Early CSXT

Since I am currently modeling early Conrail and Steel I would change directions a bit. 

The Mountain sub ex B&O route in the early years of CSXT. 

Why CSXT, just the ability to model a lot of fallen flag power and the many early CSX paint schemes, mountain railroading, and still a tie to my area of modeling. 

Couple choices

Steel mill narrow gauge in Gn15.

Missouri Pacific, Union to Lincoln, Nebraska 1920's

Philadelphia Belt Line, 1950's.

I might consider

  The SPNG at Owenyo or the SP Clovis/Friant branch, or maybe the SP Santa Cruz branch in the 1950's or perhaps the ATSF Alice street terminal in Oaktown. Probably easier to just stick with what I'm doing now though.....DaveB :> ) 

Would love to try some

Would love to try some proto:48 and or 0n3/0n30. Possibly the CRANDIC out of Cedar Rapids in proto:48.

Hm...

I would stay in HO.

Really, though, I've stumbled upon what appears to be my best set of compromises. SO... I wouldn't change much, except possibly hope for marginally larger space for the Ozark layout.

Andre

Why?

Frankly, I had bene out of the hobby since the 90s, out of sheer disgust over some truly insane experiences with a modular group I helped found as a teenager, earlier.

I only got back into the hobby when Bachmann came out with ET&WNC ten-wheelers in On30 and I'd always wanted to model that RR. Before that, I dabbled in 3 rail as a little kid, and HO and G (also looking to model the Tweetsie) later on.

While I have a love for other RRs and like many have an affinity for the RRs that ran very close to my home (though not where I grew up in northern Florida, as who'd wanna model the SCL in the 70s?), I really wouldn't want to model anything other than what I do now.

If I had to do it over, though, I'd probably model the line between Johnson City and Elizabethton, TN and focus on the Port Rayon area and it's twin Rayon mills, in On30 and somehow dual-tracking it like it was during WW2...

Ultra-light sections 20" x 60"

Perhaps an industrial switching area

Right now my layout is the mainline of a local short line. 

Now you've got me thinking about how I might set up a couple of industrial area turns off a small yard, including a job to bring the cars in from staging and take them back out. 

Just for pure nostalgia sake it would probably be SP, era indeterminate, but when both MP15AC's and SD9s would be running. 

I would one of the

I would one of the following.

stay with the C&O in the 40s.   45% chance

or

Go very large scale hyper detailed Narrow Gauge Lumber/coal branch. 40% chance

of

Streat Car/inter urban.  10%

Spend more time building furniture   5%

-Doug Meyer

Current do over

I'm currently in a do over forced by a move.  I had been working on an N scale switching layout.

New plan is an HO scale switching layout, but other than that the general idea is the same.  Still present day for era.  Construction will be TOMA though, rather than the previous massively overbuilt everything screwed to the house approach.

An alternate concept that has continued to appeal to me but not quite to the point of actually doing it (yet) is to model the Ayer, MA area in N scale with a decent representation of pretty much everything there from the Hill yard to the flour mill loop, and the Greenville industrial track.  And of course staging off all four routes out.  Also present day for era.

Steel

I would move my current modeling of modern Central Wisconsin to the steel mills and factories of Chicago’s Southside to Gary, Indiana. Year 1966. I have come to realize the modeling scope of that year and area is unlimited.

Tom

I would do the MET.....

In Merced CA.  It caught my eye when I was station at Castle AFB way back when

It'd be Queensland Rail in H0

It'd be Queensland Rail in H0 for me because it's local to me. Some passenger stuff with a small suburban station, and some light industry. 

I have one loco.

Continuous Run

My layout is an industrial switching layout. No continuous run. If I were to do it again I’d make a layout with a continuous run so I can have trains running around the layout. Oddly, I scrapped my 2nd layout which was N Scale and had continuous run and a couple staging tracks and moved to HO scale Industrial Switching lead. I like the switching aspect, but honestly would love to just let the trains run and railfan sometimes.

Shuttle

Free Lance O scale

Currently, I am building an S scale short line following the Maryland & Pennsylvania RR in the early 50's.

But if I were to change it would be to O scale and freelance.  A standard gauge main line loop with some kind of waterfront, On30 short line, and Interurban worked into some kind of mythical setting since I don't think I could find a prototype with all those things. Time span would be from 1900-1960.

Since I have the space I may do it anyway after I get the current layout up and running.  I may also add a small HO layout somewhere as well.  After all, nothing says you can't have more than 1 layout and more than 1 scale.

Paul

No fair!!

No Fair!!  I am starting over, having had to dismantle my layout last weekend. (Moving house)

I've already had some thoughts on this and have decided:
1) Modular is the way to go - I will be moving again
2) A continuous run for when grand kids and other visitors come over
3) More running between towns (at least, more than 75mm!)
4) Code 83 rather than code 100 with better turnouts (I used short radius Peco last time)
5) Experiment with switch lists for local trains (vs car cards I have used previously)

Importantly though, there are some things I would do again based on the success of my previous layout
1) Plenty of aisle space and space for paperwork
2) Good access to tea and coffee
3) Two operators  (maybe go to three or 2 1/2 where the 1/2 is me doing coffees and the odd interchange train)

A total clean slate?

Probably model circa 1956, a small railroad in upstate New York, the Unadilla Valley, connecting the O&W with the DL&W. GE’s,small trains, dairies.

I would still be freelance or

I would still be freelance or a very very loose protolance but I would probably switch up my era and do something with SP, D&RGW and SPSF Kodachrome diesels.

S-scale

A 1970s or 1980s Appalachian branchline in S.  Maybe a freelance shortline.  A half-dozen locomotives.

S is a modeler's scale, so most of my structures would be scratch-built.  Handlaid track on a narrow shelf.  Interchange with CSX or Conrail.

Currently HO Scale Southern

Currently HO Scale Southern Railway in late 70s. If I had to start over, two things come to mind:

#1, BN in the early to mid 70s. I would probably either stay HO or go to N scale. I love the early BN with the mix of old and new paint schemes. 

#2, S Scale logging road or branch line in the steam era. It would be a totally new experience for me, never having done steam before.

That being said, you'll have to pry my current equipment from my cold dead hands!

If I start new

I think I didn't change my scale which is N scale

In fact, I firmly beleive I would change nothing about my tastes and thinking in the hobby.

I'm too comfortable with this scale and his possibilities.

That's why now living in Quebec with a huge room, I will expand my N scale layout and sure not start again.

But I must admit some kit available in HO scale like the kind of FSM and steam brass locomotives to have another choice than USRA ready to run are really missing me. 

G Scale Trolley

Good Morning All,

Were I to start over...I'd change to G scale trolley with DCC because:  easy size to scratchbuild, sharp curves support a shelf type layout, single car trains and last but not least sound.

Milwaukee Road in Wisconsin

Milwaukee Road in Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan during the railroad's declining years in the 70s. I like the rough track and lack of maintenance. Lots of weathering opportunities. I grew up in a Chicago neighborhood near the MILW Kingsbury St. branch in the 50s and 60s and could incorporate multiple small industry and street running in a separate switching layout.