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Small & mid-size layout builders: Do you have wheels on your benchwork?

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  • Member since
    February 2015
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Small & mid-size layout builders: Do you have wheels on your benchwork?
Posted by cnwandsoofan on Sunday, April 5, 2015 9:30 AM

Viewing some of the layouts here at the CTT forum and elsewhere, including some lighter weight construction HO/N scale layouts at the MR forums, I see that quite a few are on wheels, presumably to provide access to the back sides for layouts that are situated against a wall. That makes good sense...after all, we can only realistically reach 30" (or even less) across the layout, and if there are no access hatches (which sure seems cumbersome to me), how else can you reach the rear of your layout unless you can roll it away from the wall to work on the back?

 

My question to any of you who've used wheels on your layouts (or are considering them for a layout yet to be built): What do you suppose might be the maximum length a layout could be if it's on wheels, and still be manageable to roll out for rear access...either to get underneath to work on wiring, or to work on the back side's track and scenery, or to get at a derailed train, etc.? 

 

I have two different basement locations where I can locate a layout (carpeted flooring). One could accommodate a modest 4-1/2' or 5' wide x 14' long, pushed against two walls (so against a wall on both the entire back side as well as one end), or another slightly less desirable location where I could go a little larger and manage a 4-1/2' wide x 20' long with only the entire back side against a wall. That 14' long layout might be able to be on wheels (not that I'd go rolling it all around the basement floor for fun, of course...just to access the rear for working on it). But it doesn't seem realistic that a 20' long layout could possible be on wheels...too heavy to roll away from the wall, too much chance of the benchwork being stressed or bending when pulled on, etc.

 

Any remarks from from those of you who've worked with benchwork on wheels?

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Posted by wrmcclellan on Sunday, April 5, 2015 8:35 PM

cnwandsoofan Welcome

The team I work with have some large layouts that are moveable. A couple have casters (5-6") for the main purpose of moving the disassembled sections for transport. When assembled an 8 x 32' layout can be shifted on carpet with padding. This layout is quite heavy. We have other layouts in the 8 x 20' range without casters that can be shifted on smooth floors (One with just 6 large leg pads can be shifted on commercial carpet - thin or no pad), but that also requires several people to move it. If you build a large layout and it is on carpet you may need 2-3 people to move it. An option for you to move it by yourself is to remove the carpet where the layout sits and will roll out for maintenance (switch to carpet squares?).

You are correct that the layout needs to be appropriately braced and sections securely bolted (or otherwise connected) to be able to move it.

For carpet with padding you will need large casters - minimum of 5 or 6 inches - with the harder plastic/Teflon tires so they do not flat spot from sitting. Home Depot and Harbor Freight sell a good selection at reasonable prices. Lowes is also a source.  These larger casters do require a sizable plate on the legs/table base to bolt the caster mounting plate to. You need to make sure the mounting plate/table legs can take the torque of initially moving the layout after it has settled in the carpet. We have one layout we install temporary/removable braces (with wingnuts) on the legs just above the casters for moving.

One other caution since your layout is what I consider permanent, check your floor for being level where the layout sits. For example some concrete basement floors can have pretty serious variations. You might build the layout in one spot and then roll it to another and you have a place where it sags or rises affecting your track work (this happens on the shop floor). We do have to deal with section joints and track alignment when moving but in our case that was taken into account in the design of the track sections over section joints.

Good luck!

Regards, Roy

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Posted by cnwandsoofan on Monday, April 6, 2015 7:01 AM

Good to hear that some of my assumotions are being confirmed by someone with experience. A hardware store salesperson advised that I be sure to choose medium sized or larger wheels -- the layout's weight would cause smaller wheels to dig a depression in the carpet and make it difficult to start to pull the layout free.

And you're right, of course, about the natural variations in a concrete basement floor...it's almost like a smooth, flowing sculpture, all designed to lead seepage towards the ejector and sump pump and sewer drain, in the event of flooding (God forbid!). But luckily, the two areas that are the likely locations for the layout have some of the least varying surface...one more than the other, being located towards the center of the room and adjacent to the stairway. (I've spent my share of time on my kness there with a long board and a level chekcing it out!).

Thanks so much for the reply. I've pretty much assumed that I had no choice but to proceed with a layout on wheels, but hearing from someone experienced that it's not an unwise apporach sure is encouraging!

 

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Posted by Major on Monday, April 6, 2015 6:50 PM

My second layout I built was in Quarters at Ft. Hood Texas. I build it with rollers on the bottom so I could move it about, since it was essentially in the living/dining room. The legs of the layout was covered in heavy uphosterly material to make it look nice and hide the shelving under the layout that contained the foot lockers holding the trains. When we rearranged the living room it was easy to move the layout to a new location. When we had the layout behind the sofa my 18 month old son would stand on the  sofa cushions and watch the trains go by with great delight!

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Posted by Nationwidelines on Monday, April 6, 2015 7:00 PM

I visited a collector once, who had his layout on wheels.  He had an 8x8 foot layout and it was on some sort of hard surfaced floor, do not recall, just that it was not carpeted.

 

NWL

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Posted by Justraincrazy on Saturday, April 11, 2015 6:39 AM

Our basement layout consists of two six foot x eight foot modules with mirror-image track plans which are bolted together at the center for form a 6x16 layout (twin sons each get half someday).  Each half is on four legs and wheels (not swivel casters) to permit the entire layout to be rolled two feet so it is against a wall.  The layout room is only 11x22, so space around the layout is tight - rolling it against a wall allows many people to view it at once from the front.  It is heavy, and the carpet in the room was cut out so wood "rails" could be placed under the wheels to facilitiate rolling - it takes a good push to get going, but rolls easily once moving.

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Posted by dsmith on Saturday, April 11, 2015 11:43 AM

I  have a 5' x 9' layout that is up against the wall in a corner of my basement and I solved the access problem in a different way.  Instead of attaching legs to the layout, I built a 4' x 8' solid 3 sided base out of inexpensive particle board.  The 4th side(front) has a 2"x4" across the top front.  The base is located 1' from the back wall.  The layout sits on top of the base  unattached.  To gain access to the back, just pull on the layout ,sliding it across the base about 1 foot, so there is a 1' opening at the back. 

In the FEBRUARY 2014 issue of CLASSIC TOY TRAINS MAGAZINE, I wrote a short article with photos of how I did this.  It's on page 69 - Plan Your Layout-Easy Access.

  David from Dearborn  

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Posted by lionelsoni on Saturday, April 11, 2015 1:27 PM
Page 58?

Bob Nelson

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Posted by dsmith on Saturday, April 11, 2015 10:10 PM

Bob, you're right.  CTT Feb. 2014 p. 58 - Plan Your Layout-Easy Access.

  David from Dearborn  

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Posted by vsmith on Sunday, April 12, 2015 10:39 AM
My advice is whatever the size of your layout, use the LARGEST diameter wheels, the bigger the castor the easier it will roll.

When I first built my 4'x4' portable layout I used small 2" castors, but they proved difficult to roll over even the smallest obstruction. I switched to larger 4" castors and it made moving it far easier. So use the biggest castor wheels, also use rubber wheels not solid metal wheels, rubber has more give.

   Have fun with your trains

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