The 5 Stages of Model Railroading
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ก.ค. 2024
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“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.
Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall;
don’t be happy when they stumble.
For the Lord will be displeased with you
and will turn his anger away from them.
Don’t fret because of evildoers;
don’t envy the wicked.”
Proverbs 24: 16-19 NLT - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
You forgot the "hair pulling" phase. That place you get where your learning something new and you get so frustrated you want to quit the whole hobby. Then it works, and your world is complete again. 😅
This is true, especially if you've been working on your layout for 20 yrs. 😆😆😆
Am there right now trying to get my arduino, DCC-EX motorshield and WiFi shield working
The “can I build this? Should I try?” Phase when you look at how intricate it looks
I think I've been in the overkill phase since 1978, I like collecting so I like buying. I started in HO and now I'm in N scale and since there so small you can always buy more. I'm in the process of looking to build a new layout, but the one I have took me 10 years till I found my happy place. My problem is can I find it again
Right now I am in between Phase 2 and Phase 4. I narrowed down my era to nothing past 1959 and certain railroads unless something comes up outside of my core railroads I picked that interests me. I am definitely in the collector camp as I would get bored focusing on one or two railroads. Trust me I tried to run that exercise in my head and I always came up with reasons why only sticking to one or two would be bad for me. Collecting is a hobby in itself so for me this works. I will hopefully have a working layout in the next few months since I will have help from friends and roommates who want to see trains run.
How about the tear down and start over phase. I've had a few layouts that never got "finished" over the years. I'm now on my retirement layout and am farther along in it's build than I have been on any other layout in the past. The reason is... I have more time and resources now than in the past. This truly is the best hobby.
I agree i think stage 5 should be the upgrade phase- where you slowly upgrade or quickly redo things
That was one of the funniest episodes I have ever watched. I laughed like crazy when you said, "more trains". Thanks for making my day.
Phase 2 was definitely me as a kid. At one point I had a 2-8-0 steam engine pulling a consist that included an auto rack loaded with '69 Camaros!
My rabbit hole has a train peeking out of it. 😁😁😁
I finished my layout...decided I didn't like it, tore it out and now I'm starting over lol. Made some mistakes, learned a lot, now doing it better
I'm been in all five stages at once since I was a teenager in the 80's. And don't want to get out. Love trains!
I’m perpetually stage four. Pivoting and going down another rabbit hole.
There is only tea, coffee is the bean juice of the devil, (except on Saturdays when it nicely compliments pastries.)
I'm in stage 6 - "the prodigal railroader". Never spiritually left the hobby but I haven't had a physical layout or rolling stock in years. I'm now building a small down the rabbit hole shunting layout , with a precise year, company and theme but with the flexibility to run what I like as well. Lest this sound organized, I definitely went through the Buy Moar Trains stage.
Drinking Folgers in my Batman cup. 😊
My normal Folger's Black Silk for the weekday. I save the good stuff for the weekends when I can sit and enjoy.
Raising awareness for Phase 2.5 - Financial Recovery. Great video and fun topic!
JImmy, Been thru all the stages. I model the late 60's through the early 80's So I have a place for box cars with roof walks, caboose, and a wide variety to use in locomotives just by the amount of weathering. The rabbit hole is fun as long as you have a plan.
Sometimes I have an itch and revert to phase 2. Something cool comes out, I have to buy it. After a couple weeks Im good and I sell it. Heck there’s a caboose I wanted for a long time but absolutely doesn’t fit my era. Finally found it and immediately bought it. After a couple days of seeing it on the shelf I gave it to one of the best modelers on TH-cam because he’ll make something of that cab!
Thanks for a fun video. "MOOORRRRE TRAAAAINNNSSS...." Yep.
After many, many rabbit holes I have a large HO Layout that we run what we want and have loads of fun, my layout is large enough to have multiple operators and it is just fun!! Always collecting and always looking to upgrade! Yes I have way too many model trains.... is that even a thing???? Love your content!!
I think picking and sticking to a general era in time can save you a lot of money.
