Both

I am a loner for construction.  I help/have helped several people with their layouts, but my construction methods for my layouts are more "figure it out as you go" (more art than science?) than a set plan and tend to work in many short spurts rather than one fixed time per week.  I am a tinkerer and so like to fiddle with things by myself.

I am a group operator, building a layout that will need 6-10 operators when finished.  I also attend operating weekends and group operations on local layouts.

Interesting Dave. You and I

Interesting Dave. You and I are direct opposites!   LOL

I like to work on the layout with a few others helping, but prefer to operate with myself and one other. Crew operation with several people is not for me.

Jim   

Same as Dave

I think I'm a loner as far as construction, I prefer to do all that myself. I also don't know if my layout could accommodate many operators nor do I think I would want the extra "work" of hosting operating sessions for others. Now, I do think I could join another group or operator who was open to me working and operating on their layout. I'm actually pretty shy in person when I first meet people and it takes me awhile to feel comfortable with someone new to me so that factors in too.

Both as well

Also a loner for construction, for the same reasons as Dave.

For my own layout I aim for single person ops for myself, or possibly a 2 man crew op with a couple friends over (during which I usually just stand back and watch/supervise - you can learn a lot about your layout watching somebody else operate on it).  I like being able to go run part of a session for half an hour in an evening if the mood strikes.

But I also really enjoy operating on larger layouts.  The thing that’s different about a larger layout with multiple jobs going at once is you get the sense of how what you’re doing fits in with the larger transportation scheme.  You can see that with almost any role on a larger layout, but it’s most obvious in a yard, or as a dispatcher.  I’ve been lucky enough to be able to operate regularly on some nice larger layouts in the area.

It's funny...

..in most situations outside of model railroading, I hate large groups (more than say 6 or 7) people, but for Operating Sessions, I have been in groups of 20, one layout had I believe over 30 people, though it was in a building the size of a barn, so it wasn't crowded, and I was quite comfortable.  I am for whatever number requires for the railroad, and since I'm modeling a Transportation System (what I heard Tony Koester use the term Marco-Modeling to describe it) a large group is needed.  You are Micro-Modeling, focusing on one or two towns, to satisfy your Given's and Druthers, and therefore a very small group, even just one person, is sufficient to operate the railroad.  

FWIW,

Ken L

Group Operator

I prefer to operate within an op session setting with others. Used to be part of a traveling Ops group here in PA, but under these times, that all fell apart. I miss operations within a group. That’s where all the fun is.

Another vote for both

I built the vast majority of my layout by myself, with some help on hardshell installation and ballasting.  I enjoy operating in groups though, and designed the layout for (I thought) 6 or 7 operators.  The plan was to have a dispatcher, 2 yard crew members and 3 trains on the line at once.  I dispatched the first couple of sessions and that's how it ran.  Everyone had plenty to do and the pace was rather relaxed.

Session #3 was where everything changed.  Word had spread and 10 operators showed up.  My friend (who had dispatched on several model railroads before) was the dispatcher and I was the Superintendent/roving problem solver.  I had a radio headset on, and heard him call crews for the first 3 trains, then another and then yet another.  I burst into the dispatcher's office and asked him what the heck he was doing.  He told me not to worry, the layout could easily support 5 trains on the line at once.  He was right.  We've since added a Hostler job to the yard so there are 9 operating positions: dispatcher, yardmaster, yard switcher, hostler and 5 road crews.  If we run 2-person train crews then we can keep 14 people busy.  This is double the originally designed number!  We've hosted over 200 operating sessions since 2004, including operations weekends and NMRA conventions and everybody seems to have a good time. 

As the owner/builder it is great to see what goes on in a session.  The railroad absolutely comes ALIVE with activity.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  I do run some trains by myself between sessions, but the big sessions are the big fun for me.  I'm lucky to live in an area where finding crew members is never an issue.

Bob Bartizek

Operating crew size?

  I tend to model short lines or branch lines of larger railroads so a small crew( most of the time just me)  is usually all I need. I don't really have much choice in the matter though as there are few model railroaders in my area. If I lived somewhere with more activity I might view it from a different perspective. For instance I think I'd enjoy a club setting of a few experienced modelers dedicated to building a nice prototypical layout, it would be nice to not have to do ALL the work :> )  ....DaveB 

Both

I'm to ADD to have much help outside of my immediate family on the layout construction, not to mention we are in a pretty rural area. However, once the layout gets to a point it can be operated I would love to have 5 or 6 others over to help run it.

I have limited experience operating on other layouts, but when I have, I found it very enjoyable.

Lou N

Loner

I generally prefer to do my model railroading alone. That's not to say I don't have friends in the hobby (I do), but I have a pretty narrow area of interest, have a clear goal for what I want to do, and as such, tend to go about construction on my own (occasionally calling on my wife for assistance with colors, since I'm colorblind).

For operations, I've always modeled one train a day branchlines so that's pretty much a one man job. I've managed to get my wife running trains with me a couple times, with her being the engineer and me the conductor, and I quite enjoyed operating as a two person crew. That's something I could see myself pursuing more in the future, once COVID is gone and I have my layout looking presentable for visitors.

