I think it would be difficult to choose just one. IMHO, there are three major issues: money, space, and time.
Thanks for the great replies. I had forgotten "time" as a consideration. But now, being retired, I do have some. I especially love the late night sessions when I am on a "mission" to complete the phase of a project. I got to bed tried and happy.
No doubt cost. I shake my head when a piece of rolling stock cost almost $90. Love the hobby, but I really pace myself due to the high expense.
Trying to do too much too fast. Take your time, stay within budget and enjoy the ride.
Rod Miller
Dewey Trogdon posted:Procrastination.
I would say space & money being the biggest factors.
That being said -
Space - I have a 6 x13 layout - would I like something larger, sure but if I had a 20 x20 layout I would say, I'd like something larger. I'm satisfied with what I have & make the best of the space I have to work with.
Cost - since I decided to go full O scale on my new layout, I was blown away by the prices for the scale rolling stock! With some shopping here on the forum & on the bay, I have been able to get a nice collection of scale engines & cars at a fraction of the cost if they were new. This is something to take note of though for the manufacturers - The prices of cars & engines are too high. Watching auctions over the last few months, I have seen the true street price for $75 cars be around $45 or so, as an example. Lower prices on new items would help bring more trains into the hands of people who can help grow the hobby through exposure.
Pine Creek Railroad posted:Michael,
IMO the biggest obstacle to building an O Gauge layout is space, no matter how you cut it, you must have the space to build the layout, if you want it in your home.
This. It was all I could do to make an 8x6 space for my layout, and I was lucky to get that much. Not all of us have huge basements.
#Rattler21... I took the step. next hurdle, WIFE and $
lol
my NEXT wife will like trains
I'm really surprised how many active forum members don't have a layout to run their model trains on. I always thought that was the starting point, then buy what you need to execute your plan. A lot of guys spend years planning and collecting and never get anywhere. Just put it together. Start something and stay on it till it's done. Like any construction project. Keep beating the horse till it can't offer a whimper.
William 1 posted:I'm really surprised how many active forum members don't have a layout to run their model trains on. I always thought that was the starting point, then buy what you need to execute your plan. A lot of guys spend years planning and collecting and never get anywhere. Just put it together. Start something and stay on it till it's done. Like any construction project. Keep beating the horse till it can't offer a whimper.
Hi William, I am one of those with out a layout at this time.
This hobby attracts people in many directions. The direction that I went was purchasing old beat-up tin plate trains, then giving them a second chance rather than seeing them go in the garbage. Basically restoring.
I did this with some post-war and now prewar tin-plate which I love.
Research, hunting for the parts and learning the various revisions of the same loco or rolling stock and meeting the people with the same interest. That is why I m always on this forum/learning.
The only time that I ran my trains last year was around the Christmas tree. I was getting all of the engines and rolling stock that I brought back to life and gave them a whirl, It was fun 1.
So I m looking into a small layout with standard and O gauge to enjoy seeing my work run.
Last layout that I had was about 50 years ago (still have those trains) and the time is right.
God willing, I will have something by the end of the year. May not be perfect but it will be mine.
William 1 posted:I'm really surprised how many active forum members don't have a layout to run their model trains on. I always thought that was the starting point, then buy what you need to execute your plan. A lot of guys spend years planning and collecting and never get anywhere. Just put it together. Start something and stay on it till it's done. Like any construction project. Keep beating the horse till it can't offer a whimper.
I suspect a fair number of people are of a mind that if they waited till they were well on their way to completing a layout (or at least building one to the point of being operational and/or presentable), much of the equipment they'd like to run on it would be beyond a reasonable level of difficulty to acquire.
Is some of what I own still readily available? Sure.
Are most of the items I own that I really like to see running still readily available?
Ehhhhhh not so much.
---PCJ
I am similar to you RonH. I had tear down my layout when I moved and sold almost all my O stuff. I gathered some nice prewar standard gauge engines, 500 freights and a few of the smaller passenger sets. I run them on the floor from time to time and am interested in learning how to maintain my engines in top running condition and tinkering as time goes by. I have all I need and not interested in gathering a large collection. What I don't get is the guys with mountains of unopened boxes and nowhere to run them. Like you said, there are different folks who practice different strokes. Having built three layouts for other people I do know a lot can be accomplished in a relatively short time if you hammer away at it. Looking at track plans for years gets you nowhere. Just dig in and do it.
The biggest obstacle to starting an O gauge layout is the carpentry required for the tablework but in my case I had to first start with the construction of the room in the basement. It has been 13 years to this point but the layout is 95% finished. Completing the lighting and the hookup of the switches are the only remaining items. For success you need to stay in the game
The biggest factor right now is getting the concrete poured for the garage addition. The doggone weather was great in February when we were not ready. Now we are mid-twenties at night in Tidewater Virginia.
Have a "LONG" list of "to do" items that is slowly being reduced.
Being really new to this group, and looking in Wide eye Amazement at the collection of layouts that true "Hobbyists" skillfully craft, I have a question. If you belong to a club that has a layout that you contribute time to, does that enable club members to collect Engines and rolling stock, all the while running it at the Club? (and not crafting a layout at home?)
There really are no obstacles, only opportunities. Think of "obstacles" more as challenges that can be overcome with planning and creativity. I doubt that the vast majority of those reading this thread have 100% of what they would like to have in the hobby, be it space, time, money, or a number of other things. But a good many of them are here and reading this because they have developed a liking for what the hobby offers and they have willingly taken the plunge. Never a bad thing!
These are the 2 biggest factors in my opinion.
Money: Model railroading isn't cheap generally speaking. Many people don't understand that its a hobby you build upon as years go on. If you don't mind buying used items, you can generally find some good deals on the forum, eBay, at shows, ect. if you are patient. I believe that some of the prices now are getting a little ridiculous, as a Lionel scale tractor trailer is $89.99 msrp.
Space: If you are just into running trains and are more into the postwar/railking sized engines and cars, then you can have even a small layout with a lot of action. If you are more into operating your layout like a real railroad or are into operating scale sized equipment, then you need a lot of space. Even a 8'x15' sized layout is generally small and you might want to limit your equipment to small steam/diesel engines and shorter trains. I like o scale but this might be my biggest issue with o scale with money being a close second.
Also want to note I have never used any Lionel system but have MTH's DCS and NCE Power Cab. I like DCC being universally compatible with all the manufacturers and not having to pick and choose a system and being restricted to that brand. This is just my opinion from my years in the hobby.
Good topic, may I add.."Peace"
Sometimes life is so unsettled that hobbies take a back seat, a way back seat. Do I have unopened stuff in boxes ? oh yeah, but after starting 3 layouts since 1989 and being job-transferred before they got done, then a divorce, I sought peace before I could relax and "do trains". I am now re-married, have room, a supportive wife, and yes, peace. Our 5 -yr plan is to move & retire elsewhere but for now I am full speed ahead on building a small fun layout right here.
May peace be with you all.
Great answers and a fun thread. I am reminded by Alan's comments of the joke:
Optimist: glass is half full.
Pessimist: glass is half empty.
Engineer: who made the glass too blanking big?
My biggest issues with O gauge are time and money. When I have time, I don't have money and when I have money, I don't have time.