These are spot on, I’m at stage 4, pivoting and I love it! 🚂🙌
I'm in the phase 4 stage, trying to create an N scale layout that includes trains running and switching operations to fit in a small condo. Portable N scale switching layout is next. Rolling stock is mostly used/last item sale/refurb so I have a few mismatches. I have a bunch of refurb BLI locomotives. Era is mostly transition right up to the 80s. Walthers kits have that look as are some of the used/refurb accessories I bought. its my layout :)
You can add to the pivot phase sell off items you will never use once you have made your final decision of what your layout is going to be.
I dont drink coffee, but im starting to drink hot chocolate again
I just build and run whatever I like (and whatever I can afford)
I like your phases.... I relate. Personally spent 3 teenage years in phase One, 40 years in phase Two, 6 months in phase three & four, and happily find myself with a never-to-be completed layout and riding phase five on into my sunset. As you may ascertain, I see phase three and four as the s- - - or get off the pot phases.
Definitely, spot on! I'm currently in phase 4 myself, but I already have a plan! And fortunately, I'm in no big hurry
when I got back into the hobby about a year ago I started in the interest phase but knew what I was doing from my previous time in the hobby as a youngster and quickly moved through acquiring and overkill. Many union pacific big steam locomotives later and I am firmly down the union pacific rabbit hole where every locomotive and piece of rolling stock I own is union pacific. every piece of track I lay is laid with the sole purpose of running union pacific trains.
Well it appears as though I’m in a different theater which has one stage, that includes moving homes, switching gauges, building for need & all at the same time. The idea of building & programming my layout sounded good on paper but in reality that just became too frustrating, so I spent more money to get things running. I love listening to all sorts of ways of doing things, but kept getting different results & then getting creative in finding solutions. I started drinking coffee, but my doctor had me stop drinking coffee, tea, sodas and just drinking water. I’m still trying to get an Atlas DCC equipped locomotive to run consistently but it’s as finicky as can be, unlike the Kato locomotive that came with the starter set that runs great. C’est la vie! lol 😎✌🏼
Yes, Yes, Yes Yes and Yes. Great video. Thanks for sharing.
Nice insight Jimmy! Yeah, I think I'm in the phase 3 stage, but have focused my collection on 3 road names now (CP/CN/BCR) and have pretty much collected everything I could as yes, it does look like I robbed a hobby shop! lol
Phase 6 - Rivet counter and/or it's all about Operations!
Phase 7 - the hobby is dying and it was better back in my day when everything was scratch-built and we walked uphill both ways to the hobby shop!
I'm definitely in that Phase 3, trying to get into Phase 4 phase. Enjoying my Green Mountain Dark Roast for the morning.
One way to avoid the Rivet Counter is to model in On30. There is always a prototype in narrow gauge from home grown shops.
Ha, but you left out the snow on the way to the hobby shop!
It is no coincidence that you listed Phases 6-7 together...
You can also do a five stages of layout building. These 5 stages could be:
1 doing the woodwork
2 laying track
3 wiring up the track
4 building the shape of the landscape
5 filling the landscape with scenery
Heh, love it. I hit phase 4 out of order 20 years directly after phase 2 :). Currently in Overkill.
I've been in the interest phase for decades. I really admire people who pick and focus on one hobby and really get into it. My problem is that I have too many things that I'm interested in. My number one for decades is Ham Radio. That really is a hobby with many dozens of aspects to it. I have a room that I've wanted to get cleaned out for several years to make combination office and Ham Shack.
I've envisioned a nice little model railroad in corner and maybe down one side in HO, N, or maybe even Z. Oh, and I think I would focus on diesel freight from about the late 1960s to present. I'm not too concerned with a particular railroad or region, but I don't want major anachronisms.
Been there done that and still doing it 👍👍
I restarted after 20 years and was in the buy buy buy stage of Metcalfe Models. I was building and storing and have so many now they are all over. I did know I wanted a layout and began planning one using SCARM. 67 plans later I finally settled on one and began. Even then there have been some changes which then caused some problems so I had to buy just another point.
