Relaxation, Reflection, and maybe a new layout.
It’s been 10 days since since I started my little hiatus from working on the layout. It was nice little break from the layout and I took the opportunity to work other non-railroad projects I’ve been putting off doing.
There’s also been some reflection on the layout. During my time-off, I was also able to really think about the layout (mainly at work, heh). I thought about what my goals are for it, what issues it has, how many things were built so they “sorta worked”, and what things I would do differently. When I think to myself, “Was it that I really want to get out of my layout?”, I usually just want to railfan the layout; Someplace where I can go and just watch trains run. I’m never going to have op sessions with others, and I’m not really into switching (not yet at least) either. I think I really just want a (almost) “roundy-round” with a few industries for future operational switching. Something that I could turn on, and just let run if I wanted.
During all of this (and previously), the wife and I talked about the usage of the house and the space we have, as we’d like to have a 2nd baby and we only have 3 BR’s (1 being a guest room we’d like to keep). In short, instead of buying a house, utilizing the office/layout room as the guest bedroom would be the most cost effective measure for us.
So I’ve been pondering the idea of removing current layout and starting fresh with a new 16×7 layout in one half of the garage (picture a rectangle with a 28″ aisle down the middle).
While I know it’s certainly a *huge* change after spending nearly 2 years on the current layout, I feel like I could now build a layout more to how I really want. No crazy staging elevators, no cassettes, no helix, no double decks, etc… A more “traditional” kind of layout.
So needless to say, all work on the current layout is now on hold while this new layout is researched.
I can tell you from experience that 8 x 18 is plenty of space for a big layout (see my current track plan!). I always look at it this way–if I am ripping up one layout, it is because something better will be next. And it doesn’t have to be bigger to be better, either. I’m about to rip up the first track I ever laid on a “real” layout to accommodate a new track plan and surprisingly it doesn’t bother me at all. Just don’t let it bother you–this is a hobby after all! Jamie
Whoops. Actually that’s about 16′x7′ of available space. Fixed the post.
But yeah, when I think about the time, money, and work that would be lost be tearing down the existing layout, it doesn’t really bother me.
It’s like you said, it’s coming down so something better can replace it. It’s like a breath of fresh air and kind of exciting knowing I can design a layout to incorporate a couple elements I wanted to do before but couldn’t.
I am with you when it comes to switching and realistic operations. Although Model Railroader and other magazines tend to emphasize that part of the hobby, it does not really work for me. There are other ways to create a layout that will keep you entertained.
I wote up my thoughts on this recently on my blog: http://coralfringe.blogspot.com/2009/04/capturing-complexity.html
Shaun,
Why tear down the current layout completely? It seems to methat you already have a layout with tremendous railfanning potential – why not look at each deck as a Layout Desin Element, and see how you might pull them togteher in your new space. Approaching it this way, you get to the railfanning faster, as you ar ejust rearranging what you have to better suit your goals. Plus, you could keep the helix, which would allow for two u shaped decks and lots of long runs.
Well, the primary reason for removing the layout is for converting the room back to a use-able, standard looking bedroom/computer desk space.
The new layout actually would incorporate a little bit of all the areas on the deck. I’ve been doodling a little and I’d still have town, the refinery, and the bridge. Might even get the paper mill in their. I’d be able to run trains up to 12-14′(!) on the garage layout as well (currently 6.5′ is my limit). I’ve even got a 7 track staging yard in there.
While having the two decks makes for a nice long run, construction I feel will be a lot easier with a simple single layout. So that’s why I no longer want the helix.
Shaun, I completely understand where you’re coming from. I’ve gone through the same thing in my planning on what do I really want to get out of a layout.
All fair points. It jsut seems to me that, even if you redo the track, salvaging the benchwork and using it to start from will save a ton of time, and thus lead to quicker train running.
I agree.
I’ve been working on a quick “compromise” plan for the office, where the wife has okay’d using the room as both the layout room and guest room. It’ll result in a much smaller layout, but’ll be inside and I’ll be able to re-use a lot of the wall mounted benchwork.
I’ll post some info soon.