Garage layout

[Mononflyer]

Hey there,

 

I am looking to start working on a layout in my garage, but it will have to share space with the cars.  I thought of hanging it from the ceiling, but then thought maybe I could have it against the wall.  I have an old storage shelf thing that used to be in a store and is at a height that would be good for a layout.

Kinda figured I would have it against the wall and then lay it out in the garage with portable legs to hold it on one side and rest it on the storage thing on the other side.  I can't do a simple hinge on it because the garage door track would be in the way.

 

Anyone have any ideas?  I really don't want to do too much manhandling of the thing to set it up and then put it back.

 

Also, the layout will have American Flyer S, Lionel and Marx on it.  I have to make a few O and S gauge crossovers and found a good article in Classic Toy Trains that shows how to do it.

Thought I would use Gargraves track with some Lionel and Flyer turnouts.

[KRM]

Hope you live where it is warm, not dusty, and not humid. I think the best would be to hang it from the ceiling with cables to let down on legs you can fold down to sit it on in the down position and then fold them up in the up position. Problem is that most garages have relatively low ceilings. So if you have a SUV or something like that or a pick-up you will have problems.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Kevin

[Demay]

I have a 5'6" deep x 10' wide layout in my garage.  I have a two-car garage and the layout is against the wall.  We only have one car in the garage with the layout and other stored items.  The legs have casters on them so I can roll it out when I need to work on it.  It is easy to roll around and the casters have locks on them as well to keep it from moving unexpectedly. 

If you search the forum for "Benchwork/layout update" you will find my thread with photos of the layout.

Joe

[bigdogjeff]

i have a garage layout  if u like to see it go on u tube and i have videos on there might give u some ideas. my link isx lionelgg1man

[Mononflyer]

Neat-o Layout.  We keep both cars in the garage and I was thinking of having it lean against the wall when not in use.  I thought of having some type of system in place to lower and raise it sort of like one of the old style one piece garage doors.  If I hang it from the ceiling, I am limited on the width and the layout will cover up the lighting.

Does the track have any problems staying stuck to the foam?  I was wanting to do the same thing with mine to keep the noise down.

[fifedog]

If I were to keep a layout in my garage, it would be occupied by creepy crawlers.

If your goal is to only operate occasionally, why not find an old folding ping-pong table?    You know, the kind that's on wheels, and can be rolled away and stored against a wall.  That would allow you the opportunity to set it up quickly, as well as the possibility of having a set-up in the house for say, Christmas.  Your trackwork could be secured down, save for the connecting sections at the expansion joint.

It's kinda "old-school", but then again, you're operating old-school trains.

BTW---> to the CTT forum.

[smokymtguy]

A Friend had a garage layout that shared the garage with two cars.  The layout was about 10' X 12" and was in half of the garage.  The layout was high enough that he could drive his car into the garage with the front end of the car under the layout.  When he wanted to run the trains all he had to do was move the car out of the garage and had plenty of space.  The wifes car was always in the garage safe and warm for her.

[Demay]

If you were asking me about the foam, yes it does keep the noise down.  I use FasTrack, but since you want to use Gargraves there may be other options for you as well.  If you search the forum you should easily find plenty of advice about noise reduction.  FasTrack does not move around much, but I still used some screws to hold the track in place more securely.  FasTrack is manufactured with holes in it which works great for #4 screws.

Fife’s ping pong table idea is great too.  You can permanently affix your track to it as well.  I considered using a ping pong table initially, but I could not find a used one for sale, so it was cheaper to buy and build the benchwork myself.  Plus I was able to go a little bigger.

If you weren't asking me, sorry,

Joe

[Mononflyer]

Joe,

Thanks for the response.  I need all the help I can get on this one.

I really want to have something about 5 X 12 or so.  Large enough for Flyer and Lionel.  My garage is attached, insulated and has the furnace and water heater in it and stays no lower than 58 on the coldest winter days.  My biggest problem is that I do not have any space to store a layout except for the ceiling or wall alternatives.  I also have a work bench and other storage which limits me to clear floor space just a bit larger than my truck and the car.

I think I'll post a couple of pictures to let everyone know what I am up against.

 

[cnw1995]

When I was pressed for space, I had a fold-away layout. I screwed down track on indoor-outdoor carpet, marked the places for plug-in trees; and stored everything else off the layout. So to work, it folded down, and I set-up trees, buildings, signals, people, cars, etc. Then engines, rolling stock and finally, plugged in the transformers. After finishing, all the stuff went back in the box and it folded up. With the set-up and take-down, I didn't play as frequently as I wanted to, but it worked.

[Demay]

No worries, please post the photos.  The other O gauge magazine had an article in it recently that showed how to design and build a "foldaway layout."  It may have covered two issues of the magazine.  It was very neat and similar to what Fife was talking about.  If you can't do that or hang it from the ceiling, you will have to attach some sort of hinge to a wall and attach one end of your platform to it.  That way it can fold down when not in use.  You will also have to attach folding legs to the other side for when it's in use.  I can't remember where but I know I've seen photos of this type of layout on the web somewhere.

Doug’s suggestion is another workable one as well. 

Joe

[bigdogjeff]

you also can think about running your trains around the top of the wall on a 1x 4  this way u dont have to worry about folding up or lifting up anything. you can even go a little wider that way u can put lights and crossing gates and other stuff.

[Mononflyer]

Here's a picture of the wall in my garage where I want to put the layout.  I wanted to attach the layout tot he wall and allow it to rotate down, but the door track is in the way.  Then I thought of having the layout against the wall on a track of sorts and pull out from the bottom using the storage shelf thing to hold up one side and have legs on the side that extends out into the garage.

Here is a picture of where I want to put it.  I can get something about 6 X 12.

 

21

[Mononflyer]

Here's a picture of the wall in my garage where I want to put the layout.  I wanted to attach the layout tot he wall and allow it to rotate down, but the door track is in the way.  Then I thought of having the layout against the wall on a track of sorts and pull out from the bottom using the storage shelf thing to hold up one side and have legs on the side that extends out into the garage.

Here is a picture of where I want to put it.  I can get something about 6 X 12.

 

21

[azflyer]

 

In Arizona, that is why they are building all the new homes with five stall garages. "Guys an their Toys" The first stall is the double wide door, for your wife. That gives her a lot of room. The second is single door for the man of the house. The the third a single door, but the garage goes the full width of the house.  Also has a door on the opposite end. Which opens to the back yard, for storing all that outdoor toys an furniture in the off season. Buy the time you get the boat , the four wheeler in there, you might find some room for a train layout! Or be like me, and widen the drive way and park outside in this beautiful Arizona weather. The train layout works great in the heated and air conditioned garage.

Stay cool, its going to break into the 90's this next week.......I will be sending it your way!

Az-Flyer