Good idea. Never saw this thread before tonight because it started before I discovered and joined this On-Line Forum.
Mine is a long, narrow, switching layout. First photo shows the layout as you go downstairs entering the playroom in my half basement, and subsequent photos show views as we go from right to left while facing the layout:
Now, go back to the top photo, and instead of moving towards our left, we will be moving towards our right. The view in the first photo below is to the immediate right of the view in the top photo as we enter the laundry room in my half basement, and the subsequent photos show views further right:
As you can see, the layout is accessory laden with scenery, and the focus in the laundry room is baseball and trains, specifically my Popsicle Stick Yankee Stadium and the Polo Grounds of the1950s. The layout has 2 independently powered and interconnected main lines with a reverse loop at the end of each main line for continuous operation, many 022 switches, and many sidings. Each siding is separately blocked electrically. I recommend having an around the walls layout so one can have backdrops that visually enhance the layout, and enhance photographs and videos of it.
Over the years, I have read many O Gauge train publications including OGR Magazine to which I am a longstanding subscriber. This On-Line Forum is great resource and tremendously helpful to the hobbyist who aspires to build an advanced layout. Reading a lot has greatly helped me. Otherwise, I have very limited skills and talent, with very little mechanical aptitude. I think I am pretty good, but not great, at scenery. What I now most enjoy is the scenery and art-related layout projects.
For me, the best thing about my layout is that the trains really go places, including leaving and entering different rooms, going around the washer/dryer, going up to the furnace, etc., even though I only have a half basement and limited space.
If I can do it, you can do it.
Arnold
