the next)(about 75ft) & then to build another mountainous layout of about 12 by 24 ft. in that section & then back to the trainroom w/another set of rails. Oh Well, Big Dreams & Little money. LOL
otiscnj
Well-Known Member
I agree that at some point, a layout can be both too big, and too small. I went from a layout space of 8' x15', to one of 18'x24.' In some ways, the larger layout allowed for a lower track density. I was probably trying to do to much, as even with that space, train lengths were limited to about 8'.
We just moved to a new place back in May, which has a huge basement(over 28'x 45'-so big I don't know the exact dimensions). I've decided that my layout will be no larger than 28' x26', which is plenty big enough, if I ever build it to completion. I tend to be a loner, and with my last layout, the trains almost never ran, as I was continually making 'improvements,' which I want to avoid this time. As a result, I plan to focus first on a 14'x 26' area, which will contain the two major endpoints of the system I have planned. 'For the time being,' they will be connected by a 'shoe-fly track,' to allow me some continuous running. That way if family or other commitments end up becoming more important, I'll still have something that runs, with plenty of room to detail these particular scenes, which I'd find a pleasent change from my past several 'post nuclear plywood centrals.'
I model from about 1975-2000, with a slant toward the 80's. I decided some years ago that at some point in the 90's that 'modern power is just to big,' at least from a overhang perspective on the 22"-26-28" curves I was looking to make standard. Along these lines, I've also compromised on the use of 'shorty equipment,' such as the Athearn streamline cars (73'), and Life Like auto racks(50' double deck cars), as well as 50's TOFC/COFC cars, and Impact/railrunner TOFC cars, due to the curves I'm using. I also prefer the older Riverossi passenger cars, with the talgo couplers, over the more detailed Walther's cars of the last couple of years, for the same reasons. My plans are to spend some time to upgrade these models to make them more prototypical within their context, and the context of my railroad, and to 'live with these choices.' I'm figuring the freights on my new layout will be about 9' in length on average, with 2 dieselts (SD/GP combo) units up front, with most passenger trains being about 7' or shorter.
Given the state of the economy, and the much more limited space constraints that many others live with, I feel very lucky, & should still be able to have fun.
Carl
We just moved to a new place back in May, which has a huge basement(over 28'x 45'-so big I don't know the exact dimensions). I've decided that my layout will be no larger than 28' x26', which is plenty big enough, if I ever build it to completion. I tend to be a loner, and with my last layout, the trains almost never ran, as I was continually making 'improvements,' which I want to avoid this time. As a result, I plan to focus first on a 14'x 26' area, which will contain the two major endpoints of the system I have planned. 'For the time being,' they will be connected by a 'shoe-fly track,' to allow me some continuous running. That way if family or other commitments end up becoming more important, I'll still have something that runs, with plenty of room to detail these particular scenes, which I'd find a pleasent change from my past several 'post nuclear plywood centrals.'
I model from about 1975-2000, with a slant toward the 80's. I decided some years ago that at some point in the 90's that 'modern power is just to big,' at least from a overhang perspective on the 22"-26-28" curves I was looking to make standard. Along these lines, I've also compromised on the use of 'shorty equipment,' such as the Athearn streamline cars (73'), and Life Like auto racks(50' double deck cars), as well as 50's TOFC/COFC cars, and Impact/railrunner TOFC cars, due to the curves I'm using. I also prefer the older Riverossi passenger cars, with the talgo couplers, over the more detailed Walther's cars of the last couple of years, for the same reasons. My plans are to spend some time to upgrade these models to make them more prototypical within their context, and the context of my railroad, and to 'live with these choices.' I'm figuring the freights on my new layout will be about 9' in length on average, with 2 dieselts (SD/GP combo) units up front, with most passenger trains being about 7' or shorter.
Given the state of the economy, and the much more limited space constraints that many others live with, I feel very lucky, & should still be able to have fun.
Carl
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There are a variety of reason a layout might be considered too big.
Too big for the room in which it is contained, causing access problems to the layout and the room.
Too big for the user who is attempting to use it, such that they can't feasibly operate it enjoyably.
Too big for the builder as the project is overwhelming and defeating.
Too big that the complexity causes irritation rather than enjoyment.
I think we all dream of massive sprawling layouts the size of football fields (US or EU!), but in reality even if you had the money I think building such a beast would be self defeating. It would take a team of guys months just to build the benchwork. Another year to run the wires. Maybe at the end of the second year you might have a loop of mainline to run a train on.
But a modest layout of 20 x 30 could create a wonderful modeling atmosphere and you'd have functioning trains in less than a year.
There is such a thing as too big.
Too big for the room in which it is contained, causing access problems to the layout and the room.
Too big for the user who is attempting to use it, such that they can't feasibly operate it enjoyably.
Too big for the builder as the project is overwhelming and defeating.
Too big that the complexity causes irritation rather than enjoyment.
I think we all dream of massive sprawling layouts the size of football fields (US or EU!), but in reality even if you had the money I think building such a beast would be self defeating. It would take a team of guys months just to build the benchwork. Another year to run the wires. Maybe at the end of the second year you might have a loop of mainline to run a train on.
But a modest layout of 20 x 30 could create a wonderful modeling atmosphere and you'd have functioning trains in less than a year.
