Master Planning vs Organic Building

I started off in this hobby as a total planner. It resulted in layouts that reached the scenery stage, but were never really finished because I felt that I had to know where every detail was to go before getting started.

I still believe in good planning for the basic mainline routing, track wiring, and at least leaving room for believable scenery. But, I don't delay getting them running just because my vision for the layout isn't totally complete.

Once the trains are up and running smoothly, I concentrate on one area at a time (about 2'x4' up to maybe 4'x4'). I will move structures around and try to visualize landforms until something appeals to me.

When that one area is fairly complete, I will move on to the next, not worrying about those acres of unfinished plywood still ahead of me. If you are intimidated by trying to plan all those acres in detail, you may never get started. Taking one scene at a time gives you a sense of accomplishment.

With some smaller towns or industrial areas completed, you can then tackle some larger scenes such as some big mountains or a large passenger terminal or engine facility.

Jim

I just don't have the ability to plan everything out in advance.  I do try to think ahead when laying track, such as where overpasses, bridge supports, buildings can go, but every detail - impossible.

Same for me. I am building a layout right now. I laid out a rough track plan and made specific provision for certain accessories that take up a lot of space (coal ramp and loader, piggyback platform, etc.) I also built in a section that could be removed and lowered when/if I decided to add a river and bridges over it. Then I built the benchwork, laid the track, and adjusted track location for aspects of reality that showed up during the testing process (large locomotive clearance, yard track spacing, accessories that weren't in the original concept, etc.). Now I am working on wiring and control panel, and once that is squared away I will start in on buildings, scenery, signals, and all the other details. I think that, unless you have a lot of space and are a very, very, careful planner, trying to plan the whole thing in advance will inevitably push you up against General Eisenhower's maxim: "No battle plan survives the first contact with the enemy."

Organic for sure as this layout started out as a loop of O gauge track in the guest room.  That was in November 2003.  It then became a 4x8 sheet of plywood about 6 years ago and has evolved to a 9x10 "L" (for LIONEL™!) shape in the basement.  I am looking to add on a 4x4 extension.  The basic theme is the middle of IL and the northeast part of PA.  I used to just add things that struck my fancy but now I want to have the themes a bit more solid if that makes sense.  Thus, I am spending more time relating colors and heights and such and making the layout more permanent than it has ever been.  Being electrically challenged I am trying to keep it safe and sound for the kids and grandkids who love the accessories which are a major part of the layout.

I'd say organic, since the only plan I had at the beginning was that I wanted to feature a bunch of operating accessories.  The track plan evolved over time as I added the accessories.

Then I got interested in older Marx and tinplate trains and needed to add an outer loop with no switches in order to run them since they wouldn't go through the switches on the inner loop.

I'm building a 2000 sqft full double deck layout based on real local railroading. I drew a pretty detailed plan of the lower level and have followed it with about 90% plus fidelity.

The upper plan was less complete when I stopped drawing it 13 years ago. With the lower level 75% done, and the upper benchwork well defined, the upper track plan is becoming clearer in my mind. I'm not sure if it will ever be on paper, but it will still follow the prototype.

Scenery will be based on the real world. I have pictures of many of the key locations, and can go out anytime and take more. I'm with Jim when he says everything has to be running smoothly before scenery can begin. By that standard, it's going to be a while before any ballast or grass goes down.

Master planning is fun, and useful.  Particularly with the benefit of a number of prior layouts I'd built, it really helped to plan the overall track configuration of my layout.

Organic growth - I will call it evolution, can mprove any good plan.  I've modified my layout from time and time and expect I will continue to.  I view every change as good - that is a lot of fun, too.

Ummm, BOTH ?

I started with a loop on the floor, got banished to the basement, put up a fast and dirty figure 8, O-31 on one side.  Rans trains, Got a Big Boy !

Found I needed bigger curves, yes it will go around O-31 but it looks awful doing so.

Expanded a lot, laid 3 times the track, Added a town, just buildings and roadways, nothing permanent. Got power to the buildings, big improvement.

All the while I tinkered with a PLAN. Yes, the master Plan, which will have better track, more realistic scenery, details I lack now, the works.

So going Organic at first let me work out what I really wanted in the end without having to rip up scenery that had lots of time and money in it.

Now I can work on the Master PLan and run trains in the meantime.