I think one phase may be obsession where you have so many ideas running round in your head and you want EVERYTHING!
Another is Frustration. It's not going as you expected.
Roll on Happy Place. And layout 2
I'm in the need to buy a full sized caboose and turn into a man cave stage
Jimmy, I really love your videos. I have learned a lot from you. This video spoke to me because YOU got me into the Arduino thing. As for model railroading, I only own 4 pieces of rollingsstock, 8 pieces of Kato N Scale track, and a broken Kato SD70M that I got ripped off on from eBay. So, I don't even have a working train set. But in the past 12 months, I've built a DCCex control panel with switches to control 32 kato turnouts, current sensors for 18 blocks, and 44 prototypical automatic block signal heads consisting of 132 LEDs. All from a single Arduino Nano. I've been a software engineer for years, but never used an Arduino until I came across one of your videos in my TH-cam feed. I hope to actually build my RR at some point, but the Kato unitrack will cost $1300, so I'm waiting. I appreciate your videos.
You nailed it. I've been through all five and I'm in my happy place, beginning my big build with the equipment I like best!
Thank you!!! I now know what I've been doing wrong. I didn't complete the overkill phase properly and need to buy many more trains before I can move on.
Jimmy, congratulations on a GREAT video. You came up with a unique way of thinking about model railroading and gave us all food for thought. Thank you!
I have to say, I really appreciate this. Extremely on point. As someone who has reached their first true Happy Place™ building my Alta California railway in 1960s Mexico, I never thought I'd end up modeling something like this, but now it's hard to imagine doing anything else. A clear roadmap towards working on the concept of a prototype freelance railroad (a hobby within a hobby, to be sure) and challenging myself with each bit of scenery, structure, and kitbashed piece of rolling stock. It's lovely. Now I've got time to share my hobby with others as well, which helps.
TBH, spot on Jimmy!! I do think your right with the fact that a model railroader (or model railroad) my bounce between a few phases as interests, time, space and money change. I know that all changed for me 4 years ago when I moved and I started on my "Dream Railroad", a 34ft x 8ft point to point (w/ continuous run) in HO scale. Instead of the old loop style, I opted into the "rabbit hole" of operations. All I can say is WOW!! This has opened up a realm that is a challenge but fun. Keep'em rolling!!
straight cold brew from a local shop
Good Lord, Jimmy. You nailed it. I am just coming out of overkill (no layout, just ad hoc loops) and I'm into the pivot. 😕
Phase4 to 5 here. Moving what I don't want or need, keeping what I do and actually going full throttle into building, like 3 layouts at once! I am working on an N scale small tabletop Glacier Express loop and scenery for Christmas, continuing on my 4x16 HO NYC layout scenery, and pondering and designing my latest N scale 32"x 84" for running passenger trains with an occasional freight and a little switching thrown in. And, I am happy.
Yup. You nailed it. I'm currently somewhere between phase 2 and phase 4... I have started accumulating diesel locos, some brand new, some used that need some refurbishing. Updating with DCC, LED lighting... etc. I thought I was locked into modern prototyping... but I find myself being drawn to the WW II era, as my grandfather was a WW II vet. Probably going to end up with a 1/2 modern and 1/2 WW II era layout. Down the rabbit hole I go. Would explain my insatiable desire for lettuce and carrots... Great stuff and thanks for sharing 🤠
Totally spot on, I have boxes and boxes of trains in my loft and I'm still collecting, I model in oo scale so space is limited, I had to dismantle my layout but hopefully I can get it into the garden at some point, at the moment I am planning to build a depot for my Intercity HST fleet, I went from phase 1 to 5 and back to about Phase 3, it's hard work but worth it.
Currently moving from Phase 3 to phase 4....Pivoting away from a point to point switching layout to an around the room oval with sidings and industries and switching potential. I'm cutting back on purchases by sorting and organizing all my stuff, and realizing how much there really is! I find your phase assessments spot on.
