Is anyone doing Large Scale INDOOR layouts?

[vsmith]

Dipped in OIL?

Hmmm.

Kentucky Fried Steam Engine....taste just like chicken!

Nahh! it would never sell....

[vsmith]

Dipped in OIL?

Hmmm.

Kentucky Fried Steam Engine....taste just like chicken!

Nahh! it would never sell....

[bman36]

Hey All,
My indoor layout is under construction but not running yet. It has a single mainline which runs the perimeter of the entire basement. It is wall mounted and runs on 1x6 pine boards. It runs along the rec. room wall, under the basement steps, along my workshop wall, through the laundry room, along the bathroom wall and back into the rec. room. The tunnel portals are lined with real stone from a local quarry. I used 4 foot diameter curves in the corners since it looked better in the room. My Bachmann Shay will pull a string of flats loaded with real logs. My favorite part is the corner in the rec. room. I am building a corner table from laminated pine that uses two large stones from the same quarry. They are about 30 inches wide and cut to fit into the corner of the wall. The lower stone is the coffee table, while just above it at track level is the second stone. On top of the second stone will be the track in a mountain setting with a real waterfall. Very challenging to say the least. No plaster here, all done with real rocks. Hard to put into words so pictures will be in order when it is done. Indoors is great with our Manitoba winters. Have fun guys. Later eh...Brian.

[bman36]

Hey All,
My indoor layout is under construction but not running yet. It has a single mainline which runs the perimeter of the entire basement. It is wall mounted and runs on 1x6 pine boards. It runs along the rec. room wall, under the basement steps, along my workshop wall, through the laundry room, along the bathroom wall and back into the rec. room. The tunnel portals are lined with real stone from a local quarry. I used 4 foot diameter curves in the corners since it looked better in the room. My Bachmann Shay will pull a string of flats loaded with real logs. My favorite part is the corner in the rec. room. I am building a corner table from laminated pine that uses two large stones from the same quarry. They are about 30 inches wide and cut to fit into the corner of the wall. The lower stone is the coffee table, while just above it at track level is the second stone. On top of the second stone will be the track in a mountain setting with a real waterfall. Very challenging to say the least. No plaster here, all done with real rocks. Hard to put into words so pictures will be in order when it is done. Indoors is great with our Manitoba winters. Have fun guys. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

vsmith:

I just e-mailed you a couple of shots of the Aster C&S RC conversion. Internal cab shots.

Let me know if you got them OK.

Regards,

LDH

[Anonymous]

vsmith:

I just e-mailed you a couple of shots of the Aster C&S RC conversion. Internal cab shots.

Let me know if you got them OK.

Regards,

LDH

[vsmith]

I'll keep an eye out for them, Thanks vic

[vsmith]

I'll keep an eye out for them, Thanks vic

[Anonymous]

bman36:

Looking forward to you pics.

I love Shays and have plans to tackle building one someday. The whole gear assembly to wheel size ratio reeks of how powerful these guys are.

Not fast, but able to pull lots and LOTS of weight.

Did I mention a LOT of weight.

[Anonymous]

bman36:

Looking forward to you pics.

I love Shays and have plans to tackle building one someday. The whole gear assembly to wheel size ratio reeks of how powerful these guys are.

Not fast, but able to pull lots and LOTS of weight.

Did I mention a LOT of weight.

[Anonymous]

The Chitina Local Branch (real name) of the CR&NW Railway started as an overhead large-scale model railroad in 1998. Track grade is 6' 10," which makes it necessary to provide viewing access points, since so much of it criss-crosses over the room--which is roughly 34' X 32.' A plan and photos of this set up appear in the website http://crnwrailway.com/.
In 2001 the overhead was extended outside and is accessible by a series of catwalks since it is as much as 10-11 feet off the ground.

[Anonymous]

The Chitina Local Branch (real name) of the CR&NW Railway started as an overhead large-scale model railroad in 1998. Track grade is 6' 10," which makes it necessary to provide viewing access points, since so much of it criss-crosses over the room--which is roughly 34' X 32.' A plan and photos of this set up appear in the website http://crnwrailway.com/.
In 2001 the overhead was extended outside and is accessible by a series of catwalks since it is as much as 10-11 feet off the ground.

[vsmith]

Wow, hats off,
Thats a really unique layout. I've seen overheads at a couple of restaraunts but yours takes the cake as the most elaborate, buildings and all. Looks good.

