Under-the-bed Layout

[Demay]

All,

We moved from Oklahoma to Japan a few months ago and had to disassemble our garage layout I used to post photos of in a previous thread.  Here in Japan we do not have a garage and our house is not very big so I was nervous about having a layout.  I hung some display shelves in my two boys' rooms but I still wanted some sort of layout.  I initially considered suspending some track from the ceiling in my older son's (8 y/o) room, but it was going to be difficult and somewhat costly.  I decided I would build a small layout under my older son's bunk bed. 

I did not have much space and ended up with a 40" x 72" layout.  The construction was pretty simple: the lumber is not the best quality and is 1" x 2 1/4".  It was already stained as well.  I dropped some foam inside the frame and glued some green felt-like material on top.  I did not use plywood beneath the foam since the foam is 2” thick and resting on the floor.  The Japanese standard lumber and foam sizes are different than the US so it was a bit tricky to find the right sizes, but the folks at the Japanese hardware store were more than happy to cut the wood for me.  The cost for the wood, foam, and felt was about $70 which is not too bad at all.  The foam was the most expensive part.  I already had the track and the trains.  Also, it only took about two hours from start to the point we're at now.  I need to wire some uncoupling sections and three blocks for the sidings.  Our CW-80 will easily power this layout and the switches will remain manual since it is so small.  I am going to add handles to the long exposed edge to make it easier to pull out and push in. 

Please enjoy the photos I took below, but please note I am not a great photographer and my son's room was messy because we were working on the layout.  Also, we are not going for much realism with this layout and decided to pretty much use Legos for the buildings and people.  I'll post more photos as it develops. 

Regards,

Joe

[laz 57]

Good job JOE!!!  Love the lego engineer.

laz57

[AF53]

Joe - Nice job, brings a smile to my face!

Ray

[RockIsland52]

JoeyD.......you don't waste any time!!!  Sweet!!!

I like the Lego concept because your son can fill out the layout with his Lego structures AND enjoy two hobbies at the same time, ones that compliment one another.  Your layout allows for ease of running different stuff without constantly pulling out engines and cars from either boxes or off a shelf.  Any overexhuberance will not be penalized with a 3 foot crash to the floor.  And it takes up no room!

Is there enough height left over for a tunnel and still squeeze the layout under the bed?  There would be if you go out and buy him bunkbeds and then skip the bottom one.

Jack

[Demay]

Jack,

I figured two months was long enough.  You cannot tell in these photos, but the bed is a bunk bed.  And my wife would not let me get rid of the bottom bunk - I considered it already.  We have 9 inches from the top of the layout to the bottom of the bed rails.  It is enough space for a tunnel of some sorts; we just haven't figured out what he (I) want yet.  Since he already has trains on the display shelves in his room it is very easy to swap out what we're running.  He is actually itching to run the prewar passener cars I just received, but we need a locomotive to pull them first.

Thanks,

Joe

[Northwoods Flyer]

Joe,

I have been following your adventure in Japan daily.  You and your family are having a great time from what I have read.  Thanks for sharing it with us.

Your photos of the UTB (Under the Bed) Rail Road brought a smile to my face and made me remember how simple and wonderful this hobby can be.  What you have accomplished here, and with your other layout before you left for Japan, are great examples of how a family can all enjoy a hobby together.

A tip of the old fedora.  Job well done!

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

[Demay]

Thanks Greg, I appreciate those kind comments.  I'm glad you are appreciating my posts.  I am still a novice in this hobby and I try to keep things simple.  I hope my layout photos and posts help other novices as well. 

I am very thankful my family can take part in this hobby with me.  I work long hours and my job sometimes requires me to away from home so I couldn't imagine having a hobby which caused me to spend more time away from my family.  This is another reason I keep things simple and not worry about scale or realism at this point.  While I certainly respect and awe those types of layouts (and wouldn't mind building one someday), they are not practical for me at this stage of my life and I do not think my kids would enjoy it as much.  My 8 y/o son believes every Lego building he builds and every figure or car he finds is the right scale and that is fine with me.  The fact that he and his 10 y/o sister fight over the CTT magazines tells me I might be doing something right. 

The tip of the fedora is great, and although I am in the Air Force, I actually wear civilian clothes sometimes and I wear a fedora about three times a week.  I'm 37 and trying to bring them back in style amongst my peers.

Thanks for all your great posts and photos as well.  My first prewar items just arrived the other day and if it were not for you and others on this forum, I probably wouldn't have even thought about prewar items.

Laz and Ray – I’m glad you guys enjoyed it as well, thanks. 

Regards,

Joe