Stop tinkering and start modelling

I came across the Club while researching the location for my first proper layout, Braughing, a station on the defunct Bunt that ran from St Margaretsbury to Buntingford in Hertfordshire, UK. Google led me to the postings by Padster and his Braughing and Standon layout. The tone of the exchanges between members compelled me to apply to join.
I lived for many years just off the route of the Bunt and still do, not so far away. I was originally going to model Standon, my local station at the time but as I played football and cricket with the grandson of the former stationmaster at Braughing, I settled on that. While limited in scope for motive power and rolling stock, the yard presents operational interest, especially if license is taken, particularly assuming continual operation of the Bromley area pottery from Roman times.
I very nearly declared my Braughing to be still-born but as I have screwed the track down and motorised points. I will persevere. I doubt that I can emulate the standards Padster has set though but who knows.
I still have my N gauge stock from the 70s, which happens to include the Holden Tank and GE coaches - handy for this location. So N gauge it is. I have succumbed to box collection and live by rule 1. The Bunt never saw much of what is on my stock shelves.
Modelling the railway is my pastime for foul weather and / or dark nights. However progress is slow. I have too many distractions,  jobs about the house to finish and if the weather is fair, I am either out on my bikes, preferably the mountain bike off-road, or sorting out the garden (with over 200 potted plants needing permanent homes). A garden railway will be laid, one day.
I have a running roundy-roundly but no scenery in place yet, not helped my three recent house moves. Every time I was getting somewhere, I had to pull things apart. I still haven’t caught up from my first start. My model railway room is not yet prepared (loft to be insulated first) so I am using less than a third of the original baseboard.
I am keen to remotely operate my layout. I procured a secondhand DCC starter set but also have a number of analogue locos in my collection so my layout can be switched into DC. The yard can have an independent controller. I fear that mixing DCC with DC is an accident waiting to happen though - I haven’t tried yet. I hope to implement interlocks to prevent a loco crossing over first. My Megapoints servo starter set is up and running although the fiddle yard has solenoid motors with DPDT switches. I plan to control my layout from an iPad one day, I have a Raspberry Pi-based SPROG but that is not in use yet. For now, I still using my temporary easy peeler box-based mimic panel. I keep making adjustments to the layout so am delaying committing to my proper panel as I learn the skills needed to do a decent job.
I have two elevated return loops and plan to branch from one of them to an upper level terminus over the fiddle yard (which may become Buntingford - a town I used to live in). I did build a spectacular helix prior to the first of the recent house moves to reach the upper level but that doesn’t fit any more but the concept worked so I will try again. Plenty to do, the fiddle yard turntable is now motorised so onwards and upwards. 

Kind regards
David

Welcome David.
This hobby has some many facets, one can be kept busy for many years…

Welcome aboard.  Plenty to enjoy here from the layouts, workshops and skill-sharing to banter and the administration of various forms of falling-down waters.

The only stupid question is the one you never ask.  We're happy to answer or to suggest somewhere to look for the answer.  

Welcome from Canada. I hope you have as much enjoyment from the forum as I have.

Best Wishes

Welcome to the forum. I look forwards to seeing photos of your playing and it progressing!

Welcome to the club David. :Welcome

A warm welcome to the Club, David, it sounds like it is going to be an interesting build.
Michael

Welcome aboard David ! Looking forward to following your progress  :thumbs
Shout out if there is anything your not sure of round here and someone will point you in the right direction

Cheers

Matt