Does anybody have ideas on a layout that I can build and operate from my wheelchair?
I am legally blind as well so O gauge is the prefferred size.
Not too big, maybe point to point and/or switching.
I am thinking of a shelf along one or two walls of my rec room. The height would need to be low enough to reach things. I havent had a layout in 40 years but the itch has got me again!!
Regards, Bruce
Well Bruce if you are in Coonecticut I would volunteer to come over and assist you in building a home layout of your choice. Height will be right and all. I will do whatever needs to be done to help a fellow modeler. If you need the help in doing so please do not hesitate to ask. We will work it out
When you figure it out, please run a thread to keep us up to date on how you are coming along. I think that would be of interest to a lot of folks out here.
Best of luck.
Jon - - Las Vegas
Sounds like you already have some ideas in your head. For some layout ideas, check out http://www.thortrains.net/index.htm There’s a fairly large O gauge section. Click the classic layouts, then click layouts on a budget and they have some layouts that are only 3 foot deep and are ovals (some with lots of switching). Not sure if that’s too deep or not for you, but maybe it’ll at least give ideas. Not sure what else they have on that site but there’s a lot of O gauge links (I’m an HO fan myself).
Good luck, and keep us updated.
Bruce,
Welcome to the MR Forums !
Here’s a link to a site that I think you may find useful for more than just the model railroading:
http://aglasshalffull.org/article-logging-train.html
I agree with your idea that a shelf type layout is in order, but I think you may want to design it so that each section can pivot on it’s longitudinal axis, tilting toward you to increase your apparent reach for maintenance. You’ll want to keep the shelves as thin as possible to maximize your functional reach, and mount them to just clear the armrests on your wheelchair. Depending on your arm length, they probably shouldn’t be more than 24 inches. Also, if you don’t already have one, you may want to buy a “package grabber” such as those made by Unger:
http://www.ungerglobal.com/english/eng_retail/02a_specialty/02a1_specialty.html
They call it a Nifty Nabber. It should come in handy when you inevitably drop something on the floor, and might even serve as an 0-5-0 “switcher” for rerailing errant rolling stock.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
I know a gentleman who has MS and is pretty much stuck in a scooter, although he still can stand up a little. His layout was built as a around the wall supported shelf layout with one penisula supported by a single leg. The underside of his layout is taller than his scooter. With minimal obstructions under the layout and a high enough underside, he can move around his layout relatively easily. Following his example would be a great way to have a layout that is easier to move around in with a wheelchair.
I am a paraplegic (T-6 SCI) and confined to a chair. My chair is manual and I have full use of my arms and hands. If you don’t mind me asking what is your condition? Are you in a power chair? My layout is around the walls shelf type. I have gussetts from the front of the bench work back to the wall. This keeps the front of the layout open for whellchair mobility. I may can help you with info and also can design using AutoCAD. My e-mail is tweet469@netzero.net if you would like to talk. I’ve got a DCC system with radio control that is wonderful, but you may can go with a tethered control for a switching layout. I have to follow my train so the radio throtle is lots better suited.
Great forum, glad to see another point of view on model railroading–keep 'em coming— I will certainly pass this info on to the setup at the Children’s hospital, they are always looking at ways to improve accessibility to the gang in wheelchairs, I just picked up a hint for an old grizzled bozo like me------ “keep choochin”
1, EVERYTHING REACHABLE
2. SOUND EQUIPPED - like Broadway Ltd.
3. A CONSTRUCION ASSISTANT.
Bruce,
Here’s a link to an earlier thread on the same topic:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=14621&REPLY_ID=131041#131041
There are other threads that may be of help. Use the Search the forums . . . window at the top of the page, for search topic use the term wheelchair, and be sure to set the search range so that it covers a minimum of two years. I realize the term handicap is pejorative, but you might find additional threads if you use that as a search term also.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
Went to a layout tour Sat. A man in a wheel chair was working on a 3 level 3 room Lionel layout. He changed them over to DC so he could operate them with DCC. We can do a lot more than we think we can. I’m sure you can find some Model railroaders to help you. I’d be right over if you lived in my area. GO FOR IT.
I guess that you are very limited in what you can do. i just want to say that i admire your detrimination in doing this, i would have gave up a long time ago.
Make sure you can somehow work under the layout. Probably you will need to make sure that any armrests or side supports can get in under the front of the layout. Plan ahead to have all of your connections for wires easily reachable from the front, and well organized. You should be able to drop wires through the top and pull them out the bottom, but keeping them all sorted out without crawling under the layout will require some color-coding and labelling of cables. (If you looked under my layout, you will see a maze of multi-colored spaghetti-wire. Do as I say, not as I do.)
Bruce, since it has been a year almost exactly since you posted this topic in the first place and now it has come back to the top. How are you getting along with the layout plan? Lets have an update.
In the past year I have built a 4X8 layout base covered with 1/2" plywood and 2" ridgid foam. It is patterened after a design bi Ian Rice and has a U shaped cutout in the front 8" for access to the center of the layout. A 3’ bridge spans the U’s opening enabling continuous running. The entire layout is mounted on 4" caster wheels so I can move it out for access to the rear. I have most of the cork roadbed in place and about 9’ of code 83 flex track glued down. I still need to figure out how to run wiring to enable soldering or termination. That’s about it for now.
BB
Iain Rice did a trackplan for wheelchair users in the Kalmbach book 'Small Smart and Practical trackplans.
The layout was on a 4 x 8 board with one edge cut away to make it [ - shaped, so the wheelchair user could have the layout on 3 sides. A hinged bridge could be lowered behind the user to allow round-and-round running. The basic plan could be easily adapted to suit.
Here’s a link to the book
http://store.yahoo.net/kalmbachcatalog/12229.html
Jon