There is such a thing as too big.
BN8002
Did someone say B-unit?
I'm always of the opinion that a layout can never be too big....as long as its already built and operating. I have spent the last two years working on my 8'x25' double deck switching layout and I just got it functional last week. Now, I didn't work on it every day or even every weekend. I had a fair amount of help from my dad but he lives in arizona and I would do as much as I could until he came out to give me a hand. I always wanted a second set of eyes looking at it as I progressed since this was my first layout and I didn't want to miss steps. But if I had to do the entire thing myself it would have been very daunting to complete. I still have plans to build a larger layout and I know what I would do differently..But considering the kind of schedule I have now, a larger layout would take me years to finish and I could see where you could get burnt out and never finish it.
psychobeagle12
Member
For someone whose dreams are far bigger than their wallet (or their creative skills for that matter 
) I would say that yes a layout could be too big. Mine, being a 4x10 HO scale layout is far too small and I will one day convert a bedroom into a nice wall layout with a long mainline but for now just having a layout at all is good enough i guess 
) I would say that yes a layout could be too big. Mine, being a 4x10 HO scale layout is far too small and I will one day convert a bedroom into a nice wall layout with a long mainline but for now just having a layout at all is good enough i guess Cjcrescent
Master Mechanic
Yes a layout does take years to finish, but isn't that really the goal? To have a hobby where you take your time, build at your own pace, (to avoid burnout), to your own satisfaction, to your own timeline. This isn't a race, its a hobby. I've been in this hobby now for 50 years, and have really never had a "burned out" period. There were times where I did nothing but read and build kits, for months, but never have been truly burned out.
Right now, I'm building what I call my last layout. I figure that it will take me approx 10 years to get all track down, (I'm 7 years into it, and could start some operating sessions on it now, but that would slow down the construction), 1 year for basic scenery, and then the rest of the 20 year construction plan, detailing, improving and refurbishing what is there. By then I'll be in my late sixties and will be ready to stop construction and enjoy just operating it to its fullest.
boatwrench
Well-Known Member
I stated 'other'. My current finished layout consists of two lighted bumpers, a 9" rerailer and two sections cut from a piece of standard 36" flex track to create a 36" total track length.
A couple of decades ago I had the privledge of operating on Jim Provendza (sic) Santa Cruz Northern in Marin, CA and was very impressed. His rail road actually went somewhere and served a purpose. I started my own Southern prototype home railroad based on what I experienced on his railroad. However the space allocated was shared with the dryer and the railroad maintenance of removing lint, other dust and cleaning track sucked all the joy out. That model ralroad lasted ten years and has been taken down and boxed for over ten years. We have since moved, have a spare room inside the house we are nearing retirement and so I have started researching the next layout.
The new home is within walking distance of the former NWP mainline so that is a draw. I have plenty of SOU and neighboring RRs equipment built weathered and detailed so that is a draw. My four y.o. grand daughter enjoys trains so that is a major impetus to get motivated and build a room size layout has potential & at the risk of sounding sexist my 1st grand son is due this week. The weather is nicer in the new town so a garden railroad is a draw. Sometimes I just want to watch trains go in a circle and that is a draw. The local club is a modular one so that is a draw.
Choices, choices, choices.
The room is 10x12 and if I was to go large again it would be 10-12" wide shelf around the walls single track main capable of running multiple unit SD40-2s with vast distances between small towns possibly a center pennisula as a view block for the room. Single track main would be less track to clean, also small towns would have fewer turnouts to maintain. Continous running would be good for the grandkids, the pennisula view blockwould allow vistors to be drawn in to the scenery.
Who am I kidding? The 3' of test track will serve me well and when I point to that three feet of mainline and tell the bride of 31 years my layout is finished her reaction is well worth it.
A couple of decades ago I had the privledge of operating on Jim Provendza (sic) Santa Cruz Northern in Marin, CA and was very impressed. His rail road actually went somewhere and served a purpose. I started my own Southern prototype home railroad based on what I experienced on his railroad. However the space allocated was shared with the dryer and the railroad maintenance of removing lint, other dust and cleaning track sucked all the joy out. That model ralroad lasted ten years and has been taken down and boxed for over ten years. We have since moved, have a spare room inside the house we are nearing retirement and so I have started researching the next layout.
The new home is within walking distance of the former NWP mainline so that is a draw. I have plenty of SOU and neighboring RRs equipment built weathered and detailed so that is a draw. My four y.o. grand daughter enjoys trains so that is a major impetus to get motivated and build a room size layout has potential & at the risk of sounding sexist my 1st grand son is due this week. The weather is nicer in the new town so a garden railroad is a draw. Sometimes I just want to watch trains go in a circle and that is a draw. The local club is a modular one so that is a draw.
Choices, choices, choices.
The room is 10x12 and if I was to go large again it would be 10-12" wide shelf around the walls single track main capable of running multiple unit SD40-2s with vast distances between small towns possibly a center pennisula as a view block for the room. Single track main would be less track to clean, also small towns would have fewer turnouts to maintain. Continous running would be good for the grandkids, the pennisula view blockwould allow vistors to be drawn in to the scenery.
Who am I kidding? The 3' of test track will serve me well and when I point to that three feet of mainline and tell the bride of 31 years my layout is finished her reaction is well worth it.
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