Are you a builder or operator?

[JimF]

I almost chose the Both option, but went with Builder. I prefer building structures, bot in my past US interest and my current UK interest. I also, with the latter, prefer the Pre-grouping period, SER/SECR, which I'm finding would be very difficult to do in N. If I wasn't so fascinated my the mini size of N, and the scenic possibilities, I'd be working in a larger scale.

I could live with a sceniced layout where trains only moved occasionally, verses a bare layout with lots of trains in motion.

But that's just me.

Jim F

[sparky]

My current "problem" is that after spending the last 18 months building the boards and laying track and 51 points with motors is that I have ballasted all my intended scenic areas with the intention of finally fitting my back scene boards and begin so scenary but I keep ending up having to "test" all my locos and stock...then clean the track and "test" again....yeah I mean playing whenever I get the moment !.....I am an operator that cannot get on to being a builder.

[Kris]

I'm mainly a builder, but I do enjoy sitting back and watching trains travelling over my efforts.

[Jonner]

It's both for me, my preference being to run prototypical trains in a prototypical location but stopping short of running to a timetable.
      For this reason my current layout represents a time period of two consecutive years which I have found to be a successful approach,the advantages makes it less likely to get it wrong where Loco's and stock are concerned with the added bonus of deterring me from making impulsive purchases. So, if everything goes to plan, what you should see are all the right trains, but not necessarily being ran in the right order. Building wise I view replicating prototypical buildings/structures/scenery as a difficult but rewarding challenge.
      Maybe it's the fact this layout attends exhibitions could have influenced my priority's towards railway modelling as anything not quite correct will sooner or later be pointed out. Saying that, any constructive criticism in my view is no bad thing and not taken personally.   

[tim-pelican]

Model railways to me are model railways, but I must admit I've always been impressed with the way the Americans run their huge layouts with various operators playing the roles of driver, dispatcher, etc.

Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places, but I've never really seen operations done to anything like the same level with a UK prototype.  I'm fascinated by the whole tracking of cars/wagons, destinations, loads, etc to and from industries, yards and external destinations (aka fiddle yard / staging).

Is there something about the UK prototype that makes it a bad fit?  I get the impression that the US rail network was quite different to the UK (lower train density, but a lot more industrial locations with a direct connection to the railway?), but as I understand we used to have quite intensive goods service to many more smaller customers before everything became block trains and transmode containers.

Is it that we don't have enough space to build the layouts you need for "realistic" operations?

Or that it's simply not part of the model rail culture over here?

Oh, and to answer the original poll, I'd have to say "both", but with a definite bias towards operations and the functional side of build.  I like laying track, getting wiring in place, signals working properly, etc - but not that much in modelling things that have got little to do with running trains.

[D1042 Western Princess]

Model railways to me are model railways, but I must admit I've always been impressed with the way the Americans run their huge layouts with various operators playing the roles of driver, dispatcher, etc.

Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places, but I've never really seen operations done to anything like the same level with a UK prototype.  I'm fascinated by the whole tracking of cars/wagons, destinations, loads, etc to and from industries, yards and external destinations (aka fiddle yard / staging).

Is there something about the UK prototype that makes it a bad fit?  I get the impression that the US rail network was quite different to the UK (lower train density, but a lot more industrial locations with a direct connection to the railway?), but as I understand we used to have quite intensive goods service to many more smaller customers before everything became block trains and transmode containers.

Is it that we don't have enough space to build the layouts you need for "realistic" operations?

Or that it's simply not part of the model rail culture over here?

Oh, and to answer the original poll, I'd have to say "both", but with a definite bias towards operations and the functional side of build.  I like laying track, getting wiring in place, signals working properly, etc - but not that much in modelling things that have got little to do with running trains.

I can only answer your questions by saying that while our US counterpart usually seems to build a massive layout, simply because they have (by UK standards) a large amount of space, including several operational areas (stations, MPDs, goods yards, factories and docks etc.) and thus can simulate the actual operations of a real railway, shifting freight 'cars' between locations and suchlike (as on a real life railway) while we British only usually have room for just one, or at best two, such places.
Also whereas we British tend to be 'lone operators' (except in model railway clubs) the Americans seem to run groups with each person responsible for their 'patch' (if I understand it correctly).
It can best be summed up as on this side of 'the pond' we build 'stations' (and many try to operate them realistically) because we haven't got room to do much more while the Americans build 'lines' and run them to US operating practice simply because they have the room to do it.
I hope that goes some way to answering the questions.
Thanks for your input, as indeed to everyone who has (so far) contributed.

