How long did your layout planning stage last?

I went through a planning stage similar to yours. This is my first permanent layout. I had a pretty good plan to fit the space I had available. Then we moved a year and a half ago right as I was about to start building it. Now the space is different and also much larger. I didn't have the budget to fill the whole space at once so I ended up just getting a 6'x16' Mianne kit and laying some track on it. It has given me a good sized layout to experiment with and I have learned some things about layouts by having it.

The next phase is to expand to a more final size of about 16' x 22' in an L with each part of the L being about 6' wide. Then there will be a yard about 2'-3' wide and 10'-12' long about 2' out from one of the L's. Also a similar size to yours. One of the reasons I chose the Mianne bench work was the ease of re-configuring it, which was part of the plan. I think I have a pretty good plan now and some re-configuring will be needed which should be very easy to do with the Mianne.

Maybe you could do something similar to what I did? With your space size already defined, and you probably have some idea of what you what to end up with, just get a table going and start laying some track. That might help some with the getting stuck on the planning part and get things going? I didn't know enough about permanent layouts to know if I had a good plan or not when I started, but I had an idea about the space I had to work with. That prompted me to just get a table up and start experimenting. It would at least give you the opportunity to run some trains while you work out the final details. Unless you are an experienced layout builder and have a few under your belt already, I think probably most of us go through some changes during the building phase.

I started as a tubular guy, running potwar so my original layout had 031 curves, then I discovered the big boy and now I am reduing the layout with a minuin of 072 curves. Now I am using gargraves and Ross switches.  I wish I had listened to the guys at the hobby shop, who told me to use gargraves and ross.  I also read that you should have no bigger that a 3 feet span so you can reach the trains. SO my layout had pods that where not greater than that.  

Life is a learning process.   

This should make you feel better.

I've been in perpetual planning stage since I got back into model railroading in 2010.  5 years of starts & stops, layout types, table, carpet, scale switching (O-N-HO) and I'm still basically where I was in 2010 (but with more than just the starter set loop and train ), but I have enjoyed every minute of the ride!

-Kevin

I actually started planning my layout before I started construction on my house. Since I was the general contractor, I was able to make sure that the train room was exactly he way I wanted it. This allowed me to have the minimal number of obstructions, including posts, beams, pipes and ducts.

I did spend a fair amount of time with paper and pencil, probably about a year and a half. The plan may change a little, as was the case with the lower level, or it may totally evolve as was the case with the upper level, but I try to give everything maximum thought before any construction.

 This is one of the earliest construction photos I have taken back in 2003.

This one was taken from almost the same location late in 2014.

With me, once track goes down, it STAYS DOWN! You may not want to take such a hardcore approach, but you do need to start moving forward. Carpe diem.

I'll let you know when I'm finished. Actually, the build isn't taking place because I'm planning to move.

What eventually worked for me was to make a list of elements and features I had to have; and, decide what kind of operation I wanted when running the trains. 

This initial effort led to the conclusion that I'd need an around the room layout to provide the perspective control I wanted.  And, from there, it was relatively easy to begin bench work, buy GG flex track,  and Ross switches, etc.

Adding to Pingman's thoughts...this may help you define your railroad, then the rest is easy...except for getting your tenants out on their own. perhaps if you start working on the room it would annoy them enough to move. Electrical for lighting and layout power, lighting installation, wall prep and painting.

My planning stage maybe lasted 3 months. Measuring the area of where and where I could not put tables helped a lot. That was more then 11 years ago. But even what I had planned has changed a bit over the years as I have tweaked parts of the layout to improve an area................Paul.

LOL  Kevin

"I've been in perpetual planning stage since I got back into model railroading in 2006."

That's a perfect answer for me as well. I just had to substitute a few more years to it.

Larry

I started planning my layout back in 1980. I had an HO layout and moved so it was in boxes. The new house was a little smaller and needed some major renovations. Between family, house and work the railroad took a seat way in the back of the bus. I ended up selling the HO and started buying n-scale. My plan was to build a new house with a big basement for my trains. Finally in 1998 we started construction on the new house. I put together a temporary n-scale layout in the new basement. I was never satisfied with the bench work, so I tore everything down and started planning a new design. I started to finish off one side of the basement and had to take a break as work sent me to Afghanistan and Iraq. Back home again in 2004 I finished off the basement and had everything from that side piled in my train area. In 2009 I rediscovered O-scale and decided that's what I wanted to build. I found this site in December of 2010 and asked for design ideas. I received a few and picked one I liked that would fit my space. 17' X 28' with only one way in and no duck under.  The first thing I did was frame out the walls and put in a ceiling and lights.  I was working alone, so it took a little while.  Last October I finished installing the double track main line and completed the wiring.  I changed my yard area and I’m in the process of wiring and fastening down the track and switches.  Still a slow process.  I have about five more drops to put in and then crawl under the layout to connect all the wires to the power source.

I started with my Marx set at 7 years old, not completed, went over to HO in my teens, not completed as I got into cars, it languished there with track and no scenery for

years, then I discovered the tinplate activity, and it continues, as it has, for decades,

still not completed.

An artist's work is never done...

I never had a written or drawn out plan. I just had an idea in my head and went from there. When I was a teenager I would draw out different track plans on paper. I must have drawn hundreds of track plans but I never build a big layout,  back then all I had room for was a small  4 x 8.

My layout today  is 18' x 14' and it has 3 main lines and a small 5 track yard.

I power the rails with two  ZW's. I can run 4 sets of trains at the same time. 

I am starting to get bored with it and it may be time to start over. Being retired I now have plenty of time to start over!

40+ years...and I never built it. 

About a year, maybe a little longer.

And I'm at 37! However, a turn at 765's throttle will make up for it......

My planning stage is never ending as I plan as I go to be honest so it's now going on 2 years and this is just a temporary layout as hope to move in about 5 years

Planing for 50+ years, in over 3 different owned houses, trying 6 different scales, modeling N, Z, HO, HOn3, HOn30, On3, O 2 rail, O 3 rail,G 1:20.3, Standard Gauge and a little S.

Never enough money, space and time at the same time.

My last two prewar layouts were in the planning stages for seven years. Each was enjoyed for almost three years. Now that I know who purchased my layouts, I rest easy every night.