"work" on your trains or run your trains

@msp posted:

Second question - I seem to start one project and move to another without finishing the first and go back and forth.   Just kinda do what i feel like working on.   Are you one that needs to finish a certain project before moving on or do you move about?

I've done a lot of starting one project and moving to another without completely finishing the previous one in the past.  And does it show.  I have notes and mock-ups and schematics and test prints and parts stacked  a mile high.  I think it's human nature to do so.  (Sorta like cats who lose interest in one toy and then redirect that interest into another toy.)  There is also the issue of running into issues that require incredible effort to surmount or needing certain items (in working order) to be able to complete the next phase of a project.  These events definitely can cause a shift in project focus and, in all honesty, this is my major reason for shifting projects.

I've made it my goal to reach a certain level of completion with rail related projects this Winter.  However, my current project is testing my sanity and creating a certain level of burn-out.  The time factor in particular has multiplied greatly from what I estimated originally.  Thus far I'm holding steady to the course.

Only time will tell if I stay focused.

Anthony

And, I spend much more time "working" on model train related stuff than running trains.  Most of that comes from my limited space and time.

Anthony

FIRST and FOREMOST.............there is NO REASON to call PLAY........work ..........just because we grow up !??!

SECONDLY.........great artists usually have several projects going on so as to serve as incubation periods for individual pieces.......and .......so not to stifle the creative juices. !!!

YUP...... I SPEND MORE TIME  '  PLAYING ' THAN RUNNING TRAINS.   IT'S FUN AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT...... WITHOUT BORING LECTURES......... FROM THESE FORUMITES.

Dallas you seem mad on this topic?

I was just contemplating this very subject this weekend. I seem to enjoy the "work" (it's still play), as much as running trains. Sometimes running sessions expose problems that require "work" to fix. Other "work" is for the benefit of the layout or a particular engine, etc.

It's all fun in the end. Just sit back grab your preferred beverage, and enjoy!

Bob

Agree with the others…

I enjoy the fixing, building, and updating portions of the hobby more than running. I don’t think the layout will be ever be done as I will always be making changes and updates.

So, I like working and creating more than running.

@bigdogjeff1 posted:

Dallas you seem mad on this topic?

Sorry Jeff.........certainly not the case 😊    Maybe it was all the bold letter caps.🤔         

@RSJB18 posted:

It's all fun in the end. Just sit back grab your preferred beverage, and enjoy!

Bob

I go along with Bob on this Jeff.😉

Some time ago my wife took a look at my train table, which was covered with small tools. Q-tips and cotton balls, 91% alcohol, scraps of wire, test leads with alligator clips, train cars and locomotives in varying states of assembly, soldering iron and stand (and a big can of mixed nuts to snack on).  Exasperated, she asked a perfectly reasonable question: "Why don't you just finish putting them together so you can have fun with them?".  At that moment, I realized I was having fun with them, probably more than I did once I got everything put together and running :-)

I set up my layout with multiple routes/loops.  I can have a train running on one route while working on the other. There is something soothing about one running that helps me stay focused on the other.

Steve

I immensely enjoy both and find that I go through periods devoting more time to one or the other.

As for the second question, I tend to focus on working through and completing the larger, more Impactful projects before devoting significant project time to anything else. However, I always have a bunch of little projects that I’m moving along concurrently that I can easily stop and start up again when the time is right.

When building a model railroad or working on a project for it, I spend much more time on construction than running trains. When the layout is finished or there is no current project, I spend much more time running and maintaining the trains. I've been working on a small expansion of my 12'-by-8' railroad for several months and occupied with building structures (from kits and from scratch) and scenery, so am running trains for a short time once or twice a week to take videos for posts on the Forum. I work on one project at a time...

MELGAR

Mel. When are you going to visit us?

@msp posted:

Most of us have a limited amount of time to devote to trains.  My question - do you spend more time "working" on your trains or running them?  By working I mean building the layout scenery laying track etc. vs. good old fashion just running your trains.

I am sure it depends where are in the process but thought it would be an interesting topic.  I spend probably 85% working on my layout.  Sometime feel like i should run them more ....

