Sounds like that preformed layout is the source of troubles.. Time to let it go..

You could always model Dutch Railways.. I have never been to the Netherlands, but all my Dutch friends like to remind me that the whole country is flat and there are no mountain goats as there are no mountains..

My motto is: Simple is good.. No grass on my current layout.. The only tree is still in the box it came in 10 years ago.. I spent my scenery money on signals.. Much more fun..

Thanks guys, I manged to take the two sections that make up the preformed layout and stuck them in the storage shed for now. If I can find what brand/model it is, then I can find the track plan and figure out what track it was supposed to have. Here is a pic or two of it incase someone knows what model and brand it is. Nothing from Noch that has pics on the web has come close yet. The stairs up to the flat ground on top of the tunnel is a nice key spotting feature, along with the lake(which the PO filled in partialy to make room for the depot. Mike. For now my table is cleared off, just a flat, green 4 foot by 7 foot table again.

I agree with the comments about a flat layout, or rather, anything to at least run trains on. My present "layout" consists of about 2 metres of straight track in the window sill, as I don't have room for anything else yet, but I can experiment with the CS2 I bought and a simple windows tablet that runs the CS2 software so I have a wireless controller (when I have room for the big layout I have in mind), and enjoy the [limited] movement and sounds of (presently) a Big Boy and a MTH Challenger. Before we moved to another house last year, I had a temporary layout in my office (I'm self-employed, working from home), and it was really nice to be able to run some trains for relaxation.

I'm copying Adrian's response because I have a small correction to his description of the Netherlands. In the part where I come from the hills rise to a staggering 300 metres

Jeroen

Mike, I dont have the issue that you are burdened with but still find layouts a tedious and frustrating endeavor. My approach is to "keep it simple" and avoid any scenery complexities. Frankly a flat layout, just simple plain sheet plywood is a great start or even point of final design. I have a plain painted plywood layout with about 5 building kits I built over the last year or so. I prefer to concentrate on my locomotives and rolling stock, not finding lost trains in mountain tunnels. Some of the nicest layouts I have seen are basic with more attention to trains, lights and track, with a few buildings (some pre-built). Don't get too frustrated and I am certain the people on this site are more than happy to answer questions and commiserate with you. Thanks for your post, it was a reminder to me that others have problems that we all sometimes forget.

I am always amazed how much difference a simple backdrop makes, especially as scenic divider to create a diorama feeling. This could either be a collage of textures found on the internet or a high resolution wallpaper, printed at a copy shop and glued on DIY shop plywood sheets or lightweight boards found in arts and craft supplies shops (varnish to be applied to avoid fading). I attach an appetizer based on one of your early layout photos. Like that the backdrop could be leaned against the wall and easily be stored.

The above (high resolution) wallpaper used for above example can be found here:
https://images8.alphacoders.com/419/419522.jpg

Right - keep it simple. Add complexity as you can but never let that limit the enjoyment of your trains. I too am sometimes overwhelmed by all of the things that you have to coordinate to make a really nice layout and also to make it work well. I find signals intriguing but I know little about how to make them function correctly or exactly how they can control trains. I don't know if I will ever landscape a permanent layout, but I think getting a nice backdrop for photography is a lot of bang for the buck. I don't yet have a permanent layout anyway - no worries!

I am too old to be formally classified as somewhere on the spectrum but I am sure that I am - I have taken the online tests. I never thought much about it until my grand-nephew was diagnosed as on the spectrum. Interestingly he is the one who I will leave my Marklin collection to eventually.

Being placed on the spectrum is just a very general categorization anyway. Each of us is exactly what we are and what we can become, regardless of what anyone else says. As you know, there are many benefits to our mind set as well. When my wife makes fun of me sometimes, I point out that she expects there to be engineers who will make all of the toys that she takes for granted and that we are not quite normal people.

Start with the simplest layout that makes sense to you and just build onto it as you can. I find a world of MRR that I own and control very comforting, as I'm sure you do too. I think that the trick is to enjoy the challenges and beauty of an incredibly interesting hobby without getting buried in the details of what can also be very challenging. I have just gotten back into enjoying my Marklin trains in the last 6 months after a 12 year break and it has been very enjoyable.

Don't let the challenges overwhelm the many positives - we all have to turn out disadvantages to advantages whenever we can.

