No, but I got 3 to operating stage.

Model railroads are never finished, until you decide they are and take the chainsaw to it. Even then these days, if you have a website for your layout it's still not finished. Look at this month's MRH: John Allen is long dead and the G&D destroyed, but is that layout truly dead?

The "finished" layout is as much a reality as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster, Chupacabras, and brain-sucking space aliens. People may claim any/all these things are real, but not much actual evidence exists.

To take a couple of high-profile examples of what some may consider as "finished" layouts, lets look at Allen McClelland's original V&O, and Eric Brooman's Utah Belt.

The original V&O was never finished. There were sections with minimal scenery (notice few photos exist of the Indian Hill area by the furnace and water heater), and Jimtown/Kingswood kept getting played around with. Likewise the sceniced areas were continually updated; just look at how Afton changed over the decades.

Likewise, Eric Brooman's UB is always being updated ...and I don't just mean the motive power and rolling stock. Anyone who's followed his layout knows the major changes and scenery re-builds he's done with it.

I could list many other high-profile examples, but instead I'll turn this around. Can anybody give an example of a layout where the physical plant or scenery wasn't somehow being continually modified over the years?

To paraphrase ppfoten221 in his post above... a layout is only truly finished when the owner takes a chainsaw to it.

My gosh if i even mentioned anything of the sort to my wife we could have a Connecticuct chainsaw massacere out here. and it wouldnt be the layout. lol

A friend of mine said that his layout was finished. He doesn't understand the hobby.

I'm sure there are layouts that are "good enough" in terms of details, scenery, structures out there and they are enjoying the fruits of their labor.

I often hear many say that once a layout is done, model railroaders usually tear it down (a part of the whole) and start over again so they can start over because either they changed their mind in what they want to do, or they just enjoy building.

I for one can not wait until getting my layout built and "finished" to a point where it's good enough for me so I can operate it and enjoy running trains realistically.  That is my goal.  I HATE modeling, but it's and means to an end.  If I had the money, I would hire someone to build my layout for me, but that would cost millions and unless I find someone who is rich and will marry me, I will need to build it on my own. 

Ken L

Good points!

The past two days I've concentrated on getting some switchstands done.  This is an upgrade from Rix ground-throws, which I never did correctly, to target stands.  Now that my new turnouts are done (still awaiting a last-minute add-on for two more) I felt the time was right for the upgrade.  Two down, and love the success I've had!  Now I look at this little 2-foot area and think "well, that's done.  Now I can start scenicing there".  I almost feel I shouldn't wait but jump in...momentum.  More switchstands, or go get dirty and grassy and ballasty?  Decisions decisions..

...that said, "If I die before I finish this layout, I'm going to be really p*ssed!"

That pretty much sums up the philosophy for my layout.  I'm in the process on working on a number of projects at the same time right now.  I'm removing a spur in one area in favour of scenery while adding a spur of track in another area for my small engine facilities.  However, as time goes by I am starting to develop the idea of what I want the finished layout to look like. 

Now I can finally see it in my minds eye.  I can honestly say that two years ago if you asked me what my plans were, I would say I wasn't sure.

...NO

I've got an unfinished one in the garage that I started 30 years ago before I switched scales and had several to the "running trains" stage before something came up and had to tear it down.

Terry

There's a model railroad that is named Neverdun, but it too will never be done..