Moved the gun safe out of the room with the trains just could not find another place for it. I would have gained more length.
Located the transformers off the corner of the layout. Will be happening with in the next month.
Wow,
It seems as if there are alot of regrets about original train table design, and not going with 2-rail instead of 3-rail.
I would have known better what I was going to model and would have not bought anything that didn't fit the plan.
Don Merz
Stayed with my first love "S gauge". I've spent a small fortune on O gauge, only because there wasn't any new steam available in 'S" back in 1998. However, I would never have the fleet of CN and CP locomotives in "S" that I have in "O".
My layout thoughts and construction work were engaged in 1982, so many of today's products were not available, and I was not interested in too much "rivet counting". I like what I have and realize how fortunate I am to have my space and trains, but am quick to say that I wish I had done a more thorough job of wiring everything. Things run well, but I have a mess whenever I need to go under the layout for repair/additions or utilization of that storage space.
Bought a bigger house! We moved from Hawaii to Washington State 2 years ago and I regret not getting a larger train room. My man cave is a 15’ x 13’ bonus room in our new home. We looked at many larger homes with considerably larger bonus rooms. In the end we decided on our single story with a nice view and small easy care for yard.
During construction I had the bonus room electrical upgraded with more outlets and it’s own breakers. I do have separate computer desk, train workbench, simulation auto racing rig, and my layout in the man cave. I also have two stalls in the finished and insulated 3-stall garage, so there are options if I decide to move things around.
I would have built the layout in movable/removable sections!
Purchased a smaller one story house,... with a huge garage,...
This hobby is a journey, so I can't say I'd do anything different. Started in HO at 7. Stuck with it until I was 33. Dabbled in N during the late 80's and early 90's. Went to hi-rail O and 3rs between 2002 and 2010, and now mainly focus on 2 rail O for my transition era, while keeping 3R trains to run at my club.
Can't say I have any regrets over it. I learned along the road. The process of discovery is very enjoyable. Is there a coincidence that I have many of the same models of the same roads in N, HO and O? Nope.
From a macro standpoint, the layout planning worked out pretty well. I wanted construction to last a lifetime. I like to build stuff and I needed to occupy my time during retirement. I've built all the hooks into the layout as I'm going along to allow for future projects and expansion.
The one BIG thing - not enough reversing loops. I'm presently making a modification to add another reversing loop. No hook for this and it's painful. I have another reversing loop in my future but it's pre-planned.
I would have started with Std Gauge.
Steve
First, I would've done more research on the prototype. Not to say I would have modeled one but I would have at least had a basis for operations and purpose for the layout. It would have also helped with my input on the design of the layout. I would have had a more narrow tabletop around the room type, no more than about 2 feet wide maybe with a peninsula. I would have been more focused on fewer railroads. Lastly, had I known about 2-rail I would've went that direction.
Dave
Seems like we need a new category for postings: "Three Rail Regrets" :-)
@Mannyrock posted:Seems like we need a new category for postings: "Three Rail Regrets" :-)
Kinda fits with my topic the other day! You might be onto something.
I'd have included more hidden storage tracks. I planned for more than I had at the time but over the years more and more stuff got made that I never even saw coming.
I did switch from 3 rail to 2 rail and that was a great decision.
Wish I would have discovered the charm and magic of Standard Gauge ( Wide Gauge) / Pre War Tinplate much much sooner.
Enjoy 
Frank
@LVfan posted:Wish I would have discovered the charm and magic of Standard Gauge ( Wide Gauge) / Pre War Tinplate much much sooner.
Enjoy
Frank
I’m slowly selling off much of my O tin. S & H0 are already gone.
Steve
Hi Steve,
While my main focus the last several years has been Standard Gauge I do have two Lionel 256 locomotives and about thirty of the 800 / 2800 series freight cars. Several 254 locomotives and 600 /2600 series passenger cars. They run very well, especially the twin motored 256's and they make up several nice colorful trains. Will not be getting any more O gauge items but keeping and enjoying what I have
Enjoy
Frank
@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:I’m slowly selling off much of my O tin. S & H0 are already gone.
