Our club is building an N-scale layout in an old Southern Railway caboose. At one end, we will need to construct a lift-out section to provide access to the door which will be designated the emergency exit. Our interior measurements are 30’ long by 8’ wide (10’ wide at the bay window). Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions as to how to accommodate the “emergency exit police?”
Since you’re building in N scale, my immediate thought was, “N-Trak module.” Preferably not standard length, but about six inches longer than the caboose end door is wide.
I would arrange it to hinge downward (hinge on the same side as the door hinges) and to have some kind of one-hand/one-motion quick release. That way it would get out of the way quickly, be protected by the (open) caboose door - and both drop-down and door handle would be operated by the same hand.
Without knowing the exact design and construction of the adjoining benchwork, that’s the closest I can come to a description.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Adding to Chucks suggestions would be the need for the release handle to be accessed from both sides of the section…
My primary suggestion would be to design several possibilities, mock up a few to see what works for you guys as for function and then get written aproval from the fire inspection agency on a design before building. This allows them to shoot down any illegal designs at little cost to you.
Simplest walk through I have seen is hinges up. Does require a building, sceniced foam hill or something else to hide the hinge, but it is simple. When the section is in place it presses down on a push on (hold on) switch, lift, power off to keep trains from taking the dive. All you would need to hold it in the verticle position would be a quick latch. Screen door latch might work or something more elaborate for a stronger hold.
Good luck,
Problem with a lift-up is that it doesn’t clear itself - it has to be lifted. A drop-down can be rigged to drop clear with one simple hand movement as easy as using a doorknob. ANY safety exit must be as quick and simple as possible, and its operation must be obvious to a mundane visitor.
The ideal would be to have something like a crash bar rigged to the latches – push, drop, open the door and get out. Even a five year old could figure it out.
Would a normal five year old have the size and strength to push a hinge-up high enough to catch a latch (or go over-center past vertical?) I wouldn’t bet on it. My home town oddsmakers would probably want 50-1 or better.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
By all means, check your possible solutions with the code authorities before execution; however, my guess is they will want a form of swinging gate. Whether the gate - like a door - must swing in or out probably will depend on the dimensions of the room and/or the maximum number of occupants. The latter will probably also determine the required type of latching hardware.
PS. Considering the small size of the caboose, I would also guess that the code would allow a single “normal” exit door at one end. Can you at least provide that without blocking it with the rr?
Dante—thanks for your post. Yes, one end of the caboose will allow inimpeded access at 36" wide (the center aisle will be 3’wide, but meander just a bit). We are thinking the other end will NOT be used for customary access, but must be accessable in case of some wierd emergency which might not allow use of the regular entry/exit.
The local code folks have suggested that we make the caboose “handicapped accessible.” That, by the way, would require a re-building of the caboose, because the steel door is only 28" wide. Don’t think so!!!
Valley River CEO
When our local code officials “suggest” something it is usually their way of saying do it, it is required, it ain’t worth the fight to argue.
My[2c]
In this picture are two swing ups that are simple to install, it just swing up over the center and stays up, no latching. Is extreamly quick to operate, simple a child can do it. The upper one is sceniced to hide the heinge. these have been in use for several years, email me for further info if interest in more details. Hope this helps…John
You’re welcome. Of course, I am not familiar with your local code; however, my point was that a space that small would not ordinarily require a second exit (not that it wouldn’t be desirable). Similarly, such a space would not ordinarily have to be handicapped accessible.
But … Concrete Lackey speaks with wisdom! Your position depends not only on the literal code requirements but on how reasonable are the authorities and whether a compromise will save you a lot of grief!
They may also require that the emergency exit remain unimpeded.
Chris
How about a swing out that is attached to the caboose door. It would swing out with the door and with it being N scale you would only need a piece about three inches wide for the roadbed. Or a bridge supported by the door that drops down if the door is opened. You could even made a brace so as to support the gate while the door is open but it would have to be manually moved into its place to do its job. But make it in such a way that it can not move from it’s storage place if the door is closed, stopping it from holding up the gate if the door is opened in an emergency. But letting you support the gate only after the door is fully opened. That way you could open the door on HOT days to ventilate the caboose and still run the layout.
If the door opens out, as fire exits are usually required to do, have you considered attaching the gate to the door, so it swings out as the door is opened?
Emergency exit… hmmm…
I suggest a frangible section that disintegates when you rush out. Like other shave mentioned, it is a code issue. Yeah, draw up several possibilities and ask your building inspector which he prefers.
As far as the “Handicapped accessible” part goes, depending on how old the caboose is, they may not be able to enforce the ruling. In one club I was in, we were using a Baggage car for our layout. It had to be open to the public for a couple of weekend per year and someone said it had to be Handicap accessible. One of our members looked into it further and found that certain buildings that were built before a certain date could not be forced to comply with the ordinance. It also may have had to do with the fact that it is a railroad car. I can’t remember which. So we were in the clear. Maybe the same thing exists for your caboose.
Elmer.
I wouldn’t worry about 5 yr olds they can just go under,its the wheelchair folks and the blind or sight impaired who may have trouble. For years I’ve tried to think of a way to build a portable layout in a trailer that would be viewed from outside the trailer. Something to take to Fairs etc. Would have to be totally custom built on its own trailer with lift up panels all round for veiwing the layout within.
It wouldn’t have to be openable. Clear windows would be sufficient, with all operator access from the inside. If you built it at or near the floor level, it would be a good viewing height outside, and you wouldn’t need a swing gate, you could just step over to get inside.
I bet there are construction framers in here who can tell you how to make it structurally sound and street legal.
Check these guys out:
Hope you came up with a workable solution.
My thoughts on the subject:
Make the section that needs to be ‘moved’ for emergency reasons drop straight to the floor with a quick release of some sort. Who cares if the section traversing from one side of the door to the other gets damaged or destroyed if there is an actual emergency!! The cost of replacing the bridge section is far less than the cost of someone being caught inside a burning building. What do you think is going to happen to the rest of your layout if a fire starts?
Emergency exits are designed to save human life. Insurance will cover replacing the model railroad.
Wazzy:
I think you missed the point. I believe the question was how to use the door on a day to day basis. The emergency exit concern came up in an effort to comply with fire codes.
I don’t believe anyone in here has a problem with damaging the layout to get out in an emergency. But they don’t want to have to go to exotic lengths every time they open the door.