Shelf layout -- thinking about building one

[dicknich]

I don't have space for a separate layout room, so I am thinking of building an O gauge shelf layout around the walls of my home office, at about 4 feet high. I need to minimize the shelf width in most places, but along one wall I can go up to 36 inches. The room is 12 ft. by 16 ft. Using all four walls reduces the need for two wide turnaround loops, but I am concerned about how to handle crossing the doorway. I am more interested in operation than building lots of scenery. It would be nice to have two levels that connect for continuous operation of at least two trains. I would appreciate any advice and also reference to any articles or publications.

***

[tschmidt]

***,

I am in the office right now but when I get home today or tomorrow I will send pics of what I did. I have exactly what you're looking for and I will show you how I went passed the doors.

Tom

[Buckeye Riveter]

Tom's layout around the room is great and very well done, but he forgot to tell you how he made a tunnel through the stairs where the cat can hide. [:D]

This should wet your appetite until Tom gets home.

[;)]

[Frank53]

The top level of my layout under construction is an 11" wide shelf. It is two tracks on two levels about four inches apart in height. The top level descends and the bottom levels ascends and they meet at each end and share a reversing loop.

You can see all my shoddy workmanship in the link in my sig line.

There are lots of opportunities for scenery on a shelf layout just be allowing an extra inch or two between the outer track and the wall, as well as in the corners.

[thor]

The hinged 'bridge' is always a good way of crossing a doorway, I've seen several versions of this and its what I'd do.

[Buckeye Riveter]

***, did you ever get hooked up with Tom?

[tschmidt]

Hey Buckeye,

I sent *** quite a bit of information and pictures. He can contact me anytime he needs to see more. Say, when are you coming up to the lake?

TomS

[pbjwilson]

Mine runs on a countertop about 24" deep.


It is now sceniced and lit.