I just moved to a new house and have a 32’x24’ space I can use as a trainroom. My question is should I use all of this space for a layout or will it be to much? I’m mostly a solo operator and will be maintaining the layout myself. Thanks for any input. [:)]
Is the room finished/unfinished? Do you want a diplay/table top layout or around the wall? Do you have track already on hand, or will you need to purchase it?
In short, you have a clean pallet, what do you want to paint on it?
Efective utilization is the key. The design and build should really be predicated on what and how you like to run. Since you say that you will be operating and maintaining the layout primarily by yourself I would consider a shelf layout around the wall. Wide enough for multi-track mainlines and scenery but yet narrow enuff to facilitate relatively easier maintenance however you do have to make allowance for entry thru a lift bridge/drop down bridge. A duckunder is ok if young enuff. [:D]
How much layout building experience do you have? If little or none, you may want to start with a small layout first to develop and hone your skills, before you tackle a basement size challenge.
How much TIME do You have? If you have more SPACE than TIME, you risk trying to build more layout than you have time to work on, and run the risk of losing interest, before you get to a point that you can run trains, or have the scenery to a level that you would be happy with. Keep in mind that layouts are RARELY FINISHED, there is almost always a new project or improvement, but you do want to be able to get to that level of completion that will look good and give a sense of satisfaction and Pride, within a reasonable time frame.
Building in sections, can be a way to have some well developed scenery and get some trains running to help maintain your interest. If you start with a small layout and like the results, with some early planning, you may be able to work it into a larger layout and expand from it, or to it, if you do an around the walls layout, and then possibly use the smaller layout as a peninsula, or part of a peninsula into the center of the room.
It is VERY EASY to want more than would be manageable to maintain, myself, I have seen track plans that I would LOVE to develop with larger curves to run many of the O-72 curve Locomotives that I drool over, but when I think realistically, those layouts would require probably a 30-40 X 50-60 room and cost more than I would likely be able to afford, never mind want to maintain on my own, but OOOHHH it is SO MUCH FUN TO DREAM about what you could do with UNLIMITED, TIME, SPACE and MONEY. So the balancing act that we all (or the vast majority anyway) have to figure out is how much time space and money invested will give me the most enjoyment for my investment, and this is a question that we all have to ask, and answer ourselves.
I’m leaning towords an around the wall layout. The room is in a basement below my detached garage. The stairway going down into the room will allow me to have track all around me. No need for a lift out bridge or duck under section. The room is presently unfinished but I plan on finishing it before the layout is constructed.
This will be my 4th layout I have built. I did a 4x8 layout at my first home in a spare bedroom. That was completed with sceanery. The next layout was a L shaped atlas track plan 12x15 I think. Just bench work and trains running. Then I finished my basement and started on a 32x15 layout multi level. I was laying the track when we decided to move. So here we are layout #4.[:D]
Go for it you lucky rascal. Around the room is great. Then you can build modules to plug in [unplug and move away] at various places around the layout. Gives you the whole world model.
Okay, T-1, obviously if this is layout numero quatro, we can strike any “newbie” talk. What kind of equipment are you running, and what style of layout (high-rail/tinplate/traditional) are you dreaming up?
I’ll repeat my around-the-room advice: Concentrate the complexity–yard throats, turnouts, detailed scenery, etc.–in the corners; and make the sides simple straight track. Then, if and when you have to move, those corners can easily be reconnected in a new room to become layout number five.
I like a highrail layout for its detail and realism. I prefer to run scale steam engines, but will run anything Carrying the Reading road name. Most of my roster includes MTH engines.
Chad, I’m just up the road from you a piece, in E-town. Nice to see someone local? posting. What Reading steamers has MTH made other than the T-1? Sounds like you have the makings of a great layout. I’m green with envy. Do you attend Reading days at the PA RR Musuem?
Running scale sized steamers kinda dictates minimum radius of O-54. If your train room is unfinished, I’d try an around the wall layout, with overlapping return loops. For a change of pace, place your town areas and industries in the foreground, thus getting away from the runnin’ them along the edge style pikes we usually see. If you keep your bench work only 3 feet deep, accessability should be no problem, and the return loop “island” would be approximately 6 feet in diameter.
Are you modelling specific towns, or trying to just get the “flavor” of eastern PA?
Think Big!
The dimensions you give are very generous and with the right plan you could have yourself a very realistic Hi Rail layout. With the “around the wall” suggestions already mentioned it could leave you with a lot of unused space in the middle of the room. A folded dogbone mainline design roughly in the shape of a G might afford longer runs if so desired and make better use of space in the center of the room while still retaining a certain amount of “around the wall” trackage. Very broad curves, dual mainlines doubled into 4, easy reverse loops, an interconnecting staging yard while retaining gernerous walking isles are all possible if carefully planned. I haven’t even touched on what could be done with multi levels here!
Bruce Webster
You make me sooooo envious. Oh would I love a layout big enough to operate a 100 car train.
Mth makes a consolidated steamer (scale) a pacfic (railking) and a few other also not all are scale.
I have not attended the Reading days at the RR musuem. I would like to when is it?
Jef,
I got to reading this post and wanted to tell you that MTH also made the ISo model steam loco that the Reading used for the frame and boiler on the Reading T-1, they were converted ISo’s at the Reading shops on what would be 7th street in Reading in the 1940’s.
Also MTH makes some nice scale hopper cars in Reading and Reading & Northern paint schemes.
If you are looking for the Reading Company Historical Society they are in Leesport on Center street by the old Pennsy railroad tracks, unless they moved.
Lee F.
Reading T-1 please come visit our display layout. It’s in the Schuylkill Mall Frackville, PA off of interstate 81 and 61 north. The layout is Hi-Rail 24’ x 55’. We took it over from being stagnent. It’s a large rectangular layout. If we were starting over it would definately be a walk through. It’s based on the Anthracite area circa 20’s - 40’s We run all steam and have several T-1’s, Camelbacks, Consolidateds. We run convential automated via isolated outside rails, TMCC, and DCS. Stop by you may get some ideas or some not what to do’s. Like I said we would have gone with a around the wall or another style of walkthough. We use all Gargraves where visible, and tubular in hidden staging yards. But as we can afford it we will go with all GG rail. If you drive to Reading where I live, we can carpool to Frackville. Dave North Schuylkill High Railers
How big?? How much track have you got??
Well i am jealous - i am running on my pool table - go ahead and lol…
A whole room dedicated to a layout! WOW. I agree with DC Montana…how much track do you have! If you need more, go to the next train show in your area and pick up used track. Even if it’s discolored, you’ll probably want to paint the sides a rust color anyway.
Just don’t screw the track down until you’re happy with the plan. Change it a million times if you like. That’s part of the fun.
But get something down and get it running. Then, it becomes infectious[:)]
This from a guy that operates a 4’ x 8’ layout on the back (albiet, enclosed) porch.