What is the ONE BIG THING you would have done differently, if you could start over again?

If I could turn back the hands of time I'd be in two rail rather than three.  John

Start with narrow guage, On3 or On30. Way fewer trains to be tempted by so more time for modeling which I prefer anyway.

Pete

For me, not a thing differently.

I've been hearing it for the entire time I've been back in the hobby, how I'm buying junk. Funny, because in 32 years, I've never had a single major problem or defect or DOA. Everything I've ever bought works and still works to this day.

And if I do need to make a repair, because the items I like were larger production items with common parts, I can make the repairs. Yes folks, parts are getting harder to buy. This has been a problem for the high end products, but is also becoming more difficult for regular items as well. Fortunately when something is made in large production numbers, it's much easier to buy an affordable used item to cob for parts.

Yep, I use 027 track with no regrets. Of course, there are limitations to anything and I've accepted operating within those parameters. And yes, because I break the rules of track configurations, I've have to make some minor modifications. But well worth it for 100% derailment free operation: I can't remember the last time I had any derailment outside of my own error, like forgetting to throw a switch.

I saw an interview with guitarist Eric Clapton that really sums up my own viewpoint. The interviewer asked him if he was happy. Clapton said he wasn't, but went to say he was totally content.

There's just something in the human heart or mind that is never completely happy, which in our train world, sure benefits the train makers. On the other hand, I've learned to be content with what I have. Happiness is fleeting and subject to change: Contentment is long lasting.

Would have done a folded dogbone layout plan instead of the "donut plan" I chose years ago when I was younger.

Every year, it gets a little harder to duck under the layout to get to the controls in the middle.

I suspect, years down the road when I retire I will do a teardown and  rebuild.....but... I still haven't finished what I've started

Collect stamps instead.

I would have gotten out of HO sooner and went with 2 Rail.

Doug

Narrower layout for access.  Less track going through scenes.  All conventional engines for reliability.  Pretty happy with layout I have though...been making changes, expanding. JohnA

I would have someone design my layout.

Define “BIG”. To me, big would be buying the home model with the larger basement, or at least ordering the extra course of block for the basement I do have.
As far as my layout, I am really bored with my track plan. Not exactly big, I just need to screw up the energy to tear it down and build a new one.

As for the layout, I would have finished the ceiling (paint and light) as well as done something with the background. As for the hobby, get out of all the other interests (N, HO, O2R and G) and focused on 3 rail.

Charlie

Would have chosen Rail King instead of Premier. The Rail King would look better on my layout.

Maybe invested in post-war Lionel steam power.  My Premier "Scale" sized motive power is beautiful, but looks a little "awkward" on the 54 and 72 curves.

Hindsight is 100 percent, my layout is 22 years old, I was 54 years old when the layout began, we started early on with an around the walls with a walk in layout, and after 1 year, lots of thinking, we took it totally down. The main ingredient I insisted on, Large Radius Curves, 072 minimum, up to 0120 being the widest, therefore we built an Island layout, L-shaped, 17 by 36 and decided to make it walk around, walk under as it’s a Vertical style layout. At the time MTH came out with a cool idea as we had to use Command Control, therefore Star Wiring was essentially the way to go. Although we utilized star wiring, we only used Lionels TMCC/Legacy system and learned many lessons over the years, however with backwards compatibility, it’s been a Journey of sincere fun. Atlas O trackage, Gargraves trackage, Ross Custom trackage, K-Line gauge 027 in 072 circles were used in two twin helixes to allow trains to go to all 5 levels of this layout. So far, there are no regrets.... Now, if I were to do anything at all different it would be to add 4 inches to the isles around the table work. Going from 25 inch isles, to 29/30 inch isles.
We really didn’t have a plan except for Lionels Showroom layout of 1993, we just worked our way out from the middle, and the middle level, going down from there and up from there.... It was all about the circles, 072, 081, 090, 099, 0108, 0120, all mixed together, “ not shaken, just stirred, for the ultimate ability to operate Big Boys, Hudsons, 0-4-0’s, Trolleys, any size cars or locomotives available and all Via Legacy command, where others could run trains at the same time, because that’s the fun of the hobby, Fellowship, friends with similar interests, such as this wonderful OGR Forum. So far, at age 76, I’m still able to crawl under the layout and get up into the helixes and correct wiring and reach train derailments, which are few, but as they say “things happen”, so reach ability is necessary. I’ve enjoyed this adventure and now I’m working on my turnouts to begin route control...Happy Railroading Everyone

Given my space constraints i would have tried for just a bit more than 042.  Another foot would have afforded me i bit more latitude.

Ever heard of Jonboat regret?   Apparently, anybody who buys an 8 ft boat soon regrets it, and says, "I shoulda bought a 10 footer."  Anybody who buys a 10 ft boat soon says, "I shoulda bought a 12 footer."  An on and on, up to a 20 foot boat.

I think that no matter how carefully we plan our first train layout and table, 6 months later, we all say, "If ONLY I had added an extra foot!"

Access space around the entire layout.

Warrenville has one 25 foot section against a wall. Even though averaging 4 feet wide there, access to the back is hard, Too many tracks and accessories there to add access holes

I would design a slot car track along with the train track.

Easy- I WOULD START OVER AGAIN!

Now that I've made all the mistakes- the next layout will be perfect......

(said no one ever)

If I could start over I would NOT buy manual switches! Remote switches are much better suited to expanding the layout! of course, I am still new to the hobby, so I am sure I will have more regrets in the future, but that is the one thing I would change if I could turn the clock back now!

I would have not wasted so much time pouring over THOUSANDS of layout plans and picked one that I truly liked (Wharf and Industry Plan from 1963 Model Railroader ) and spent more money on better turnouts and less on unwanted rolling stock.