Great Video! Something else to take more into consideration is what kind of layout you want and what space is currently available. If you like switching and don’t have a whole lot of room, then a shelf layout might be your best bet. On the other hand, if you have lots of space and like continuous running with large locomotives with long consists, then that’s your preference. I’m currently trying to downsize my Ho scale collection of older Bachman, Life-like, and Tyco stuff to focus on designing and planning a small Midwest industrial/town layout with both industries that make sense to exist there and a track plan that accommodates continuous running.
The overkill phase perfectly describes me lol. 80+ locomotives, boxes and boxes of rolling stock that is roughly prototypical for reach road I have representation for in the collection, but my "layout" consists of a slightly expanded starter loop on a table. I do roughly know what my happy place will look like once I can build a layout.
EDIT: Is there a specific phase for repainting/customizing locomotives?
I think you pegged it!! Very true but still entertaining. Thanks.
Jimmy I feel called out 😂, I’m between stage 2-3! I’ve got a BNSF GP40 and PRR GG1. Searching for my first steam loco now!
This is a great list! I will say, with my wife's help I have managed to avoid Phase 2 and 3. :-) She keeps me honest and frankly I started with some good advice and I've been shooting for that "happy place" from day one. I may have to pivot a bit as my experience grows, but so far my mentors (which I picked up in phase 1) and my wife (who keeps me from BUY BUY BUY!!!!) have helped me stay on track and keep my dream of my own operations-oriented layout from derailing. ;-)
Oh, phase 2 and phase 3 is definitely me in a nutshell!
1000000% the truth Jimmydaddy! Great intel
I think I have pivoted at least three times. This winter I'm doing a major overhaul on about one third of my layout.
I like the idea of the pivot phase, I was thinking more the build phase. Build a collection, build a layout, etc.
Personally we need several Phases before "Happy Place"...
P5) Making the Plan-going through the process of designing your layout.
P6) Reality Phase-when you realize your plan is over zealous and it's impractical. AND it's going to cost A LOT of money to do what you want to do.
P7) Supplies Gathering Stage-going crazy trying to gather all the supplies to build your layout at a reasonable price.
P8) Building Stage-where you are building your layout. It's fun and something new.
P9) Building Dread-you get to a point when building your layout, where it becomes more work than fun. But you push through it.
P10) Fun/Happy Stage
Don't forget the I need a bigger house !!!!!!
Thank you for this reflective video. Near the end you mentioned "changes to your happy place". A related discussion might be "when to change your layout". I note you are on MRR3, along with a Garden railroad. What are the decisions that lead to (1) not being satisfied with the existing layout and (2) seeing new potential in another layout? Maybe a new "rabbitt hole" or an opportunity for a larger layout or forced to work with a smaller space? Always enjoy your perspective.
Watched your great video while sipping a cup of "Love Supreme" by Dark Matter Coffee co.
Buy buy buy! Thats me right now :)
The Frustration Phase of constructing and efficiently operating should've been included. Dreaming and resigning are 2 more
Folgers Black Silk here, or Maxwell House Smooth Bold, can't remember which is it the can at the moment.
Excellent summation of the stages! I'm late stage 4/early stage 5... still rabbit holing but I know what I want, only just starting to enact The Plan developed earlier in stage 4.
I know what era and railroad i wanna do, so now I'm collecting the rolling stock.
Im kinda all over the place. I started when I was 12 or so with my first HO bachmann set, the Chattanooga. At that time, I had pretty much no money and was able to buy an old lifelike F40PH Amtrak from a hobby store. After that, I basically lost interest until I was in college. In the summer of 2022, I uncovered my set and decided to play with it for a bit... but as i was running my 0-6-0, something in me clicked. I have money now... I can get trains now.. then there was when I went into the buy buy buy phase. As of this moment, I am starting to leave that phase and focus on what railroads I want to focus on. For now, I focus on Amtrak, Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, CNW, Rio Grande, PRR, and Sante Fe / ATSF. Also focusing on getting models with DCC and sound.