Even my dream layout concept that I'll build one day is a low density secondary mainline that's effectively a glorified grain branch (~2 trains a day each way), so I figure even that would only require two engineers (so at most, five people total if I run two person crews and a dispatcher). I can't imagine having a layout large enough for 20 people to run on (or rounding up a 20 person crew for that matter), and since I model the modern era, it's hard to imagine modeling a line that would be busy enough to justify that many operators.

Baxter Barnes

Both

My layout plan in my head will also be a one town, or branch line, operation. Planning on operations for myself, could see operations for two. But I sure do love a weekend OPTUD. One of the things that makes that hobby great, no wrong answer.

It is interesting I was a

It is interesting I was a sorta loner for decades being just myself and my father.  And we built a couple large layouts over the years relatively quickly.

Then we joined a Friday night group that builds/operates each other’s layouts and truthfully our progress on our layout slowed tremendously.  In part because we got our “fill” at other folks layouts. 
 

That being said I do find I enjoy operating a layout.  And if you are operating a large layout representing a class 1 mainline then you need a good number of people.  It is difficult to operate a double deck layout of the PRR PanHandle Div with only 4 people for example.  On the other hand a smaller slower paced layout representing a branch line or something circa 1900 can often get away with a small crew.

As for building...  I find it is difficult to work with a random construction crew.  I know some folks get it done but I have issues with getting what I want at levels I like.  Not because the crew isn’t good but simply because everyone has there own methods and if they only work on my layout once in a while they are not familiar enough to do it the way I want/planed so I don’t get a lot of work done.

If the crew worked every week or every other week on the layout then I am sure in short order they would get used to how I want things and they would spend more time working and less time finding tools or meterials or understanding the design and methods.  
 

So I guess it all depends

-Doug M

Both

For my railroad, which is a small shelf switching layout I prefer building and operating by myself. Maybe one other person.

I belong to a club and enjoy the monthly op session as well as operating at a few friends homes on their layouts. The home layouts crews are any where from 6 to 10 based on the layout. 

Loner

But not necessarily by choice. Most layouts I know of doing ops are quite a ways away. And yeah, my layout is mine, so... construction it my thing.  Once I figure out what I want to do for ops I'll want others over.

I just had an operating

I just had an operating session this past Friday (my 45th session since starting operating sessions in July 2016).  I had 9 people plus myself, and I dispatched for the session (did not staff the station operator's position, wrote my own orders and clearances).  I could have used another three people (station operator, yard crew, and road crew), but COVID limits the amount of people that are willing to participate.  Very much understand that, as everybody has to make a personal safety assessment of their own situation, and appetite for risk.  I've cancelled sessions when the wife's job presented COVID close contacts so as not to place anybody at risk attending my sessions.  

As always, I had a blast, even if I do not staff a position during an operating session, and just "railfan" and watch my railroad come alive.  I love large operating sessions, and I participate in a Friday evening group that offers an opportunity every Friday (except when COVID limits the opportunity). 

I also have two people that work on my railroad regularly.  Tom does all of my track laying (been going at it for six years now, still have some industrial areas to complete).  Allen does almost all of my electrical, and of late has been building various industrial complexes on my railroad.  He just completed a large meat packing complex out of Walthers kits with some kit bashing, and a leather manufacturing facility out of a surplus City Classics kit, and Walthers modular building pieces for an annex to the city classis building. 

Allen and I try to work on each other's railroad once per week at each, and Tom averages about once every two weeks working on my railroad.  He does not have a home railroad.  Both are members of the same round robin group that I participate in.   

I also spend a LOT of time in the basement on my own doing whatever I need to do in order to move along the completion of my railroad, motive power, and equipment.  I average about 6 hours per week on my own.

I would not be as far along as I am without the involvement of others, nor would I be enjoying the hobby as much as I am without the Friday evening sessions.  So, in summary, I enjoy spending time with others operating and building.  But I also enjoy my times of solitude when I get things done between operating sessions.  Nothing gives a sense of accomplishment more than having others enjoy the fruits of your model railroading efforts.

Regards,

Jerry

Very interesting messages. I

Very interesting messages. I have seen everything y'all brought up at one place or another. I have operated at larger layouts with crews of up to a dozen folks. Unlike most of you, I do NOT like operating a "railroad". My like is only to operate a single train, a local freight that picks up and sets out cars in one or maybe two towns.

When my layout was in full operation a half dozen years ago, I had as many as 10 operators for a session. That was too many folks. The layout at best was good for 6 or maybe 8 people if I had 2-man crews. Most typically, I had two 2-man crews and the rest of the people spent the evening socializing. 

While I enjoyed each of my op sessions -- after all, everyone was a friend -- I found that such sessions were not really what I wanted for my hobby. When only one, two, or three people operated the layout with me I had a great time and was very satisfied with the time spent. When I operated alone, my op sessions were short, line less than 30 minutes before I got bored and shut down. 

