I started off with OO, and had three half-built and barely workable layouts to my name before leaving home. Then I got a bit ambitious and moved to Scalefour. Unable to make my mind up between the Midland and London & North Western railways, I accumulated all sorts of kits and actually completed several wagons and a locomotive before having to pack it all up again for another house move. It's all been in a couple of fruit boxes since 1998. I really need to get rid of it, so watch
eBay.
If I had to pass on some (unsolicited) advice, it would be to get some sort of layout going as quickly as possible, so you can operate the stock you have and maintain interest. Construction of the dream layout big enough to have its own postcode can wait.