Though I do have a collection from other railroads like Milwaukee Road, Northern Pacific, and CSX. I do have a 10 by 6 foot layout in a L shape and its nothing too special but I am satisfied on how things are going, and I like the collecting aspect to obtain rare or obscure models. Repairing and restoring models also has left an impact on me as I love taking things apart and understanding how they work and its always a treat to see your hard work pay off when you get a vintage model working again.
For the future, (im 25 now), I can say that this hobby has me for the long run. I also joined a model railroading club and been loving it there and meeting new people. Also the older members there are happy to see young adults like myself get into the hobby as we are literally the future. It will be interesting to see where things will go from here and I hope I can continue to enjoy the World's Greatest Hobby.
I am in the buying phase, I've changed scales 3 times recently. I'm onto n scale and have a bli e8 a/b DCC sound and I'm picking up a big boy 4023 because that's on display in my area. And I ordered the Kato silver streak zephyr and will be putting a decoder In it
Im transitioning out of the buy phase. Im definitely a bit of a collector and freelancer. That said i seem to be happiest and deal with workplace stress when ive been doing custom paint jobs. Ive had some fun ones. 2 halloween ones, 2 thomas inspired ones, a percy one, and a preservation train master one. Currently working on the Dr Eggman locomotive from sonic mania. The general is soaking in the stuff to strip the already deteriorating paint
Drinking some more of that Peete's coffee. Not a huge fan. But ice cream in the coffee definitely makes it better!
I'm in the interest stage.
I want to build a garden railroad. However, the more I research the more a indoor layout seems more possible.
FYI Phase 2 never goes away until you are homeless under a large highway bridge need food nah just get some more boxcars pay mortgage nah just get another sd40 or dash 9 even though you already have like 15 of them
Great commentary on the phases of model railroading. I gone through 1, 2, 3, and 4. Now I am on Phase 5 and figuring how I am going to be able to build a layout within space parameters. I will need to get the tape measure and go to Lowe's and buy the lumber. I am looking to build a switching layout with the ability to run the trains around a loop of track and a small 4 track yard behind a view block. The only problem is I have to build it in my unheated garage in New Jersey. So i know about track expansion will be an issue. Any thoughts on combating the track expansion?
😂 Jimmy you are so right. However, I think you have missed a stage. It would be called the TH-cam Stage and it would come prior to the BUY BUY BUY Stage. "Why?", you may ask. Because I have worked my way through all your stages and feel TH-cam Stage has a lot to answer for. 😂😂😂
I like building moreso than operational running. As a result i really enjoyed ending up as a ntrak modeler. However that threw me back to the overspending phase because i felt myself wanting to run more impressive trains than what i do at home. My home layout has a lot of grades and is supposed to model shortlines of indiana. I don’t think there is a happy phase because we all find things to tweak and fix and redo and do better and upgrade etc etc.
Six phases…..I had a functioning S scale layout….old stuff…new stuff…too much stuff….grandkids off to school…abandon for years, but still thought about…new dog ripped underside wring…Now rebuild?….switch to Different track?….stalled out but getting close to restarting….phase 6 …ending the stuck in limbo phase and restarting with new ideas and plans
Hey, I’ve got a question for your next Q&A video; with Christmas coming up, could you do a video on train layouts around a Christmas tree? I have a g scale set and a weird corner space for my Christmas tree/train set and am looking for layout ideas. Thanks.
Interesting, I did not experience these phases. I have one phase, and it's entirely different from any of these: Planning. I am a serial hobbyist, and for me, the most interesting aspect of any hobby is planning. I went straight to "how much space do I have, and how can I build the perfect layout within that space." I've been in this phase for about 5 years now, and am not particularly any closer to an answer. But for me, this is the fun part. Actually building something that runs trains is almost irrelevant. It's more about the pursuit of the perfect plan. When I feel I reach that, I will probably just move on to some other hobby. Layout and operations *planning* is my hobby.
I fully understand!
Engineer?
@@chuckabell7456 How'd you know? 😄
What about the phase whete you buy an arduino megga, a DCC-EX Motorshield, and a WiFi Shield and home brew your own base station!
