If you had to do it again....

If you were to build your layout again, with the value of hindsight, what would you do differently? In my case I'd aim to substantially reduce the steep grades, especially on the curves. Not sure how, but as they say "necessity is the mother of invention".

ausman2001 wrote:

If you were to build your layout again, with the value of hindsight, what would you do differently? In my case I'd aim to substantially reduce the steep grades, especially on the curves. Not sure how, but as they say "necessity is the mother of invention".

Would use lighter material and a lot more Woodland Scenics material. Spend more time on track work and getting it down smoothly and provide some points of expansion. Use DCC

cheerz
Garth

Good idea for a thread. I would have gone with broader curves and more use of flex track on the my initial arm of the layout. I am using it for the expansion and love the broad and sweeping curves I am achieving.

Rob

My layout is not complete yet but already I would design the hidden section with a lift off covers to make accessibility a little easier. Also i would take more care to make the track layout more precise before starting so as not to have little mis-alignment issues.

I will be doing it all over again soon. I had to take down the layout I was working on and plan to build it again, probably in our single car garage. I will go with all MTL roadbed track and turnouts, and have leads for DCC about every three feet this time. I am thinking of a narrow shelf layout along one wall with 3X3' turn arounds at each end. I think the shelf could be about 15' long, so I could run some long grain trains. One end would be eastern Washington and the other Vancouver, where grain is shipped all over the world. If it is relatively narrow, it would be easier to cover to keep out the cat hair (urgh) and dust. Just in the day dreaming stage right now.

John

Pay much more attention to getting the track work right.

Hi All (and hello again Rowan).

I would have:

1) used matrix boards for all the routing and power distribution logic,
2) put all terminal strips where there was 'free space' above teh baseboard,
3) better labelled my cabling and been more logical with my cable colours,
4) used ply instead of MDF,
5) either had longer wires going to the control panel or used connectors,
6) used a different layout of controllers,
6) had the loco depot at the up end of the station and the freight yard at
the down end and
7) had the ability to control the layout from the front or the back.

Hmmmm. Maybe I will put in those connectors and some jumper cables after all. Wonder if I can do it before the next exhibition. Ach, maybe not — there is too much else to do.

I would NOT have:
1) gone for a simpler layout or
2) gone for later epochs.

Oh well, can't win them all. After all, it IS my first model railway.

All the best,
Chris.

Model Railroad Dont's 101.. I would not put a switcth inside a tunnel..yup, I did! Duh!!... but I wanted to make things "interesting, by the viewer not knowing where the train would come out.
More times than not, the train didn't come out! That was sure interesting???
Fred

Let the pepples, stones and boulders fly---
Fred:S

I am doing it again and this time I am going to do what I originally planned instead of rushing into getting track laid down. I am planning on building a 6' x 14' layout with access on all sides. My primary objective is to layout the terrain shapes first and then layout the track to fit the terrain. After all that is how it was done in the real world. I will have several higher elevations allowing tunneling and trestles as needed. At the present time I am planning on having 4 trains running with operator access from each side. I feel it will make a better group project for others interested in a local RR club.

TerryH

That will be "Verry inter esting" as Schultz would say. Keep us posted with fotos- as you progress between shoveling snow and munching mooze.
anonamoose