So, curious here, as when I last had trains as a child I would just run them around in circles...

So what do you do? Do you have a plan? Do you have a schedule? Is it written down? (I've seen videos on Youtube where people have cards and lists of what they're doing).

How automated is your set-up? Can/do you set-up trains to run automatically whilst running others manually? Do you move stock around?

Thanks for any tips

Yes, some people have written schedules, and some run their trains as the mood takes them. The real question is: what do YOU want to do with your trains?

Talk about a loaded question...

For me;

1: Look at them
2: Look at them some more
3: Check again just to make sure

I have only a small layout at present, 2x1m, it's an original factory display layout with 3 ovals and 2-siding storage yard. I guess maybe every few days I crank it up and give the trains a run. It's set for fully automatic operation so I can basically "set and forget", rarely have any derailments but sometimes a coupler will let go, particularly my Thomas set with Annie & Clarabel, I find one of those coaches is happier one way round than the other.

Sometimes I will make up a consist of items I've not run for a while but because I tend to keep things in their original boxes (until I have a better way to display them) I am conscious of too much handling of the packaging. Remembering of course the primary design of boxes is to get the item safely from the factory to me, and robust as they are Märklin have not really designed them for repeated opening & closing.

(Slight diversion off-topic but if Marklin were to design and release heavy-duty packaging for various models designed specifically for those who want to take items to shows or store for regular use at home etc but also giving maximum protection, there might be a bit of an un-tapped market there - ie think of the case your battery drill probably came in - molded to protect the item, robust, and designed to be opened/closed many times over year after year) ??

I also love tinkering and tidying up old rolling stock so when I do, I give them a decent run around, and of course any loco's I service as well. Although it's wired for analogue auto operation, I usually run it with my Intellibox/6022 Central Control combo. From the factory each oval has it's own Trafo and it's still wired for that but usually I just common the leads all together and run it Digital, this enables me to set better matching speeds for each of the trains to suit. Often I'll run an analogue loco like this too, it doesn't give me specific control of course, just runs at around 75% full speed which for some loco's if quite good, others may be a little too fast or slow. On a layout that small and the design it does not really lend itself much toward play but a more extensive adaptation with digital components will hopefully give me some more flexibility.

Most of my rolling stock & locos are currently in storage drawers in a filing cabinet, very easy for me to get to and keep tidy but no good for displaying them. Display cabinets are in the medium-term plan so I and others can actually look at them. Sitting in boxes & storage is no fun for them or I.

Cheers

Steve

Hi all

As my layout is mainly for exhibition use, I like to run a mixture of trains, some goods and other passenger.

I like to run consists so a A/e 6/6 with a consist of SBB stock and then a TEE with a 103 or 114; An E44 with a good set of tin plates; A BR44 with a goods consist. etc

During the show I will change them over periodicaly to give them a rest and spread the wear across the fleet.

The layout is made so any era can run from 50/60/70/80 without looking out of place.

I just love watching them run.

After a show every lok that has been run will be serviced.

Mike

My principles:

1) Stay lean and mean:

Everything that has wheels has to be on rails. If the latter condition cannot be met for whatever reason, superfluous rolling stock is sorted out and sold.

2) Minimax approach:

Maximum of tracks on minimum of horizontal surface (no horizontal limits though).

3) Running over switching:

Long mainline runs are key. Number of turnouts to be limited to the absolute minimum (ideally: none).

well trains run and can be converted or is this locos, so some of them rest, others are busy, its a model train, it moves it stops, it goes in reverse and stops again for no reason, I think it lost power, I'll change it with an other loco, I like the details but when they run they all look the same, the model in question looks good but is it right for the period, it doesn't matter, they are my trains bought by hard earned dollars, its a waste of money comes the reply from one corner, how can I save my hobby without ruining everything, its tough its hard to negotiate but I have to find a solution, bite another day, may be a week, the urge comes back again, not to dispose but to accumulate more of this golden stuff, to hide and not to tell and finally to be found out and to explain and find the right words to explain, to plea for mercy, I know its only a hobby but alla give me another chance or is this the end, I don't smoke, I don't drink just think of all the money I've wasted down the drain, I'm home, I'm sober and the home is full of fresh air, I love you all but don't take away the only thing I remember as a child was my model train, the upbringing was a bit rough, the money wasn't there, the toys didn't exist until a much later age, all I want is to cherish my trains which I've never done before and set up a kingdom in my own castle

Hear-ye,

Just superbly written John ^^, thanks for it !

Y

Never have my own feelings been expressed so accurately by someone else...
Cheers

Hi Ray, and Morsing,

In my opinion, that is the best way to run trains. You can vary the length and make-up of trains as you see fit, and that counters the boredom.

Anyway, boredom is good for you, it controls your blood pressure. Not enough of that nowadays.

regards
Kimball

my layout was designed with out a proper drawn plan but in the end it was similar to the sketch and for some reason when I actually laid the tracks I was way out. the layout served me well with a lot of enjoyment, many years passed by and my son has helped me for the last 3 years or so ro revive the layout and we've achieved most of it.
the main object was, to my surprise, the configuration of my tracks and my son came up with idea to change it, at first I was hesitant to change anything it worked for so many years under the control of the Station master but after seeing and the whole project was explained to me I agreed to a change of the track layout and you've witnessed it over the years the new snow modules and other electrification's and changes.