Second question - I seem to start one project and move to another without finishing the first and go back and forth.   Just kinda do what i feel like working on.   Are you one that needs to finish a certain project before moving on or do you move about?

Probably more time "working" (using your definition) on the layout than running trains, maybe 65-35 %.

I love scenery, track work, etc, hate wiring - the older I get the harder it is to get up and down from the floor and twist under the layout.

As to your second question, I usually finish what I start first, but I may do two at one time if I'm waiting for glue, paint, plaster etc. to dry.

For the past several years I have spent most of my train time running and photographing trains, occasionally creating scenes and doing scenery projects that were usually relaxing and relatively easy projects for me to do.

Occasionally, I will do a more intense project. When I do, I spend most of my train time working on the layout.

For instance, I recently re-wired my layout, which was a very demanding, challenging project for me. It was very physical, requiring that I crawl under the layout, and tedious (labeling, color coding wires, soldering, etc.)

Even when mostly running trains, my layout is prone to creating puzzles that need to be solved.  I think this is a very good thing for me because of the mental activity involved in solving them. Examples of such puzzles include the non-derailing feature not working on an 022 switch, a locomotive derailing at a particular spot on the layout, a signal not working, a locomotive that stops smoking, an accessory not working, and perhaps the most challenging puzzle -  the dreaded short circuit.

About 1 month ago, I had a very serious short circuit that took me many hours over 2 days to solve and much mental activity going through a long process of elimination.  Solving the short circuit is what motivated me to re-wire the layout, which was a long term solution to avoid future short circuits and minimize the time solving them.

I'm very focused and driven when working on the layout; and relaxed when running trains.

Arnold

We are still working on the engine service (right) side of level 2 of 3 planned. 90% of the track for this side is laid and painted. The turntable and roundhouse are completed except for scenery and outside figures. Two buildings are completed for the Roanoke Shops steam section and two more are almost complete along with a transfer table for the diesel service area. Interior details and people are scheduled before December 15.

We had not run trains to any extent in 7-9 months while working on this project.

Last week we replaced trains with Christmas ones and also got out my grandson’s 611 Pocahontas set. We hooked up the track cleaning cars and ran them around two level 1 loops. The rest will be cleaned in the next two weeks.

About December 15, we hope to have the two diesel buildings installed and will complete getting ready for the Christmas crowd. Undoubtedly there are gremlins that have snuck in and will require attention.

A knee replacement scheduled for February 14 will interrupt continued progress in 2022.

Working on the layout is fun, running trains is fun and maintenance and repairs is fun, Thats why we are all here, Grand boys use to love the trains now its hockey and legs, HAGD all! God Bless America!

No contest here. The hobby for me has always been about building, fixing, modifying trains. 99% building, 1% running.

Pete

What an interesting question!  I try to  and prefer to run a train on my fairly completely layout but inevitably running them reveals things i have to repair or improve - and while I prefer to work on one of these projects at a time, I usually have several that are 'in progress'.  This reminds me to get back to tackling them.  Usually this time of year is my favorite for working - and running on the layout. However, it is also complicated by everything that is conveniently dumped in the way to my doing that with the breaking out of Christmas decorations...

@Bill Webb posted:

We are still working on the engine service (right) side of level 2 of 3 planned. 90% of the track for this side is laid and painted. The turntable and roundhouse are completed except for scenery and outside figures. Two buildings are completed for the Roanoke Shops steam section and two more are almost complete along with a transfer table for the diesel service area. Interior details and people are scheduled before December 15.

We had not run trains to any extent in 7-9 months while working on this project.

Last week we replaced trains with Christmas ones and also got out my grandson’s 611 Pocahontas set. We hooked up the track cleaning cars and ran them around two level 1 loops. The rest will be cleaned in the next two weeks.

About December 15, we hope to have the two diesel buildings installed and will complete getting ready for the Christmas crowd. Undoubtedly there are gremlins that have snuck in and will require attention.

A knee replacement scheduled for February 14 will interrupt continued progress in 2022.

Looks like it's going to be a beautiful layout Bill.