Adding more to a flat layout

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

My layout is about 5x9 and I wouldn’t mind adding a few more tracks, I already run 7 DCC with sound. I have two different power cabs.How can I build an upper deck and still be able to see what goes on down below it???I just want to add two more tracks.

2

Here’s a possible solution:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/255-75512

Micro Engineering makes various other similar bits and pieces. You could also scratch your own.

Ed

3

My best guess… Add an El…

4

Or, put a subway beneath your layout.

5

It would help if we could see what you are ready have. My bench seemed pretty full for the last 5 years so I added on to it. Then I started running my passenger train and need some where to park it off the main. After some thinking I changed a few things and found the room to add another 16 foot of track.

Cuda Ken

6

I have 4 sidings now. I was just thinking about not adding anymore track. I will just add a couple more sidings.You can’t run them all at the same time anyway.

7

It sounds like you’re talking more about “storage tracks” than sidings.

Maybe you should consider some sort of removeable storage, often referred to as “casettes.” These are tracks which are separately mounted, and can be lifted from your layout to be placed out of the way, while a different cassette replaces it.

Or, if space allows, consider a fold-down option. When you’re running, the tracks are set up and in use, but when the room is needed for other things they can be folded down and out of the way.

Or, perhaps what you really need to do is take half the trains off the layout and put them in boxes. You can manually swap them in and out at any time, but with much more space you will be able to use your sidings and yards more for operations than for storage.

8

Most here will think I am wacky but I run 2 ovals a 18 and 22

I did have a crossover from the 22 to the 18 and 2 inside sidings off the 18

I never really used them so I took the crossover off and got rid of the sidings

I run 2 trains at a time on each oval

All my staging is in a small multiple drawer cabinet that fits under the table with the 2 power supplies on top

I can switch out both trains with rolling stock in under 15 minutes

I usually change every other day

I just like watching them run and never got into switching etc

Like I said I am wacky

9

UncBob

those r nice drawers to have there I like the way you set them up.thank you for your time and pictures.now could we see what you run them on? and again I liked what I saw.

slow train Ed

10

Usually, if you build an upper deck, it is at least a foot above the lower one. This just makes 2 vertically separated parts of the RR. Its not a matter of seeing what is happening below unless it is hidden staging, where you usually hide it by creating a very low clearance and using video cameras to see.