Looked after, most model railway stuff will last well. This Airfix kit shunting in 1980ish, on Michaels bedroom railway is still a good runner as seen in pic79 & the pic on the forum. We had two distinct eras of operation then, a steam early sixties scene & a 1980s then modern scene. In this layout, the nine line fiddle yard is under the viewing area in this pic. The track went right around the room, using a hinged lifting section (the Tamar Bridge) passing the doorway & continuing behind his wardrobe & cupboards. It worked well for twenty years. His bed became an island. He did have the use of a spare bedroom, but he was in no hurry to move.