[vsmith]

Wow, hats off,
Thats a really unique layout. I've seen overheads at a couple of restaraunts but yours takes the cake as the most elaborate, buildings and all. Looks good.

[Anonymous]

Blackburn:

Yes yes. Lovely! That Chitina coach is to die for.

[Anonymous]

Blackburn:

Yes yes. Lovely! That Chitina coach is to die for.

[Anonymous]

I am so pleased I have found this site. Several people have my perspective on the fun with trains etc. I have just finished building a train barn attached to my chicken/sheep barn. It is 16X24 feet. Since I have three acres and a very understanding wife- I have possibility for expansion but first I have to do something with what I have. I decided on a duck under table- It is just about 50 inches high. I enjoy watching the trains go around me. It gives the illusion of greater size. It also allows me to use larger radius track. Largest diamter track is 10 ft. I use US style Aristo. I like the new hex nuts very much. I intend to build a turn table some day. At the moment I have no clue how to begin. I have the basic set up in place- there are three levels. On the top level there are dual tracks (10 ft and 9 ft) which go around the perimeter. This level is 18 inches above table top. This height combined with height of table gives a rather soaring vista. So far I like it. Below and parallel is an 8 ft loop. The floor will used for turn table and some freight apsects. Not much will not be much room and at the moment I have not much interest in this part. I enjoy collecting the trains and I have purchased trucks to build one. I have modified Hartland flats. I have B&O. Much fun. Since I have no worries about outdoor weather, I can use balsa and other light woods. I also enjoy the larger trains because I can use conventional power equipment to cutting strips etc- I can cut with my Delta strips of oak 1/4 inch thick. I pause to see what people have to say.

[Anonymous]

I am so pleased I have found this site. Several people have my perspective on the fun with trains etc. I have just finished building a train barn attached to my chicken/sheep barn. It is 16X24 feet. Since I have three acres and a very understanding wife- I have possibility for expansion but first I have to do something with what I have. I decided on a duck under table- It is just about 50 inches high. I enjoy watching the trains go around me. It gives the illusion of greater size. It also allows me to use larger radius track. Largest diamter track is 10 ft. I use US style Aristo. I like the new hex nuts very much. I intend to build a turn table some day. At the moment I have no clue how to begin. I have the basic set up in place- there are three levels. On the top level there are dual tracks (10 ft and 9 ft) which go around the perimeter. This level is 18 inches above table top. This height combined with height of table gives a rather soaring vista. So far I like it. Below and parallel is an 8 ft loop. The floor will used for turn table and some freight apsects. Not much will not be much room and at the moment I have not much interest in this part. I enjoy collecting the trains and I have purchased trucks to build one. I have modified Hartland flats. I have B&O. Much fun. Since I have no worries about outdoor weather, I can use balsa and other light woods. I also enjoy the larger trains because I can use conventional power equipment to cutting strips etc- I can cut with my Delta strips of oak 1/4 inch thick. I pause to see what people have to say.

[vsmith]

Cicero,

Welcome to the forum.

Hope to hear more from you as your layout progresses. As I've already found out the hard way, I hope your "barn" has a heater and an air conditioner. This last summer was pretty bloody hot in my garage and this winter is starting to get real bloody cool out there. My workbench/storage area is a VERY small room in the house so at least I can keep warm while working on the little beasties.

Vic

[vsmith]

Cicero,

Welcome to the forum.

Hope to hear more from you as your layout progresses. As I've already found out the hard way, I hope your "barn" has a heater and an air conditioner. This last summer was pretty bloody hot in my garage and this winter is starting to get real bloody cool out there. My workbench/storage area is a VERY small room in the house so at least I can keep warm while working on the little beasties.

Vic

[Anonymous]

At the moment I have a buddy heater ( 9,000 BTUs) Not bad but will need something stronger someday. When we add on to the house, I hope to put a bigger line to the barn which will handle more juice. Unless someone has a better idea. But I am impressed with the buddy heater. I have an old mirror, quite large- hope to cut into one foot strips, place strategically on the layout to enhance the fun. I have a pair of trucks from aristo- I plan to make a flat car- any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

At the moment I have a buddy heater ( 9,000 BTUs) Not bad but will need something stronger someday. When we add on to the house, I hope to put a bigger line to the barn which will handle more juice. Unless someone has a better idea. But I am impressed with the buddy heater. I have an old mirror, quite large- hope to cut into one foot strips, place strategically on the layout to enhance the fun. I have a pair of trucks from aristo- I plan to make a flat car- any suggestions?

