Don't Stop...

Dear Randall,

If I may...

...might I suggest something like this?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1364464647002737/

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/55225-blue-heron-3-2-2-ho-inglenook/page/4/

Yes, Yes YES!

...and even with you "single TOMA" section, there's no reason why you can't do that,
even if only "occasionally, as the mood strikes"...

https://web.archive.org/web/20190717002336/http://www.carendt.com/small-layout-scrapbook/page-98-june-2010/ 

(Hint: as much as they cop a bit of look-down flak, that "return loop" could be easily thrown together from pieces of KATO or B'mann grey-ballast/NS-rail sectional track, and is robust enough to be taken apart and stored in a plastic grocery bag between sessions...)

I completely appreciate the "downsize to (seemingly) nothing" stress,
and (seemingly) "no room for anything",

but there is always room for something...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to see the opportunities where they lie,
Prof Klyzlr

Scale?

You didn't mention a prefered scale.

My own is HO with a big interest in N scale also. 

A number of years ago N Scale mag and I believe MR mag also ran a story about a guy who built an N Scale diorama about 15" x 20". Might have been smaller or larger. Anyway it was of a city scene. A track up the center of a main street and one turnout that led off up an alley. It led to the back side of a small industry. Stores every where else. Detailed to the max with around 200? separate details applied.

Hope you have a bookcase of some sort. Use that, even in HO or even O scale a great scene can be made.

Jack

Many Areas of the Hobby.

In my book you don’t have to have your own layout to be a model railroader.  If you enjoy building structures then keep doing it!  
 

If not already, you may want to see there is a club layout in your area.  
 

Joe

Structures, detailing, weathering, clubs, friends

Lots of avenues out there to play model trains without a layout. Find somebody local and help them build their layout and run trains and I’m betting they’d love someone to build structures. Detailing and weathering are small footprint activities also. Clubs are a good outlet too. Micro layouts are a cool challenge also.

Randall

When I read your post I recognize the frustration that the changes in life's circumstances can bring. Been there. Done that and I'm sure I'll be there again. But also what is obvious in your thoughts is that you still have the passion and that is what it takes to get through these challenges. Don't want a switching layout? Yeah, me too. All that track gets in the way! When you don't have to worry about operator's hands needing clear access to the track you can spend many happy hours adding utility poles and actually string them up. A couple of those great examples that the Prof. pulled up show how realism is dramatically enhanced when the vertical dimension is modeled with care. That's just one of the many new challenges that can take your modeling to a whole new level. Photography........heck, with a cell phone, bright light bulb and a computer you can have fun for hours and hours documenting a beautiful scene and then posting the photos to MRH and let us all enjoy it with you. Get a few dioramas completed and maybe by then an opportunity to start working them into a simple track arrangement may present itself........stranger things have happened!

 I don't think you're done yet. Me, I'm really looking forward to seeing what you come up with.