My layout is 48" high, which is about the middle of my chest. I prefer to work standing, so it’s a nice height for working on both the top and underside. When I want to sit, which is rarely, I use a tall bar stool.
Nick
My layout base height is 42 inches above the floor. This was more dictated by the fact that I needed to put storage space (even for non-model railroad related items) below the layout out of necessity. My house has no attic and the storage is in the basement. My final solution was to build a section of free standing storage shelves that stick out from one wall 16 feet and are 6 feet wide. This would allow me to use a minimum radius of 30 inches (I’m in HO scale) and have double track loops. There’s a second section that is parallel to it against the other wall that’s 16 feet long by 2 feet deep at the same height. This is slated for future expansion (I’m still building the main section, I started just after Thanksgiving).
This is an interesting thread I find myself generally agreeing with most of what I have read here.
My dual level is 40" and 52" in height.
It seems to me there are a couple of factors beside viewing preference that factor heavily into a decision about benchwork height.
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How deep is the benchwork? IF your benchwork is deeper than 24" height, regardless of viewing preference is going to be an issue. The size of the issue depends upon your height and one’s willingness to work on a ladder.
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Construction and maintenance are an issue. At 40" in height, my lower level is high for me to lie down and reach up to work on the bottom of the layout and too low for me to sit up and work! If it were 3 or four inches either way, the problem would not be there.
It is intersting just how complicated some of the issues with our hobby can be!
My [2c]
Joe
Visit my model railroad Blog where I have posted my 12 lessons learned for model railroading.
While vissiting a friend, who cannot stand for long periods of time, made me re-visit this topic. He will not be able to operate my layout for very long. Well shucks, I guess I will have to expand and ad an area where he can sit on a normal chair and operate.
This also reminded me of the Alturas and Lonepine RR of Whitney Towers. The Alturas yard was at a confortable level while seated on a stool or high office type chair where he operated most of the time. Auburn was also at this level and had a dedicated loco. Yet his Lonepine yard was almost sholder high along with Sonora, one of the stops along the line, that required a dedicated loco.
He actually satisfied both ends of that spectrum.
The ALP will always be one of the great inspirations for me.
I too have a problem standing for long periods of time. Because of this, I plan to use a tall drafting chair with casters to operate my linear walk-around layout which I plan to build at a height of approximately 54". I will have to use an appropriate surface on the concrete floor in my train room to accomodate the casters, i.e., a painted surface or other smooth finish so that the casters will roll freely.
Bob