Currently, I am building an extension to my layout. It is in an area of 6’ X 16’ (plus a small area for tracks to curve around a corner and connect to the main part of the layout).
This has been part of a track plan I designed to fit the layout in this layout room. The plan is basically a double track main line which follows about 130’ of walls. The plan includes a reverse loop at each end. This section is the second reverse loop. There also will be tracks at a higher level which will cross over the main line and then follow the walls to serve industries.
The loop at this end of the layout has two tracks. It will widen to 4 or more tracks along the aisle.
The first step, of course, was the clear the area of stuff that accumulated in an open area of the train room… Then I taped brown wrapping paper to the floor. I drew the full-sized plan on that paper. I wanted to make sure my minimum radius curves would fit along with the supporting bench work. The paper will remain for several months until after the messy scenery has been installed. Then it will be torn out and tossed in the trash.
Next, I installed the back drop. The background closest to the main layout is prairie and it becomes more hilly moving to the left. I combined Faller backdrops with Walthers “Instant Horizons”, and I painted some of the sky with clouds to blend the various backdrops together.
The bench work is a series of tables which are fabricated in my wood working shop. Sizes of the tables were small enough so I could carry them from the wood working shop to the layout room. Legs were made in the shop and installed in the layout room. The tables against the wall are anchored to studs with screws, and the tables are screwed to each other.
This type of construction makes it possible for the layout to be moved to another house if I ever move again.
This is a view looking from the far end of the loop towards the main
In this view, we can see the double track main line divides and enters into a double track loop. The SD7’s are good for testing track because they are sensitive to imperfect track.
In this view, you can see my brown paper on the floor with some of the track plan drawn with a felt tip marker. Also, you may see my “track caddy” which holds 3’ flex track and 3’ cork roadbed. It is made with PVC pipe and has wheels.
This picture shows my homemade track templates. They are made of ¼” plywood and include an assortment of radius curves and some turnouts. These were used when I drew the plans on the brown paper. Later, I use them on top of the plywood to pencil in where the roadbed will be installed.
This is where I am with this project as of today. Thanks for looking.
How big is the entire room where the layout is situated? Is the layout in your basement?
How do you manage to keep the entire surface of the layout level?
I am considering tearing down my layout and building a new one, and I have though about using leg levelers to ensure that the entire surface is level which is not the case on my current layout.
Green with envy. Not just the space, but the woodworking skills. The layout-building, we know about, but it’s neat to see what lies beneath all your excellent scenery. Thanks.
In the middle of a similar effort, I can feel the enthusiasm and energy this project brings on. Looks to be an interesting build, so will be following along. Thanks for sharing with us.
I second, third and fourth the drooling and the GREEN with envy and I am even tickled PINK for you!
{wipes up the drool spot on the floor}
I had no idea you had such a large layout! {Or are you cheating and this is a club layout?}
The tiny part showing of the “finished part” in the top right of the pic looks fabulous! Would LOVE to see MORE of THAT part! Can we, can we, can we, HUH HUH HUH?
{ I consider myself to be lucky just to have the 3.5x5.1foot HO I have,and had torn it apart to try to expand buy a mere **.**5 x1 foot to get more of a 4x6, but am now looking at going Z scale for smaller space requirements, but bigger possibilities! When the hobby budget allows}
Well done [Y]! I am always amazed by the sheer artistry, craftsmanship, ingenuity, and attention to detail by people in this hobby. Take a huge bow…you deserve it [yeah]!
Thanks everybody for comments, complements and questions. Before going farther, I would be concerned if I am causing people to feel envious. I’m only trying to show “my world” to people. I’m not trying to compete. I’m just having fun with the World’s Greatest Hobby.
Rich asked: “How big is the entire room where the layout is situated? Is the layout in your basement? How do you manage to keep the entire surface of the layout level? …. Rich, the room is 64’ long and it has various widths which range from only 7’ to about 14’. The layout is in the “lower level” of our hillside home in Kentucky, In Michigan (where we previously lived) it would be called a “walk out basement”. Each leg of the layout has a cabinet leveler installed at the bottom. I use a carpenter’s level while installing each of the tables.
Here is a view looking in the other direction towards the far end of the layout room.
One of our son’s has a cabinet business, and he helped me start building the layout. He also made cabinets for under layout storage. The cabinets are on wheels, and can be pulled out into the aisle. This allows me to use the top surface of the cabinets as a work surface.
Personally I would think that most people will take your work as an inspiration rather than be put off by what you are doing and/or the space you have to work with. Thanks for sharing.
Dave
P.S. I love the idea of the under layout cabinets!
Garry, don’t confuse “drool” with “envy”. Drool is a step beyond envy. [(-D]
On a serious note, that is quite a space and quite a layout, and it is a pleasure to view the photos of your layout.
I am particularly interested in your decision to use leg levelers. That is something that I plan to do with my next layout. When I built my current layout, I cut each and every leg the same length and screwed the plywood surface to the legs. It never crossed my mind that the basement floor was uneven, and that has caused me problems ever since with dips and valleys, slight, but enough to cause problems with t
I notice in both the finished and new parts of the benchwork that there are openings, gaps in the fascia below the track level. Is this simply for access, wiring and such, or is there something else like staging or hidden reverse loops going on under there?
Mr. B. … About half of the layout has non-scenicked lower level tracks running from near the coke oven to a storage yard under Union Station. It includes a reverse loop under my city. If you look at the picture with the storage cabinets, the fascia covers the benchwork, and the new section will look like that when done.
I worked some more on the layout extension. I have one of the two loop tracks in place. (The loop will be double track when done.) … This greatly helps with operations… Prior to now, I had to run trains backwards to return them to the other end of the layout. Now each end has a loop. This especially helps with steam powered train.
Here is a steam powered Great Northern train in the new loop and later back on the main line at another location…