Excellent content I have narrowed to NYC I just bought some lifelike flex track well actually I didn’t my better half did. Do you have any thoughts or know anyone that has used it. Thanks in advance Richard
D'Amicco roasts in Brooklyn NY. Court St. Brooklyn. I get house dark and mix it with store bought.
Ok.
Not sure what phase "Let's spend months and months making track plans in SCARM because every layout I'm happy with is bigger than the 2x4' I have available" is but I'm in it! :p
Dear Jimmy, kinda interesting list. However, as the budget is and has been tight, I’m skipping the ‘buy-buy-buy’ phase. Humbly think the ‘overkill’ can also come from too large ‘dreams,’ track plans and plywood central. The interest has been evoked years and years ago. The ‘pivot’ of the interest change(d)s (for me) where interest evolves into information gathering, research, planning, track design. The pivot being all those phases bring ‘a happy place.’ Main purpose is to tell a visible and audible fictional freelance story doing justice to the prototype, whilst allowing for some deep and significant selective compression. Moreover, those characteristics only further add to the fun. Can only say that’s my particular list, cannot restrict to five, as they’re all important aspects of the enjoyment of the hobby. Cheerio
Exactly! However, there is one other, lets say "sub phase", that I believe a lot of model railroaders go through after some years in the hobby. It is caused by the overkill phase. That is the thinning phase. The thinning phase is when you start to realize that buying everything you liked no longer fits your style anymore. So, you start selling off the items you don't need and those you really don't want. Your style of model railroading may have evolved because you settled on an era, a real railroad to emulate or you just realize you bought too much. How many trains can you run at one time? Also, the thinning phase may inject more funds into your model railroad budget for the items that currently fit your style of model railroading.
Is there a record for being in the Overkill stage? I've been stuck here for about 30 years, but I think I'm moving into Pivot. Watching your channel is really helping.
I’m in the -1 phase I think. I had a great 4’x12’ N scale layout. Then we moved across the country. I had to destroy it. Obviously I have everything to build it again except the bench work. Now I’m questioning if I even want a layout and maybe should sell the $10k plus of track, buildings, locos and rolling stock. 🤷🏼♂️
What stage is tearing it down and starting over?
Hey jimmy enjoying your vids in bed and drinking hot chocolate & coffee mix, minus the coffee. (sorry not a coffee drinker)
I’m Happy 👍😀OperateOnOperator
Where is that you need to pick one scale and stay with it… I have N,HO/HON3 ( maybe HOn30),O (MARX) and G and I don’t have a layout , but I did the .O Phase joined a Club that has multi scales.
Hi. I think you are missing the face where one decides which scale to buy. That took me several sleepless nights.
Forgot a stage,,6. the i'm done phase. Can be someone who layout is done and does not plan to do anymore, except for maintenance. Then there are those who were 2 or more scales and decide to get out of one. And the saddest, just can't do or decide another route and getting rid of gear
Went 1-2-4-4(again)-hair pulling/2/4
I have to say, I was a little disappointed that you didn't cover the 5 stages of everything in your 5 minute video.😂
A southpaw!
2:04 Do you have a camera pointed at my trains? How dare you call out what I was just running! Although the Amtrak cars are no longer painted as Amtrak.
I just got back into trains again after about 10-12 years. I'm not basing it off an era or prototype railroad. Mine now is more based off of modern times, but a railroad I created. Using mostly full width cowl body locomotives. So modern times, based on the USA with mostly 80-90's Canadian locomotives custom painted. So kind of more run what I want, but what I want has a purpose to it.
i think i'm stuck in the Buy,Buy,BUy phase. :0)
Phase 6. Maybe I could improve this
Phase 7. This is perfect but now I want a new challenge
Moms are the best bulwark against stage 3.
My happy place is just focusing more on the trains and not over killing scenes
I play video games....but the accuracy of this video after i bought a Rail Cheif starter set last year at Hobby Lobby is appalling....I literally went through all of this in chronological order lol