Layout Considerations for the "Looooonnnnnggggg" Run

[lionelsuperotrack]

Saw this on another train board and thought it had some good points....

What "secrets" have you successfully utilized to make your layout user friendly in the long run?

<<<Preparing for the long term is important. As I'm in my early 70's
now, I can appreciate a few things that I worked out nearly 20
years ago for my layout. My table top is 32" from the floor and with
9 sheets of plywood for the table and about 1,000 feet of shelving
for trains so dusting is a big deal. I built the room from scratch
with 2X6 studs, fully insulated over, under and all walls. Before the
sheetrock and after wiring, I covered all (that's all) surfaces of
the room with a 6 mill vinyl film. I used an electrostatic air filter
system with the air temp control system. Here is the plus. 3 weeks
ago I started a little dusting of my train room for the 4th time
since I started operation of my train room in 1989. And it is not
that dusty either. That is like dusting my train room every 3 or 4
years whether it needs it or not!!! The floor is hard wood and I do
dust mop it every month or 2 because of foot traffic. But all in
all, I think I have a very easy jewel to take care of.

I used the "bent dog bone" style layout also for reasonable access to
everything and it allows side by side operation of Standard and O
gauge with plenty of sidings for both.>>>>

Very best, Mike Spanier

The History of Lionel "Super O" Track
( http://www.tcamembers.org/articles/operating/supero/index.html )

Lionel_SuperO_Track Yahoo Group
( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lionel_SuperO_Track/ )

[ChiefEagles]

Lionelsuperotrack, Welcome. Does the electrostatic air filter help with dust? I am in an old house [65 years old] and it is dusty. Been debating the cost of the ones I see on TV [would probably buy in store though].

[csxt30]

Hi Mike, and that sounds like the way to do it. I just have an old style basement and the one thing I was able to do was make my duck under 45 inches off the floor. I really tried not to have any, but kids can walk right under it & being in my late 50's, & tall, I can duck under it pretty easy. Dust is really a problem, though, so I have to clean very often. Thanks, John