[vsmith]

Suggestions?

One technic I've seen used in HO was to build false tunnel portals with a mirror inside. It can give the illusion that the layout extends beyond it limits. The mirrors placed inside the tunnels are where the tunnel face can clearly be seen fron the viewing area and gives the perspective that theres something beyond inside the tunnel.

As for the trucks..well you got a lot of stripwood and Garden RR mag keeps publishing those cool free planset...maybe give one of them a try.

[vsmith]

Suggestions?

One technic I've seen used in HO was to build false tunnel portals with a mirror inside. It can give the illusion that the layout extends beyond it limits. The mirrors placed inside the tunnels are where the tunnel face can clearly be seen fron the viewing area and gives the perspective that theres something beyond inside the tunnel.

As for the trucks..well you got a lot of stripwood and Garden RR mag keeps publishing those cool free planset...maybe give one of them a try.

[Anonymous]

I'm so glad to find there are others doing indoor large-scale layouts. I found a forum on the web that made it sound like anyone doing indoor railroading was clearly misguided and just playing with toys.

I basically am going inside because of the severe winters...leaving only 6 good months without snow. I have a 25' X 13' cement room under the garage (no windows) that I can use. I plan on modeling a narrow-guage, wine-country layout with vineyards and a seaport for shipping the good stuff.

The big questions I have for everyone are:
1. has anyone else actually created an indoor garden with dirt, sprinklers, grow lights, and plants?
2. has anyone done an indoor water feature such as a stream or pond?

I want some verticle dimension to the layout with hills and valleys so I plan on having some of the layout right on the floor and some of it elevated.

I would love feedback from anyone, especially technical info regarding the plant and water issues. I'm pretty new to all this.

Thanks for sharing my interest.[:)]

[Anonymous]

I'm so glad to find there are others doing indoor large-scale layouts. I found a forum on the web that made it sound like anyone doing indoor railroading was clearly misguided and just playing with toys.

I basically am going inside because of the severe winters...leaving only 6 good months without snow. I have a 25' X 13' cement room under the garage (no windows) that I can use. I plan on modeling a narrow-guage, wine-country layout with vineyards and a seaport for shipping the good stuff.

The big questions I have for everyone are:
1. has anyone else actually created an indoor garden with dirt, sprinklers, grow lights, and plants?
2. has anyone done an indoor water feature such as a stream or pond?

I want some verticle dimension to the layout with hills and valleys so I plan on having some of the layout right on the floor and some of it elevated.

I would love feedback from anyone, especially technical info regarding the plant and water issues. I'm pretty new to all this.

Thanks for sharing my interest.[:)]

[bman36]

Doc Jeremy,
Welcome to the forum. Glad to have you aboard. I have a layout under construction in my basement. It runs around the perimeter and is wall mounted. In the rec. room in a corner is an entertainment unit that the train runs over. This corner will have a pond. Bought a small pond kit from a craft/toy store here in town. Came with everything I need to set it up. Not yet built but I can show you pics. via email if you wish. Can't post pics yet on this forum. Good bunch here so ask lots of questions and enjoy the forum. Later eh...Brian.

[#welcome]

[bman36]

Doc Jeremy,
Welcome to the forum. Glad to have you aboard. I have a layout under construction in my basement. It runs around the perimeter and is wall mounted. In the rec. room in a corner is an entertainment unit that the train runs over. This corner will have a pond. Bought a small pond kit from a craft/toy store here in town. Came with everything I need to set it up. Not yet built but I can show you pics. via email if you wish. Can't post pics yet on this forum. Good bunch here so ask lots of questions and enjoy the forum. Later eh...Brian.

[#welcome]

[Anonymous]

Brian,

Thanks for the quick response. I would love to have any pictures you would share. I am planning on doing a website documenting my construction.

I had considered a precast plastic pond but I still need to address the whole issue of containing the moisture for the live plants. Maybe a rubber membrane under the planted areas.

Anyway, thanks for the welcome and pictures.

Later

[Anonymous]

Brian,

Thanks for the quick response. I would love to have any pictures you would share. I am planning on doing a website documenting my construction.

I had considered a precast plastic pond but I still need to address the whole issue of containing the moisture for the live plants. Maybe a rubber membrane under the planted areas.

Anyway, thanks for the welcome and pictures.

Later