So, I will start construction on the new out by early summer this year. It will be a so-called point-to-point layout with one town between the ends. I envision one or two operators working the local freight and one or two operators running a couple of thru freights and through passenger trains. This will be the limit and I won't invite any more people than this. That is, three or four guest operators and no more.

I do not care for train orders and they don't lake sense for this sort of operation anyway. I really don't care for car cards either. That type op operation has not appeal for me and I avoid it, making me into a non-team player. While I love people, I do not care for being in groups of people. With the COVID virus mess of today, this is probably a good thing. (Not the virus, but my type of operation!!!)

Should the virus situation not be gone when I start operating again, I will require all operators to wear a mask and if they have any health issues, to not show up at my home. While I love our hobby, it isn't worth the risk of me getting the virus. I am a senior citizen and am very careful.

Jim Six

Maybe I'm a bit different

Maybe I'm a bit different from some of the other respondents here, but as much as I like doing the construction myself, because it means I get full control, what I like even more is not being forced to do the parts of model railroading I like the least. So, in the club, I don't need to be on the track laying committee. Others that have an interest in that take my spot.

As for running trains. I love bigish ops sessions and I love just noodling on my own and I love having the club so I have the option to do both. 

I love the Ops, the more

I love the Ops, the more people the better,  I enjoy people watching,  

I spend more time alone working on the layout or other projects,  so it is fun working with a group aka team of people completing a task or project.

Now that I'm retired and a Stay at Home Dad,  The wife is now working on her career goals,  I do miss going to work.  I liked being on teams, in charge of teams, directing staff solving problems and just getting work done with my FAB partner and team etc. during my 21 years at intel.

I'm not sure how people can live life as a hermit or loner etc.  The part I like the best, is the people I work with and share the hobby with etc.  

Loaner

For me, large operating sessions feel too much like work.  I Prefer laidback operations.  No fast clock, no more than one or two trains, no through freights, good ol’ industry switching, etc.

So solo operations or having 1-2 friends over to operate is good for me. 

Joe
 

Small and relaxed is my preference

Jim,

I like to operate with just a few people in a very relaxed manner. Probably 3-6 is perfect. And I like to operate with people I know well because there's a comfort factor. I'm not interested in doing a lot of paperwork or following a lot of rules. 

“I’m just a lonely boy”

Loner, building, operating, I never have been to a club but once, and they didn’t operate, just ran their own stuff.

I’m building something like Jim’s one town concept, but it’s one city , a few blocks of industrial switching, factories,warehouses, etc.

Interesting topic Jim. I will

Interesting topic Jim. I will have to say both. Like you I enjoy being in charge of one train and running the train. I have also found that I enjoy doing things with the other members of my club. I can honestly say I do not favor one over the other but enjoy both options greatly. They each have their place and advantages and disadvantages. I am quite happy with my own company and could easily go for quite a long time with out contact with others. I also have quite a few friends and can easily get involved in group activities with them.

The one town layout concept lends itself to both options. If the town is big enough several operators can have an enjoyable time operating with out getting in each others way. Yet on the same layout a solo operator could also have an enjoyable time operating a single train or even turning one on and watching it go. This hobby has so many good choices it is easy to pick the ones that give you the most joy and participate the way you like the best. I think the best option is to be able to do as many of them as possible depending on your mood or desire at any point in time.

Recently, one of my friends and I went to a train show on our motorcycles. I believe it was about 2.5 hours each way. We went to the show looked around and did not find anything either of us wanted to buy. At the end we did not think the show was that great but both agreed the ride to and from on our BMWs was a great time, we will do that again. I mention the motorcycle trip as that is something that is much more a solo event than car travel with a bunch in the same vehicle, that can be a lot of fun as well.

I guess it depends on

I guess it depends on personal interests.

I like everything to some degree.  I like large big multi track mainlines (Like the C&O)  and I like tiny run down narrow gauge (like Mann’s Creek). And I have operated on layouts depicting the full spectrum in railroads and timeframes.  And they all had good and bad points to them.

As for my personal layout,  I think of it as a time machine.  I can’t go back and see what the New River Subdivision was like in 1943 so I try to build a replica in my basement as I don’t know enough about physics to try and build said time machine.

If I have to start over (heaven forbid) I will look at what I have to work with (time, space, money etc) and decide then what to do.  And at that point the variables may be changed enough that the answer is something other then the C&O New River Sub in HO.

-Doug M

Mostly solo

For construction, I'm pretty much a solo worker.  I feel like having others help with layout construction would be equivalent to painting a picture and handing the paintbrush to a helper in order to get it done more quickly. Layout construction would obviously go faster if I had help, but the sense of personal accomplishment from the build is important to me.

For operations on my own layout, I most enjoy working with one other person as a two-man crew, or maybe two other people max, as long as I can operate alongside them rather than being an observer in my own op sessions.  I like getting to know people who visit and being able to talk with them one-on-one, which I think is part.of why I gravitated toward a simpler layout plan at our new place with a very relaxed operating scheme. 

When operating at others' layouts, I enjoy groups of all sizes, but again, I most prefer those where I have a chance to interact with others as part of a crew, or at least between runs.  I feel that that's easier as a guest than it is as a host.