Steve
please let me know if you want to sell that brown Marx freight terminal. I need that!
Live Steam!
@MattR posted:please let me know if you want to sell that brown Marx freight terminal. I need that!
Unlucky for you, it goes well with Std Gauge also 
Steve
Should have built bigger. The 20ft by 50ft building is too small for the amount of junk that I have under the Layout. Need more track for the freight cars and would have liked to build a Hump yard. Could use a 40 x 100 building but my yard is not flat, if I built 100ft long, one end could have been a basement for the junk. I also should have built my outdoor G gauge layout, started 16 years ago with the planning and now it hurts to much to get down on my knees. (as you get older, earth's gravity is stronger than when you were young and it is harder to get up from the floor).
Would trade it all for Standard Gauge. Didn't discover its charm until it was too late, let it slip by me when the remakes came along.
Given myself the option of adding elevated track and connecting to existing sections to expand to room left in my train room.
Not be in such a hurry to run trains, but who could blame me?
With the beauty o gauge trains I wish I would have made the layout much higher. Say, close to eye level. I always seem to be bending over for the best viewing angle for me.
I love my layout - about 80% complete - and I'm a very enthusiastic supporter of Mianne benchwork.
The ONE BIG THING I would have done differently is to hire TWTrainWorx to come in and build the layout for me. While the cost would have been significant, but not unmanageable, I would now have one of the world's best 10'x12' two-level layouts all complete.
Considering this hobby is all about learning new skills and living with the fact what we like today may not be what we will like tomorrow. I wish I would have built my original layout to accommodate 072 curves and put in a double main-line. Retrofitting a layout is not as straightforward as it seems.
Sorry to hear about the guys leaving the hobby - I have always liked painting, building models, messing with electrical stuff and just plain old tinkering. Model railroading lets me do all that stuff and share it with others who would otherwise never would "play with trains" as well as with all you forumites who share what they are up to.
But in general I agree with GSBOB - if model railroading was only about running a train in a small circle, things would get pretty boring pretty fast.
I wired dual cab control like the HO guys do. Now I;m expanding my layout so more to do. I hate wiring and kind of fear it.
Romiller49- get yourself a stool or office chair with wheels. Then you can enjoy your layout from a lower viewing angle. JohnA
I would have NOT married my high school sweetheart (ex wife!)
I enjoy many aspects of this hobby and am glad I fell into it. Knowing what I know now, I would have started in 2Rail O scale. Now am too deep in 3 rail.
@Former Member posted:I would have never entered the hobby in the first place. When I finally got some track up and started to run the trains I found that after a few laps I was bored out of my mind. I thought to myself " this is it". I got more enjoyment out if the old Lionel space and military trains. At least they did something.
I realized there was more to life than being stuck inside a room. There is no adventure in that. I had over a hundred scale engines, now I'm down to six and they will be sold off by next month. I still have about 1000 pieces of rolling stock to go. I find that I don't miss it at all. I'm gettingg out before it's to late. I'm going out into the sunshine instead of being in a hobby that just goes around in circles and goes nowhere.
Bob
Holy mackerel Bob. It took you 100 engines and 1000 pieces of rolling stock to realize the hobby is boring? What am I missing here?
I feel bad for Bob. My layout, still in progress, was started about 20 years ago. It stayed dormant while we raised our kids. The last few years I have worked on it more, as they became more independent/adult. I generally work on it when the weather is bad. It comes after work, family, outdoor activities , and senior hockey. Never felt like I was “stuck inside a room”. It’s a relaxing, creative part of a busy life. I’m grateful for my hobby, but I know it’s not for everyone. I hope Bob will be happy in the new direction he is headed. JohnA
I would not have married my first wife!
Bigger house
@Dennis Rempel posted:I would design a slot car track along with the train track.
Not integrated with train layout, but right next to it!
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Buy less!!!! Less, I NEED THAT 
Not gotten into model railroading.
@Bill Sherry posted:Would have stayed single. Lol
No! Trains make a great mistress, although they might be more expensive than a human one.
A train will never ask you if you've been seeing another train.
