What is the minimum aisle space used for layout planning ? I know this question is redundant, but I’m working on plans for My next layout & simply deplore that cramped ,boxed in feeling when operating trains. I realize wider spaces cost modeling space, but I’m trying to figure a happy medium & was thinking about 40". This should let a couple of people to pass each other without much trouble, shouldn’t it ? 4’ would be better, but… Any thoughts would be helpful. thanx, Randy
How many people will be running trains at the same time. How big are those people? Allow room for two to pass each other comfortably without having to suck in their beer belly, plus another foot to allow for future expansion of those bellies.
Cacole,the not having to suck in the beer belly is what I’m trying to avoid, You know what typically happens when You reach 40 +. The layout will support at least 10 operators with 4 proaboly being the 'norm .
Try to estimate “belly size” of operators about ten years in the future. It can make a “big” difference.
Rich
In Kalmbach’s Track Planning for Realistic Operation John Armstrong allowed for 18" aisleways as long as they were short; 24" was recommended. However if you are expecting 350# operators 24" can be an open invitation to a disaster. The best advice in this area is: as wide an aisleway as your available space and layout design will allow; sometimes this relationship boils down the that old chicken or the egg? bromide.
By the way years ago I had a model railroad acquaintance who had been assigned duty in the Washington D.C. area and had had the opportunity to visit John Armstrong’s famous Canandaigua Southern. As impressive as the layout was, he reflected, those relatively narrow aisleways tended to become just a little bit claustraphobic. You were, he continued, just a little bit fearful of, no matter how carefully you were conducting yourself, of pivoting too closely to the edge and striking something on the layout.
If you have enough space to have a choice - 36" minimum minus 12" for every model railroader you know named Slim.
Randy,
I have about 36" to 42" where there are two folks in an area. I have a 30" ‘pinch point’ that is about 18" long and is just for passing through(better than a ‘duck under’). The layout is 48" to 54" tall(track level) and this works out good.
If you are doing a ‘two level’ layout, you may need more space as it is hard to ‘suck in’ both your belly and shoulders at the same time! Most of the estimates that have been published seem to be rather optimistic (and I am glad I did not follow them!). I visited a very nice layout last year that had 24" isles that were quite long - hard to turn around and too long to back up in. I am 5’ 8" tall(170 lbs) and I felt constrained.
Jim
Judging by photos I’ve seen, John Armstrong was rather slender. OTOH, I’m built rather like a barrel. I have one 21 inch ‘pinch point’ with plain fascia on both sides, and most of my control panels are in places where there is 32 inches or more of clearance.
If I wasn’t a lone wolf, I would want at least six more inches everywhere except at that one pinch point (which is actually purely for access to a scenic area without a single turnout.) If I was built like John Armstrong I could probably get away with six inches less.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in Septmeber, 1964)
As mentioned in many posts above, it really does matter how you plan on using you aisles. My multi deck layout has a U-shaped aisle that is 30" wide. I did this out of necessity so I could maximize the length of my mainline run. However, after building the benchwork, I was very surprised at how ample the 30" wide aisle was. Of course, there will be no more than one or two operators at a time. If I was planning on having more than two operators, things would be tight. Jamie
Too narrow an aisle is a common flaw of John Armstrong’s designs. This was brought home to me when I visited a large and complex Armstrong-designed layout in Oakland last month. It was a pleasure, however, when I squeezed by an attractive female on her invitation.
Mark
If you have the opportunity to visit several club layouts (home layouts/round robin clubs are probably best for this purpose) bring a tape measure and see what’s looking comforatable for whoever happens to be in the aisleway at the moment. Take note of various physiques. (or lack thereof). Most of the medium to large sized round robin layouts I operate on are at about 36" with a couple of narrow areas at maybe 32". All of these experienced guys and gals recommended a minimum of 36" if at all possilbe and no less than 30" (HO and N double decker). This is a fast study way to see and experience what may work for your own layout. If you don’t live near one or are too shy, the same recommendations apply. I started with 32" and HATED giving up any “real estate” on the layout. With our minimal room it’s a “no brainer” to feel greedy about giving up ANY possibilities for detailing and extra scenic-ing but if you will ever consider operations you’ll be really glad later that you went for the aisle space. (Well… mostly really glad. The real estate greed never goes away completely;-) We once fit 10 operators into a 36" aisle width and it was just barely enough. It was good that we really all enjoy each other’s company. I have an 8’X17’ round the walls layout under way and I’m glad I went to 35" (the most I could manage) just so I could swing some lumber and tools in there!