How big is your layout?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’m curious what size railroad most of us build. Space is always a premium and the larger the railroad the more expense, time (fun), etc are required. I have a friend with a two level railroad that takes up the basement in his small house. His mainline run takes a train traveling at 40 SMPH 15 minutes to get around! Some of the pics ya’ll post look like they are of larger railroads. As for us, our layout is much more modest. It’s main section is 4x14" with an extension that goes all the way around. It will have three small staging yards on three different levels. Here’s a pic for perspective.

I think this one will satisfy us operationally and was all the space I could justify using but, of course, I wish it were larger.

What size is your railroad? Is it to small or does it take up to much room?

2

4.5 x 8 foot HO.


3

Neat. That’s a lot of railroad for the space. Great job.

4

My layout is 23’ x 25’ and you got that right!..pretty expensive!..here is a picture album of my layout in case you are interested…i’m still in the “plywood central” stage, but working as fast as i can to build it…i started it in March of 2004 …chuck
http://community.webshots.com/user/bayouman1

5

That’s WAY cool, Chuck. I need a bigger house. [:D] Seriously, there’s so much that can be done in a space that size. Looks like you’re doing a jam up job too. Do you have any help?

6

mine is 10’ by 10’

7

11’ x 11’ in an 11’ x 9’ bedroom. Almost “complete” 1 year from the starting date.

8

Aggro, I was hoping you’d post here. Your layout pics are fantastic. Is your railroad a shelf type that goes around the room? Does it have an island?

9

Mine is 46’ x 38’ double deck 3 rail O. I just put power to the first section of track tonight. As I stopped to reflect on that accomplishment, I realized that I haven’t had a permanent home layout that worked since I was 12. That’s 32 years. I have had a number of temporary layouts in that time.

10

My layout is 2ft x 12ft point to point with a interchange, yard and 5 industries and a card system. There are manual ground throws for the turnouts, 30 blocks and a power pak that I added a deadman’s switch. Size of a layout does not matter if designed for alot movements.
I have in and out bounds to the interchange, breakkdowns and shuttling to and from the yard and out to the industries.
I plan to expand my layout and have industries where I can bring in a varity of cars.

11

Bigboy, that one should take the prize. Is that in your home? That’s going to be quite a railroad. I hope you have some faithful help though.

12

Good points. Layout type does need to be taken into account. A continueous run has different space requirements than a point to point or switching layout. Sounds like a fun RR you have there.

13

…11 ft

loooooooooooooooooooooooooooool
l ooo_ ____________oooool
loool…looool
loool… __________ loool
loool…/ooooooooooooool
loool…/ 000___________l
loool…/0000/
loool…/0000/
loool/00000/
looooooooooooooo/
______________/…Door
…5 ft

This is the shape of my bedroom layout. 2 sides are 11 feet long. The room is only 9 feet wide. One of the petrusions runs in my closet space making it technically 11’ x 11’
The shelves are 2’ across.

14

My garage is 24’x24’ and the layout is 24x17’. However, I still have designs on the other wall for a staging yard, so who knows? I’ve been able to get a 34" minimum radius, and instead of helixes, I’ve just thrown the non-parallel double track main line every which way while still maintaining a maximum 2.4% grade–not constant, the grade varies. Average is really more like 2%, and even that is broken up with level running. Now if I could rent another garage so that I can model the REST of the Sierra Nevadas, I’d be a happy camper!
Tom [:D][:D]

15

So the two Farrari’s have to stay in the driveway? [:D]

The larger railroads benefit greatly from the ability to use large radius turns. That’s a huge benefit of more space (one of the many).

16

BIGGER is BETTER only to the point where you can still build and maintain the layout with the number of people you expect to be involved with it. In my case, one. THAT mean the MAXIMUM sized layout I could be comfortable with WOULD be 20’ x 20’. But I don’t have to worry about a layout too large for me. I don’t even have that option.

17

I don’t have the option either for both space and financial reasons. I’m kinda glad the space wasn’t available to me now that I realize the costs involved. I might have started something that wouldn’t have been feasable to finish. As it is, it’ll get done. I do wonder how some of the larger ones will ever be complete. My friend I referenced earlier will have a tough time finishing his project.

18

13 X 7 with duck under. 24 in depth. Lots of switching (22 industry spurs), two yards and a two line main for roundy roundy. I’m in the Florida Keys and suspect I am the only MRR within a couple of hundred miles so I will be a busy little dude once I start operating.

19

I have an 18’ x 9’ in my brick garage, it’s on two levels around the walls with a 3.25% grade between the two. i have gone with using building flats against the wall’s to give the illusion of depth, i hope it all works out
CHIP, your doing just fine there
ELLIOT, i like it
i will post a new picture later today

20

That is the easiest question ever, not big enough!

but I have to settle for 10X16