[PostModN66]

Builder.

I never, ever run trains at home unless I am (genuinely) testing the track, making a video or practicing for an exhibition.

That said, I do enjoy operating at exhibitions, and like to have a scheme in mind even if it is not a full timetable, and operate signals authentically - it's just that there doesn't seem any point doing it if no-one is watching!

Cheers  Jon 

[D1042 Western Princess]

Morning all,

I think I'd have to put myself in the builder group. I really enjoy building the layout, so much so that I'm currently building one for someone else! Don't get me wrong, I do like to have an operating session now and then but this tends to be at an exhibition. Aside from pre-show tests this is about all the operating Sheaf gets in a year, after 6/7 hours solid operating at some shows I need a break!

Cheers,

Ollie

Ollie, you can't imagine how much I wish I knew someone like you to build the layout for me. I HATE trying to put it all together because I enjoy knowing that, if I throw a switch, SOMETHING actually will happen.
With me building it all I know is that the train will go about 2 feet - then hit a snag!
My scenic work is rubbish, my ballasting destroys electrical continuity and no matter how much time I spend cleaning the track NOTHING WORKS!
Oh for a friend who actually knows what they are doing to build the  thing for me so that I can just get on with running trains!

Sorry, rant over.
P/S Back to the plot.

[tim-pelican]

Oh for a friend who actually knows what they are doing to build the  thing for me so that I can just get on with running trains!

There are days when that rings very true!  (Mainly days with point motors in them... wish I'd known about Kato before I started).  Or the temptation to buy a layout from eBay with the work already done.

It's very satisfying when it finally does work though 

[D1042 Western Princess]

Oh for a friend who actually knows what they are doing to build the  thing for me so that I can just get on with running trains!

There are days when that rings very true!  (Mainly days with point motors in them... wish I'd known about Kato before I started).  Or the temptation to buy a layout from eBay with the work already done.

It's very satisfying when it finally does work though 

The trouble is I like Peco track and have always used Code 80 and ballast inlays before - but this time I thought no, I'd be like everyone else and use loose ballast - how difficult can it be?
8 months later I found out how hard it can be.
I know Kato do gentle curves but they are still 'tight' by prototype standards; do they do yard lengths of flexi, does anyone know?

[railsquid]

Oh for a friend who actually knows what they are doing to build the  thing for me so that I can just get on with running trains!

There are days when that rings very true!  (Mainly days with point motors in them... wish I'd known about Kato before I started).  Or the temptation to buy a layout from eBay with the work already done.

It's very satisfying when it finally does work though 

The trouble is I like Peco track and have always used Code 80 and ballast inlays before - but this time I thought no, I'd be like everyone else and use loose ballast - how difficult can it be?
8 months later I found out how hard it can be.
I know Kato do gentle curves but they are still 'tight' by prototype standards; do they do yard lengths of flexi, does anyone know?

They do indeed do flexitrack (part number 21-000) but it's just... flexitrack... and needs the adapter section to connect to normal unitrack.

[JimF]

I believe the Kato flextrack is actually Atlas code 80 track, marketed via Kato for home market. It does not have the built in roadbed of the Kato Unitrack.

Jim F

[D1042 Western Princess]

I thank you both, Railsquid and JimF, for your replies.

[D1042 Western Princess]

Oh for a friend who actually knows what they are doing to build the  thing for me so that I can just get on with running trains!

There are days when that rings very true!  (Mainly days with point motors in them... wish I'd known about Kato before I started).  Or the temptation to buy a layout from eBay with the work already done.

It's very satisfying when it finally does work though 

Tim,  I decided to give the point motors a miss on Peltin because of all the trouble they caused on my previous layout.
I very much enjoy running trains but am total rubbish at putting together anything more than a yard or two of plain track!
But thanks for the encouragement.
I once contacted a professional layout builder to see how much it would cost.
I had no objection to the first figure of '£4', it was all the 000s that came afterwards that I found a bit off putting  !
P/S This was about 10 years ago - I doubt the price has gone down.

[Lovstrom]

I am a builder. I enjoy to build kits of wagons and locomotives. I have actually scrapped my ideas of an American layout because they are so into ready to run. For my trackwork I would love to try out the new Finetrax. However I will not go all the way with 2mm/9.42 gauge. It is fun that different persons have so different views of this hobby. One day I will try to go after a timetable too but today I am perfectly happy to just build my trains.

Sven