ceiling/wall mounted track

[Anonymous]

Hello,
I am in the planning stage of creating a ceiling or wall mounted track in my son's bedroom. I will be running G-scale. I hope that someone can offer some advice about the best way to do that.
Thank you,
Hal

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by harrol4

Hello,
I am in the planning stage of creating a ceiling or wall mounted track in my son's bedroom. I will be running G-scale. I hope that someone can offer some advice about the best way to do that.
Thank you,
Hal

[#welcome]

There are a multitude of ways to suspend or cantilever the track from the ceiling or wall respectively. There are some companies on the web that sell kits for this very thing. You may want to take a look at one of the kits and see some of the details they are using.

Here is a previous posting on the subject: http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15716

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much! This is a great forum. I'm looking forward to starting my project.
Hal

[Anonymous]

Size and maybe weight of G scale might limit you to only running a single track around a shelf style plate rail layout. Take into consideration that building large will add a lot of load that will need supporting. It's not impossible to properly support more than a single mainline but usually the result looks very industrial. Disguising and augmenting support structure using permanently attached wall cabinets and book shelves is one way of making things look esthetically pleasing. Keep in mind also that only trains closest to the edge of the shelf will be totally vissible since everything is above eye level. Veiwing your layout from this vantage point is a bit disappointing unless your engines and rolling stock have well detailed undercarriages. Factor into the cost a good aluminum painters stepladder...an indispensible item for working on and operating my plate rail railroad. No jumping on the couch or bed to get a birds eye view of your work. ;^)
The alternative ceiling suspended type layout could become very complicated to build properly. I suspect this is why you find professionally built suspended model railroads advertised in the mags. The end result is...well...very mechanical looking with all that structure and electrical conduit and no room for scenery. Maybe mixing the 2 types of layouts would be an alternative.

Bruce Webster

[Anonymous]

Go to page #17 of the OGR Photo Forum and view my 1992 O-gauge,twin shelf, 5-track RR. It is an example of a wall mounted, moulded wood bracket "ceiling" RR with one shelf at 7'-6" and one at 9'-0". [18' high ceiling].

Wood brackets provided more "fashion" to suit the spouse since it is her kitchen. But wood brackeds require some substantial fabrication and reinforcing for multi-track layouts. The more functional and less expensive support is enameled, 1/8" flat bar,steel "Maxi-brackets" [in many sizes] from Lowe's or Depot. Look good, very strong.

Whether hanging from the ceiling or wall-mounted, first determine the corner curve radius/arc that is the minimum practical application for your large scale RR. If wall-mounted, the curve arc will determine the overhang or "mezzanine effect" of the corner curve sections of your right-of-way /roadbed.

If wall-mounted use 3/4" plywood for the sub-roadbed due to its structural strength and stability and place 1/2" foam as direct roadbed for some noise abatement.

[dougdagrump]

Here's a shot of my wall/ceiling mounted railway.


I used wall and ceiling brackets of my own design, Baltic Birch plywood for the base and Woodland Scenics foam roadbed. My only regret about the design is that I should have allowed more clearance around the walls so I could install some building facades. Oh well, live and learn. [:o)]

[gvdobler]

There is a casino in Laughlin Nevada that had LGB trains suspended over the bars and various places.

They used a clear plexiglas or lexan type material with the track mounted to it. The plexiglas was just a bit wider than the track (not a big sheet of plexiglas.) It was suspended on very fine cable or wire from the ceiling so about all you noticed was the track and the trains.