Operation has always been a priority and I planned that fairly well.  I have as recently as last night realized landscaping is important also and fewer buildings will be on my railroad and more green space in the future.  The track will not be changing any more. I think.  I would have to say more organic because as I have operated my current layout for awhile the weak points have come to the forefront. Track weak points as well as scenery.   

No good plan survives once you have laid track.

It never fails.

After you have laid track you will find ways to expand, broaden curves, create elevations, etc.

But if I only add a 1x7 foot extension over here, then I can add...

You are correct, Flash!   I've made many changes to my original track plan to improve it.

Guess I'm going staged master plan now.  My 1st layout (N) was more organic.  But this time around I'm planning it out.  Due to the size, and cost, I want to have it all laid out 1st, then I can start building, adding it to my budget.  Using SolidWorks has been helpful, as I can do it full sized and see exactly how things fit.  I also am planning the track to be laid out in stages (hence staged master plan).  I want to run trains ASAP, so I designed the track plan such that I can get the main laid down and then expand it as I get more track.  Once the track is down, then I'll get buildings and trees and such.  I'm not into scale or realism, so it'll be simple scenery.  But the bench work will be all done before I add the 1st piece of track.  The wiring will also be preplanned and expandable modular, installed as I need it.

Of course this is what's going on in my head.  How much it'll actually go that way is yet to be seen.  I'm sure I have the track design finished, just need to check a couple of things.  Then figure out how I want to block it (to run conventional) then off to design the bench work.

No plans here, other than make it to come apart, and be reused.

I have an 'Organic Master Plan'. - While my organs hold out, I'll build my layout. 

I took a year working with RR-track to design my layout. I got the layout up and running with minimal scenery and started running and enjoying it. Once I started running trains and shunting cars, I found areas for improvement. The layout grew from a U shape to around the room with hidden track inside my closet. I added more switches and sidings, changed the location of some industries, added a second level for a twice around the room layout, added a large yard off one side of the around the wall layout (down a hallway), added more sidings, more industries and extended some siding lengths. I can now operate 3 engines and 75 cars on an 11' x 23' layout with 2 yards running down both sides of a wide hallway off the layout. the only thing that did not change was the town names. I am currently rewiring the layout to have train detection so I can run the layout using a series of Ipads at each town, instead of a hard wired control pannel. I will also be able to run trains automatically by computer control. The possibilities with this hobby are endless. Who knows what I will work on when I get everything rewired. I think the Organic approach is fun and allows for ever increasing learning and expansion.

Joe K

No doubt about it.....I have approached the layout building process "organically".  I first determined the arrangement of the layout structure and how I would best be able to reach everything from the isle / walkway.  Then I drew up the basic plan.  From there it was my goal to get something running.  Ironically, the monorail was the first train to run but soon after that I got the first of the 3 mainlines going.  Since then I have taken the approach of placing scenes together and leaving them for weeks or months as I determine if I like the way they appear....making changes and adjustments until I am satisfied they look good.  I am finally in the detailing process and will soon be into the scenery full steam ahead!!

Alan

A plan to start, but not a master plan.  The layout is in our kitchen above the cabinets, so certain sections will only fit one way.  Once the shelf work was in possibilities I never imagined presented themself.

As for scenery, it's 'appearing' without any real planning  I used to be a big planner, had to know all the details up front.  Took all the fun out of it.  Now every effort is a voyage of discovery.  I'm as surprised as anyone when each new section materializes.  My favorite question is 'hey where did that come from?'

And it's a lot of fun.

I think you have to start with a good track plan. As you do the scenery different ideas will occur to you as you go along. At least that's how it is happening on my layout as it goes along.

I have some regrets regarding not planning my trackwork as thoroughly as I could have. If I had it to do over, I'd have a connection between my lower and upper main lines and I'd have a lead track into my yard for greater operating flexibility. My attic room is 8' X 25' and the layout is along the walls, so there are some real space constraints, but I believe I could have have gotten these features in if I gave it a lot more thought.

So, I'd suggest really planning your trackwork first.

Master Plan for me. I had the time to do it with plenty of time spent in airports waiting for flights. For me, because of my consulting background, I have learned over the years that things tend to go smoother if you figure out ahead of time what needs to be done, when, what resources do you need, and to have product on hand so as not to have costly and unnecessary delays.