My sons's main objective was to have routes which do or to a minimal extend cross each other and he presented me with a plan and the following explanation which sounded at first a bit over the top because of the extensive work involved in it but we almost got there and when its all together trains will run on their specific route and there is enough room not to get bored.

we will have 3 stopping sites on the 4 outside tracks and a capacity of 20-30 freight carriages and about 12 or so passenger carriage, another essential and crucial part of the change was to have each stopping site roughly the same length so when trains enter the siding the fit nicely into it.

while changing the layout a few stuff ups on my part occurred, having 2 tracks instead of one track on one of the snow module routes, getting the right % incline and correctly placing the isolated tracks down which was determined from which way the trains entered the station.

our trains will run in sequences and because I don't have any hidden stations every train will be visible whether or not all trains can be displayed has yet to be seen as I haven't worked it out yet. Suppose it isn't that hard to get a fair idea, having over 200 locos and with 40 trains running it doesn't look like but most trains on the outer circle may have to run in consists.

on the other hand running trains for a long time one needs to give them a rest, a quick maintenance job and back for duty but in mean time replacement locos can be pulled into service.

another advantage with my collection of trains, I can run 4 different railway companies, SBB+BLS, SNCF, DB and ÖBB some of them could be mixed and these days there a trains from one Railway company going into a different country such is Austria - Germany, Austria - Switzerland, Germany - Switzerland and France - Switzerland. or just trains from one country.
there always will be special trains which don't exist as a prototype configuration, they can be classed as Jubilee trains or any name you can think off.

our trains will have interior lights, traveling passengers, steam, diesel and elelctric locos with sound, electric power from the overhead system one thing I'm not sure when 40 trains are on the move, how the acoustic will play out in the garage with all the sound, x amount of station announcements, horns, whistles, bells, coal shoveling, squealing tracks, squeaky brakes and the cylinder chuffs from steam locos, diesel motor noises and concertos when electric locos engage their electronic torque motors, I'm sure it will not be boring, maybe annoying but hopefully entertaining or it may just sounds like a day out, train spotting. and we can't wait to present you a layout of trains, colourful, inspiring, noisy and breath taking and with some luck will even have the sound knockers raising their eyebrows, lets face it when you're in the city or at a railway station there is a lot of noise going on and we seem to shut this noise out of our head because our concentration is on other things or maybe the noises go up in the thin air whereas most our layout are indoor and the noises are packed together, we will see but for now its all about getting it finished so all these cupboards, filing cabinets, boxes of locos, trains and carriages can be emptied and trains can see the daylight for the first time and with a bit of luck I will see a smile on wife's face for the first time and will she concede at least he stuck to his guns and finished it but one thing I can assure you all, there will be no more, I better not make any promises I may regret it, trains have to keep running and this includes me running with the trains and some cash in my pocket, just in case.

enjoy your trains where ever they are running, resting or just sitting there for no apparent reasons except for the holder of the magic key: It's mine and if it does sound like insanity, I like to hear from one sane person who objects to model trains, including moderators

the original question was: what do you do with your trains: of course there is the the other question what should you not do with your trains: take them to bed or your marital bedroom, put them in your pocket, drown them, submerge them, trying to bend or smash them when they don't work, sell them to keep peace int the house, kiss them, making announcements: Oh my god, she is gorgeous, fall in love, if you can't get enough of your trains don't put them between a sandwich and try to eat them, don't start repainting them, the moment you put a value on them, they loose their sentimental value, don't try to take hours to get the right picture of your trains, the glory is forgotten with the next purchase, never call your trains: toys, it sounds to childish, don't let your trains become orphans, there are many institution and private dwellings who would love to care for your trains and get the rust off their back, never sell a train unless you've got a buyer, the hint is in the wording

John

Good point, Macer.

I agree you don't need to have a lot of time.

I find that 1 hour a day on three or four days a week is enough, with perhaps one longer session once a week when I change over the trains on the layout to the next set.

Sometimes I get a lot less than that if I'm busy with other things.

Frequently I find myself just looking at my trains and the layout. I do run them but generally only an hour or two a session. I have a small 4'X8' layout and rotate them as the mood strikes me. As I am just looking, I often start to fiddle with the scenery details and add a tree or bush, move some Preiserlings around. Add some barrels or sacks to a loading dock, and so on. I model mostly era I and spend time just admiring the details and colors of my collection.

Gary

I have my locomotives in a cabinet on the wall.
Also, I have a small 3-track oval table layout just to run them (frequently).

All wagons without original package are on the track, all others are stored in their boxes under the track.
It is just fun taking one 'mostly random' out of the cabinet and run it in circles for a while

If I want to go crazy, I can have 3 running simultaneously

PS: For some reason, I also try to keep my website up-to-date with real life pictures for every model.

I totally agree, Janne.

Whether we prefer admiring our trains in a cabinet, playing with them on a layout, or taking them apart and improving them, it's all part of the hobby and all very enjoyable.

I lack the tools and skills to do a lot of work on my locos (or maybe just the confidence!), and my skills at making scenery are limited too, so I do what I can and I play with my trains, and when I can't do that I put them on a shelf and look at them every moment I can.

I belong to a large HO club, 2 rail HO scale USA prototype that uses the car card system and the whole layout is set up for operation and simulating a real railroad. It is actualy to stressfull for me. I tend to just deal with the unit trains such as coal and grain as dealing with all the cards and building up freight trains is a pain in the arse to me. For my home layout, I wish I had the room for a factory style Marklin layout. But, my room is very small, 8 foot wide by 9 foot long. So a typical 4x8 foot layout takes up almost the whole darn room. I used to have a small 33in deep by 55in wide layout I built out of a Marklin book, I made build it again and put full catenery again. I love the look of a vintage Marklin layout, with M track(stud contact) and vintage building kits. Mike

I have a few that are static displays, mostly mint condition Tyco engines that didnt run well to start with, but are replacements for the first trains I had as a child. These days, my trains are my escape from the stress of living in the real world. So I just get lost in my thoughts watching them go round and round. If I feel like I am to the point of an autistic meltdown or shutdown and I am at home, I fire up the trains and just relax and watch them run. Its a VERY important part of my ablity to survive. Mike