Unconventional Space for a Layout

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I may have found a space for your next layout. It is a little unconventional but it was the only solution I had available to me.

We have suspended our layout in our garage above our car!

The information on how we did this is on my blog - Lady of the Rails.

I hope that this may give you some ideas as to where you may be able to put your next layout.

2

I looked into doing that for my HO at one time and picked up a boat wench to raise / lower it

3

Boy, that looks awfull close and tight. 1 pound per square inch off and poof there goes your layout! Better hope it never sags or collapses!

I have very limited space too. But that did not stop me from building and enjoying a 3.5 foot by 5.1 foot HO scale layout in a room!

I also have a 42" square layout with both an HO “oval” and 2 N scale ovals on it for under the table top Christmas tree.

Works for us to have trains.

[8-|]

4

This has given me a new idea.

I am sure the winch would end up paying for its self in saving my back and arms from having to pull the layout up each time.

Thanks for the suggestion, don’t know if my husband will thank you as I will be asking him to install it [;)]

5

Welcome to the forums.

I have seen posts from many folks thinking of doing this. The most often asked questions are about a lift system. If you have one that raises evenly and holds securely, I’m sure many folks would like to hear how you designed it.

Have fun,

Richard

6

Was she strong enough? Or did you give up on it because she wasn’t?

My own take is that I would prefer to have four lifting cables where legs would be under an L girder platform (1/5 in from edges and ends) and counterweights (one per cable) to balance the load. By using buckets for counterweights you can add weight selectively as construction proceeds, and eliminate the need for a winch.

Then, when lowered, the cables should be unloaded and the platform standing on legs. One hip-bump of a suspended platform equals 8.8 on the Richter scale!

I came up with an easier solution. The vehicles were exiled to the driveway in front of the garage door.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

7

I commend your perserverance.

If that were the only space that I could find for a layout, I probably just wouldn’t build one.

That’s not a criticism of you or your approach.

I’m just saying that you really gotta love model railroading to go to that extent to have a layout.

Rich

8

Chuck:

I, too, wondered how the wife felt about bringing in the boat wench.

I, too, use your solution. The cars live in the driveway in front of the two car train room.

9

Hi Everyone

Thanks for all of your replies.

As to the suggestion of leaving the car on the driveway - you obviously don’t have problems with cars being vandalized (we left our other car out once and the lock got pushed in with a screwdriver[:(!]) or with really hot summers[sigh] (scorching hot car in the middle of summer, no thanks)! If these things weren’t an issue I would think about doing it that way.

I am still building my “high flying” layout, and the pulley system is working great for me still. So I shall continue along this path till I have a new place where a permament layout will be able to live BUT that is along way off.

-Tracy