i hate the heat and low roofs. my layout is in my attic i am 6' 4" and the roof at the coller ties is only 5' 8" the neck and back hurt after being up there for a while and the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter really drives me nuts.
Cleaning the track (using alcohol that works GREAT) and leaving that one turnout yet to be wired in the wrong direction - sending my loco into the bumper. <smash>
An old little brass engine a friend gave me is giving me fits trying to keep it running.
When I bought my first Athearn locomotive, I asked the hobby dealer about the hand rails. He's idea was, and he does it himself, is to use a small drill bit and put it into the hole. Use a hand drill. This works great! Then I super glue them into place. They don't even fall out!
Having to tear down the railroad, pack it up, salvage as much as I can and load into a U-Haul to a new house. That's the worst...
I've had to move due to my (former) employer 8 times in 5 years. Now I'm with a new company and haven't had to move in 2 1/2 years so it's "Serious Modeling Time"!
How about that One "stinking, lousy" turnout that, no matter what you do, no matter what you sand, file, align, or bend. Constantly derails the 5th car of the train. Until you get so "miffed" you replace it....
That little tiny spring loaded washer you took out ever so gently, put it nicely aside in a safe place where it won't get lost. Pick it up with tweezers to put it back together and **POING** it's gone for ever in the ether of who knows where across the room..........
You have installed that decoder or another thing in the locomotive. You check, open-case, that all works before close it. All seems to be OK. You have a HAAARD time closing the d**n thing and, just after you put it on the rails, you realize that something (the lights, the loco itself, or another thing that worked before closing the loco) have just 'gone off on holidays'.
GRRRR
That spring on the KD coupler! I hate replacing the lost springs . I think I would much rather put handrails on a Athearn engine any day then replace one spring. !