I’m sure this is not a new subject or a new idea, but here goes . . .
Recently there was a blizzard of discussion on this forum about 4 x 8 layout plans, some of which got amazingly heated (and I certainly wouldn’t have thought 4 x 8 layouts are an emotional subject, but who knew?). Anyway I am not revisiting that. Elswhere on the subject of small layouts, I would guess that if you have no layout space, an option worth visiting is one that can be stored under a bed.
The dimensions you’re talking about are as follows: a layout 74 x 50 inches (6’2" x 4’2") will fit under a standard double (or “full” as it’s called in the furniture business) bed. If you have a “queen” you get about another 6 inches’ width. I don’t know the width of a “king” so I can’t comment on that.
BTW, all of this presumes that there’s sufficient headroom under your bed frame to accommodate this. The usual cast iron frame that bolts to a separate headboard does not have enough headroom; however there are plenty of beds on the market that do (One day out of curiosity I wandered into a Sleepy’s — a major chain — in the neighborhood where we live and discovered this is indeed the case).
Is there a publication with a collection of under-the-bed track plans? Or has anybody out there constructed one?
Note: I started thinking about this because we live in a 727 sq foot New York city apartment after moving from a 2200 sq foot New England colonial with a full basement!! We have adopted city life enthusiastically but my good and loving wife regrets that I don’t have any layout space! Hence, I got to thinking about the above.
I’ve heard talk about them, but do not know of anyone that has one now. Because of the size I would think N scale isf possible. I would also look into folding legs like you would get on a folding table.
An off the wall thought I had was putting the layout on springs like you would find in a sofa couch. Pull the chord and the layout swings into place.
I have seen pictures of under the bed Lionel layouts for the kids, but I don’t recall any scale, scenic’d layouts. I have also heard of canopy layouts, but not seen any actual pictures.
There have been a couple of articles in the hobby press over the course of the years dealing with trundle bed layouts and someone somewhere sometime showed me some pictures of an N Scale layout that he had sited on a trundle bed. Model railroads have been built in some strange locations; I recall reading about another N Scale layout that had been built in lieu of the upper deck of a bunkbed in a child’s room.
One big problem I could see with a layout like that is you basically have to leave a large empty space next to the bed, equal in size to the footprint of the bed itself, in order to pull it out from under the bed. Beds take up a lot of space in a room, and most average bedrooms probably don’t have that much unused space in the middle of them… unless you shove the bed up against one wall - then it might work.
Still, it seems like a lot of trouble to take out and re-stow the layout all the time. Plus, you’re limited in the height of scenery and structures because of the limited vertical storage space under the bed. Seems like you’d be better off with a folding table design or a simple, permanent narrow shelf around-the-walls type layout.
I built one once, and swore never again. It was a Lionel O27 layout to fit under my son’s twin bed, just like in the old Lionel books. Twin beds will let you have 39" x 75", but very few give more than 9" vertical clearance.
In addition to the clearance require to pull the layout out from under the bed, you now have a layout on the floor. Expanding waist lines, age, and modeling railroading on the floor don’t mix very well. It’s OK for a 4-5 year old, but Dad got uncomfortable very fast. Quality time with the kids it’s not. And then the layout gets left unused because half the fun of playing with trains is playing with Dad.
A final negative: the tighter you make the clearances between the layout and the bed legs (to make maximum use of the space, you know), the more difficult it is for Junior to roll the layout in and out. In fact, if you don’t have about 6 inches at each end, it will be Dad doing the layout pulling and pushing. And if the width is the same as the bed, it becomes a great toe stubber. You need (or at least I do!) at least 6" toe room under the bed that is clear of layout. Don’t ask me how I learned all these lessons.
If the only place for the layout is under the bed, put it over the bed instead. Most kids are quite happy with only sitting headroom above their mattress.
I thought about doing this for my son. The only problem is he does not have the space next to his bed. I am considering a layout on hinges attached to the wall instead that can be easily brought down and put up.
If you have enough room, you could do the bunk bed thing, put the layout in the bottom bunk position, and turn it perpendicular to the upper berth. It can then be raised to a reasonable height, left up permanently only occupying 1/2 the space it would if it had to be pulled out, and the floor space under the bed can be a cool “boy cave” for Junior. (sorry girls, but boy caves are cool, and a requirement for boys of all ages… mine are in the garage and attic!)
You could also pull a small shelf along the far side to create a little staging yard!
I constructed a “bunk bed” layout. It went in the top bunk. The bunk was really a twin size but to make it fit I had to use some 15" radius curves. All the turnouts were on the front of the board so one did not have to “reach” the back part.
Under a “double” should be a breeze by comparison.
Well ,gang. this discussion has strayed rather far from the question I started it with (tends to happen on these forums, as I well know . . . ). Thanks to those who answered my question.
I had a 6 x8 layout that folded against the wall and when down went over the end of the bed. It had a 12 inch area against the wall for structure and mountain height. Shelves below for rolling stock storage.
In the 1980s (roughly) there was an article in MRR about it. I kept the article for decades with the dream of making it some day.
Of course, I lost the magazine/article I’d saved. So I have no idea when it was other than it was in the 80s. So there’s 120 issues you could search through
