Designing and building a layout as a pre-retirement project makes sense for enjoying/sharing trains during your upcoming retirement years; however, there's generally more time available during actual retirement years. The project might move forward faster. I designed and built my L-shaped layout (19x14 feet - about 165 sq. feet) during retirement and enjoyed the process and the outcome. During a time span of about 2-1/2 years of part-time effort, my two great grandson were at an age where they could see the work in progress and be helpers and go-fers. Now they can run the trains and operate the action accessories.
Like most elder hobbyists, I enjoyed the designing and installing phase just as much as operating the trains. And I tinkered with add-ons too. Now I consider the layout finished. Pix attached.
20/20 hindsight provides insights to what could have or should have been done. In my case, I should have installed wider radius curves and switches; the existing O42 radius tracks & switches can't accommodate recently purchased larger, longer locomotives. Maybe that's the excuse I need to build another layout with O72 curves!
Mike Mottler LCCA 12394
mottlerm@gmail.com