Edited by user 11 June 2016 13:23:34(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

It seems to me, Mike, that you are doing very well in dealing with your issues. You know what to do and take the proper steps to minimize the negative effects. That is more than most people can say about their own issues.

As for frustration, building even a simple layout IS frustrating for everyone; seemingly simple tasks turn into long and frustrating chores. However, once the job is done, there is pride in having accomplished the deed, no matter how small. I once felt very proud that I was able to remove the "shell" or cover of the loco.

As others suggested, build a simple layout made of trains, turnouts and track. The scenery can then come along a bit at a time. A green carpet on the table helps a lot in appearance. Trees, you can buy Christmas trees that look like pines for about $1.00 each, as I did. I think that is more fun than laying down tracks to fit a layout.

As for being all alone in building a layout, we are all in the same boat - except for this forum, we all play on our own and rarely friends and relatives pop by and when they do, it's a short visit. My wife usually spends, literally less than 60 seconds looking at my trains. However, at Christmas she buys me a very nice train present (actually, I buy it myself and open it Christmas Eve - but it's HER Xmas present for me).

Look around for a dealer that ships the item(s) to you who is trustworthy to actually tell you if the item(s) is/are in stock. Some dealers will not tell you and you end up waiting forever for the item(s) to arrive. Even a good dealer can end up waiting two months or more to receive an item from Marklin, even when Marklin has it in stock.

Have a super weekend.

Silvano

P.S. Make sure you always have a BIG sign on you that alerts authorities to your being autistic - as you found out, it's very important.

Do you mean 24611 x 1?

Hi, Mike:

It occurred to me that you are not as much out of luck as you may think in Indiana in getting the track and other Marklin products that you want.

Try using Walthers, the 2 Rail US giant that also sells Marklin.

Go to your local Walthers dealer and ask them to get you Marklin trains. If they participate in Walthers' sales - most do - then you can get them to order Marklin products at sale prices without shipping charges.

Below I set out the link to Walthers page dealing with Marklin track and the monthly sale booklet that gives you also the list of participating dealers in Indiana and elsewhere. Again, even though you may not find a local shop set out in the list, I have little doubt that a good train shop where you are that carries Walthers 2 rail gear will be very happy to get you the Marklin gear, at sale prices.

Let us know how you fare.


https://www.walthers.com/search/...e/page/2?q=marklin+track

http://flyers.walthers.com/app.....5&bookcode=jun16flx

Hi, Mike:

I just received an e-mail from Jim Thomas, a dealer in your town that sells Walthers gear and therefore Marklin gear. He also participates in Walthers' sales.

Here is the link to the store:

The Train Exchange

Hope this helps.

Have a good Sunday.

To encourage you: As I stated earlier, the German sea shores are rather flat (and green) like your layout, especially along the shore of the North Sea. I attach some pix.

Nice images - thanks for posting them.

I really want a V 200 in the livery shown in the third image and that shows what a nice looking lok that is!

DB "Pacific" on the North German Plain.

:o)

Hi

I have a layout Noch, Mike my dealer who is known here by quite a lot of people also and I know 2-3 Swiss also

I have no problem, Mike either. Friends Swiss they seem correct.

Personally I find the concept Noch perfect for an apartment

Thewolf

Hi, Mike;

Just a couple of thoughts/suggestions. My usual two cents' worth.

I really like the plain layout in green you showed us at post no.15. It looks a bit like mine: simple but potentially very playful.

You may want to spend a few dollars in a two-rail US starter set, used, that you can add to the Marklin set and have that train run in its own oval in the opposite direction of the Marklin train.The new train adds variety and makes me happy to see the two run together. Make sure the US set is analogue: much more economical than a digital set.

You can buy used two-rail locos and rolling stock much more easily than Marklin gear. The good news is that once you get around the coupler problem, you can use US rolling stock on the Marklin set (but not vice-versa without changing the wheels).

The Santa Fe set is horrifically expensive in the Marklin version but much more affordable in the two-rail version.

You are clearly much more capable with your hands than I am, so you could easily add bit by bit scenery that you create. Also, you can buy at dollar stores trees stations, buildings, etc. - at prices much lower than at a train shop.

There are some Noch galleries that are very nice (but not sturdy) at low prices even at a Marklin shop (USD$20.00?) and you may be able to adapt them to your layout.

With some planning and some work, building a very nice and enjoyable layout need not be expensive and the process would be very enjoyable.

Hope this helps.

Silvano