Trains.com

Indoor Layouts?

1433 views
20 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 30, 2004 11:25 AM
i run both.. actually i have two out door( my permanent gardenRR and my deck RR) thenwe head to basement/ shop area and we find an 8 by 12 RR.. to bad it has 4' dia curves.. one more foot wide and i could lay 8' curves.. oh well...hey beats ffreezing outside.. and it exercises the trains in winter
  • Member since
    April 2002
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 1,839 posts
Posted by Rene Schweitzer on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 2:32 PM
Hans,
[#welcome] As you've already discovered, lots of people here have indoor large-scale layouts. Do you have a patio or deck? Some folks will run their trains that way, even if they live in an apartment. We ran an article on a great Mexican-themed layout (indoors). Here's a link to the article:
http://www.trains.com/content/dynamic/articles/000/000/004/976qjfbp.asp

Rene

Rene Schweitzer

Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 209 posts
Posted by SandyR on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 8:41 AM
I have a starter set circle of track on a plywood table 57" x 57", that is on a circular patio table base that somebody put out for the trash. The 'scenery' is a small assortment of house plants. It's way too cold in the winter to run trains on my real garden railroad, so the circle has to do for my small locos and shorty cars.
It is nice on a sunny day; just to see something green and alive is a treat, and a train running through it is even better!
SandyR
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 6:00 AM
I would love to have an indoor layout that's more than a simple loop. Not having the space indoors is what brought me here.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 1:31 AM
ian
i have my g scale inside for almost 17 yrs and love it and its at 42" high 1/st one was at 48" . but being handicapped since i dont remember now 6/7 yrs im sure glad its indoors. happy RR to ya
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: North of Chicago
  • 1,050 posts
Posted by Tom The Brat on Monday, December 27, 2004 8:31 AM
Like you, I have no outside.

My "layout" runs from under the diningroom table, through the living room and into the office all in a space about 8 by 24 ft.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 27, 2004 6:57 AM
Hi Hans
Mine used to live on the spare room floor till i bought a house err!! or should that be garden to put the trains in[:D]
There is no reason why a "G" scale layout cannot be built in side but, remember you will probably be restricted to small locomotives and rolling stock unless you live in a mansion sized appartment
have fun
regards John
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 26, 2004 7:57 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

Well if you must do it why not have an elevated one i have seen some beauts running around at about 300 mm (1') below the ceiling. Some old houses in Australia actually have a wide strip up there I think it may be called a Dado but I'm not sure.

Rgds Ian


That is where mine is. When I got the material to install it, had planned to put in basement, but ceiling only 6'8" so that would not work, so put it in living and dining room.
Richard
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 26, 2004 5:59 PM
Well if you must do it why not have an elevated one i have seen some beauts running around at about 300 mm (1') below the ceiling. Some old houses in Australia actually have a wide strip up there I think it may be called a Dado but I'm not sure.

Rgds Ian
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Sunday, December 26, 2004 10:16 AM
Hans,

Yep there are a few of us here crazy enought to do large scale indoors. My tiny layout is 8 x 10 and is in the garage. There is also a few others on MyLargeScale.com another related website for large scale. Between here and there I bet we can give you a hand.

Check out my thread "The saga of my ever shrinking layout" here for some of my small layout ideas that are spread thru the thread. Later Vic

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16963

   Have fun with your trains

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Sunday, December 26, 2004 10:10 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

I don't undersatnd why anyone would want and indoor layout?


Rgds ian


Ian, just admit it......youre completely spoiled rotten by the 365 days of summer and the bevy of topless sunbathers you get down there!

Why on Earth would you spend a day inside with conditions like that![;)]

As for me, I'm basicly doing traditional model RRing but at a larger scale, which i prefer over smaller scales. But its the same principles that govern O, HO, or N model trains. A highly detailed finescale layout is my ultimate goal.[8D]

   Have fun with your trains

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 25, 2004 10:11 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

I don't undersatnd why anyone would want and indoor layout?


Rgds ian



Ian:
I have my indoor layout in addition to my garden layout. Now with the sub-zero temperatures and the wind and snow blowing I can still run trains. I do not agree with cold weather, but I live in Iowa and that is the way it is. Have to adjust, so I have my railroad indoors in the winter.
Richard
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 25, 2004 10:00 PM
[:)]
I to have an indoor G scale layout. For some of us this is a must. I’d like to have an out door layout, even though winters here in NY. Are bad. However that’s only the weather. There are some of us ( like me ) who live in nice areas by day and welp by night… Lets just say I could weld the rails down and they would still be gone in the morning. However I’m happy having mine inside. I can always work on it rain snow day or night. But I guess I’m luckier then most. I have a layout room that is 13’ x 25’ with 3 railroads in it. Ho at 3’ foot from the floor and G scale at eye level with a friends N scale being built 7” below the G scale.



  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 25, 2004 7:55 PM
IANDOR
WHEN YOU NOT WELL YOU ARE GLADE to have a place in the winter to run your trains thats why i have both in door for winter and out doors for summer,each to his way of doing his things . ben
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 25, 2004 7:05 PM
I don't undersatnd why anyone would want and indoor layout?


Rgds ian
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 25, 2004 12:02 PM
Billy C.
nice picture, you also gave me ,an idea for my hanging train in my basement . When i get to lowe's, or home depot i must check the borders out ,for something to put up . thanks. ben[:D] PENNA.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 25, 2004 11:37 AM


I have a garden railway but for when the weather is bad I use my shelf railway with an automatic reversing unit. An appropriate wallpaper border makes a good background.

Regards,

Bill C.
South Jersey
  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 1,264 posts
Posted by bman36 on Friday, December 24, 2004 4:52 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by rainbowglass

I have an indoor layout, some photos are on my web site at http://www.mygardenrr.com/indoor1.html
Richard
Hi Richard,
Great photos! Thanks for the link. Later eh...Brian. [8D]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 24, 2004 4:44 PM
I have an indoor layout, some photos are on my web site at http://www.mygardenrr.com/indoor1.html
Richard
  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 1,264 posts
Posted by bman36 on Friday, December 24, 2004 4:39 PM
Hello Hans,
Merry Christmas!!! I have an indoor layout under construction. It runs the perimeter of our basement. Wall mounted about 40 inches off the floor. Various points will have small scenes as space permits. Vsmith on this forum has one in his garage. He has become a master at small space layouts. Check out his thread on "My ever shrinking layout". Enjoy the forum! Later eh...Brian.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Indoor Layouts?
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 24, 2004 4:25 PM
I've always liked the looks of Large Scale/G Scale, but living in an apartment, I don't have a backyard. Do any of you have indoor layouts? I have a spare bedroom and have been seriously considering one.

Merry Christmas!

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy