One thing that helped sway me was how much better a model train looks going around a curve when you are looking at it from inside of the curve. The disproportionate distance between the cars closes right up.
Carrfan, it’s easier to show than describe but it’s basically a letter G shaped layout. (I dont know how to post a picture on this forum) The top of the G is a little short to allow access to my office. To start the top of the G is 4x9, the is back 2x10 (not counting the top or bottom) the bottom is 2x14, the leg up is 2x3 (not counting the bottom or leg in) the leg in of the G is 4x10.
How does one post a picture on this forum?
Because I have to share the family room with the wife and daughter, my layout is a 5x12 foot free-standing table on casters, so I can roll it out of the way when the room fills up with teenagers, and pull it out to work on the back side. I’ve been building for about 9 months now, and most of the scenery is still the Pink Prarie. Even so, I’ve already begun to wish I had the opportunity to go around the walls.
One thing I notice right away is the short loop my trains are running in. All the way around at moderate speed takes only about 30 seconds. When doing the math, consider the perimeter length, not just the square footage. In an 8x12 room, you can put in a 4x8 layout with 2-foot aisles all around. Your total perimeter is 24 feet for the 4x8 layout, but 40 feet for the room. Using “blobs” you can get a much longer run than even that 40 feet.
So, I built in a few spots on the layout where I could cut off to an extension, just in case this layout ends up in a room that I don’t have to share with the ladies.
I’ve had an L shaped switching layout in the corner of by basement work/storage room for years. I added a narrow shelf around the room with removable sections for the door and window. My running length is almost the perimeter of the room. At a rail height of 56 inches, the duck under is managable.
Essentially, an island layout with a double sided backdrop is a shelf layout. If you are OK with a roundy-round track plan rather than point-to-point or loop to loop, it might be the way to go for you. An around the room layout is going to give you more track in the same size room than an Island will since it would be an outside oval rather than an inside oval. My layout is an around the basement but my basment stairs do not run along the wall so I don’t need a duck under. An attic layout could accompli***he same thing. I know that’s not an option for everyone but if you can do it, I think it is the way to go.
Jecorbett, now that is an interesting way of thinking about things! “Essentially, an island layout with a double sided backdrop is a shelf layout”.
I’ll definitely be in the roundy-roundy realm no matter what I do, because I simply don’t have room (time, etc.) for more than that. So even a loop-to-loop would be so short that it would be essentially roundy-roundy.
If I do a 5 x 8 or so, like I’ve been discussing, I will likely make it in two pieces - 2.5 x 8 or so, so that it’s as portable as 2 2.5ft x 8ft modules.
Another way of looking at it is as two modules back-to-back.
I have to say, one of the nicest layouts I’ve seen on this forum was Aggrojones’ old layout (his new one is great too, of course). I believe his old layout was a 4 x 8.
Interesting that you mention the basement or attic stairs that are “inside” the layout. I wonder how much this helped popularize the around-the-walls styles of layout construction.
I could put one of the short ends of the layout against a wall. I could then make the other short end innaccessible with a wall, so that you’re never looking at the layout from the end, or viewing the trains from outside of the radius too much - reinforcing the “hey, it’s really just a shelf layout” concept…
After a bit of drawing stuff up in CAD, etc., I think I’m currently leaning towards what is essentially a 10ft long by 2ft wide shelf layout. The Shelf will be in front of me, the workbench behind me.
The ends of the shelf will have 2 removable 2-track wide “bridges” that connect accross to the workbench. The back of the workbench will have a track running through it.
This gives me the most amount of working space - the only headache being the removable bridges.
Also, I’ll have 24 inch curves, as well as some 26 inch curves (not posible on the 5 x 8). It will essentially be a “two-lane racetrack” but with switching opportunities on the 2ft x 10ft section.
This way I could run and “railfan” the “big engines” and hopefully full-length passenger cars as well - on the 26" curves.
Thanks for all the input guys - it really helps to see what others in similar situations are doing.
Good Choice. Don’t forget staging. It’s easier tp plan for it than add it I found out.
if the workshop and entrance to the room are on the same wall, and the room is a square or rectangle, you could go for around the walls, but only on 3 of them. have a narrow shelf running between 2 reversing loops, around 2 or 3 walls, mabey with a pininsulain in one corner with a senic divider on it. i have a 4x8 crammed into a space between a sort of foyer and a couch, so a “C” shaped layout would be best, but the 4x8 works if you have a good track plan.
as far as the point to point goes, i cant see it being much fun unless you have an EXTREMELY long mainline run.
Whatever you do, have fun with it.
GEARHEAD426
[8]
That happens to be very similar to what I am doing, dont give up the ship!