space for layout....now what?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

As our saga continues in the quest for the “bigger” layout, we keep negotiating with mom\the missus for alternative spaces for the layout. However, it seems that none of the spaces are “ideal” spaces. From previous posts there were requests on what our latest space looks like.

The image is below with a couple of options of where the benchwork could go (we could also do a hybrid L-shaped design). I’ve been noodling with some ideas based on the MR track plan database, but nothing is sticking yet.

The layout is a little more for my 10 year old than for myself, meaning it will be rare that I’ll run trains by myself. At least until he discovers girls, cars, etc, then it will be me, his trains and a tall scotch.

From the drawing you’ll see that we only have 2 usable walls, and even with those, we need to have some sort of aisle (24" is good) to provide access to the built-in book cases. We can’t use 100% of the space- there are a few other things (furniture, etc) that we need to share the room with, and also to still provide access to the guest room, bath room, laundry room, etc.

I won’t go into a long missive on givens and druthers (I’druther be running trains than talking about building layouts). But here are a few considerations:

  • n scale, continuous running, DCC

  • kato unitrack, with liberal use of the super elevated double track (15" / 16 3/8")

  • double tracked mainline, probably with no grade

  • fleischmann turntable

  • inclusion of a yard

  • a few industries, a modernesque city

  • ideally, a small line (that is either a reversing loop or that stops, tighter radius ok) that has elevation changes that goes to another industry, village, etc

We don’t model a particular era or geography, but enjoy a very wide variety of trains that range from steam, to modern diesel freight, to Japanese & European bullet trains, to long passenger cars, etc. Our fleet is right at about 10

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Hi Mike & Nik,

what you describe as your druthers, and looking at the space available, you may want to build a layout, which you can move around, i.e “pushed” aside, when you two are not operating it.

MR is currently featuring a project layout, which, IMHO, comes close to what you are looking for. It features a double track mainline with super-elevated curves, a yard, some industries, but no turntable. These are really “space-eaters”

MR´s project layout is called the Salt Lake Route and it started with the Jan 2010 issue. You can also view the videos here.

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Is there a reason a “L” shaped layout would not work? You seem to be “trapped” in rectangular table mode. The best use of space is a walk-in or around the walls design. If you haven’t looked at John Armstrong’s Track Planning for Realistic Operation (sic) you should. An “L” would add possibilities for staging, yard and industrial spurs.

The above reference layout highlights a useful design feature, the center divider that allows for creation of more variety and more realistic operational viewing. It doesn’t have to be straight or parallel to edges of the layout.

Alan

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I agree with this statement. A lot of people can’t get around the squared off aspect of bench work. If you look at the shape of this table I put in a notch for a door and angled the other end to go in towards the fire place. You can gain a lot of square feet for sidings and industry if you get creative in benchwork expansion. The best thing is, if you are careful the wife won’t notice.[:D]

Here it is under construction.

And in place. Notice the door at the far end and how the bench angles in to the fireplace on the right. I have a few other ideas to capture more real estate as my need for more breathing room for my layout is needed.

Brent

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And a lot of track parallel to the edge of the benchwork (guilty of that myself); adding some gentle curve elements creates a longer look to the track segment in view.

As an aside, just how narrow is the entrance to the “pit”?

Alan

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The entrance is17" wide. That’s 4" wider than I am. Forty five minutes on the bike every morning will always make it accessible.

As far as those long tracks along the edge. I agree. However my yard is going to be on the inside so what can you do? There is a good plan here that will fit nicely to the left of those tracks.

http://www.housatonicrr.com/yard_des.html

I did get some wiggle on the other side of the bench.

Brent

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We’re pretty open to about any shape or configuration that uses (and shares) the space. My initial drawing of the room was more to share what the room looks like. We can certainly do an “l”, “e”, “u”, “z” or any other letter that can use our space and help meet our desires.

Below is a thought of an “l”. We could certainly shorten or thin things down and do odd angles (or angled pieces where the “l” meets) to improve the plan and provide accessibility, etc

Thanks

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Brent- can you share your track plan?

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I have modified MADOG’S Marklin layout plan, by rounding the corners and adding an additional spur to the center’ With your available space, I think that an N scale Island layout of this shape, would give you a terrific operating layout The red tracks are on the lower level, and the black tracks are the overpass level. The dash lines indicate hidden, that can be covered with the scenery suggested in the Marklin’ photo, and mounted on lift-out Styrofoam hollow raised terrain. If a double-slip switch were placed in the top center,(where the parallel tracks are close together), it would form a reverse loop, that would allow for reversing the direction of trains traveling in either direction. This of course requires a DCC set up and auto-reverse modules,( to prevent shorts). The two layouts can be run separately, or by using the double cross-over, the trains can run on both levels. This would require that the lower level and upper level would be modified to the same level in this area), with up and down 2% grades. Click on the photo to enlarge it. Then, click on the photo series to the left, to view other parts of my 24’x24’ HO layout. (Or, click on ZOOM IN, to enlarge the layout photo to 100%) Bob Hahn

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Not all that inspiring specs - could be summarized as “anywhere, anytime”.

Since you (seemingly at least) do not want to spend any time on formulating your druthers, and begrudge the time spent on figuring out your goal, you are unlikely to come up with a great overall track plan.

I think that thinking of an overall theme/vision, with staging to support that vision is pretty much wasted in your case at the present stage.

Not necessarily the approach I would suggest for everyone, but why not just accept that and make a simple fairly generic track plan?

Take a long (say 12-15 feet long, 36" wide rectangular table and put it at an angle from the corner between the door wall and the window wall, slanting across the center of the room in the direction of the bottom of the stairs.

Put a viewblock along the spine of the table e.g one third of the way in from one of the sides - say the one that faces the door wall (there is more likely to be competition for use of the aisle on that side of the table), so you divide the table into one long and narrow scene facing the door side, and one long and deep scene facing the window side.

Then you put another viewblock across the end of the table facing the stairs, so people walking into the room won’t see down the spine of the table. Instead you will have the trains curve through a display scene here.

You now have the space for three scenes, Your trains will leave each scene to go somewhere else, or come from somewhere else into or through your scenes.

You have the beginning of the illusion that trains come from somewhere and go to somewhere, rather than watching trains move around on a table in big loops.

Then you start with just a plain double track loo

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Sorry I don’t have anything that is transferable. I did mine on graph paper.

If you are doing N scale you appear to have a great space for it.

I was racking my brain trying to figure out track plans when I decided to take the plunge with a big layout. Something in the room was always screwing up my trackplan. I then decided to fill the room with as much benchwork as I could ( on paper) without even thinking of a trackplan. Well with minimal tweaking of the proposed benchwork, the trackplan to fit the proposed benchwork came together very quickly and nicely. Everything I wanted was accommodated. Sometimes doing things outside the box or backwards is the way to go. Railroads didn’t design the geography of the country to run their ribbons of steel through. They had to deal with what they were presented with. Just make sure it is easy to work on and the room is a nice place to still be. After all you will be in there for hours with your layout.

Brent

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Thanks- your drawing is fine- I just couldn’t figure out where the over\under trackage was going from your photos.