I just want to run something by everyone. I'm planning a 3 deck layout (actually 3 separate layouts in HO, HOn3, and N). Currently planning deck heights of 60", 45", and 30". I plan on operating the lower deck from a seated position. The upper deck is about chin high for me. I have a book shelf with similar shelf spacing and things look like they should work. The depth of the layout will be 24" with 36" isle width. So, there is 15" deck spacing with about 13" actual clearance between the decks. For those who have actually done this with a multiple deck layout, does this sound like it should work? In the past, I've had layout with the top deck at 48" and lower deck at 30" that worked just fine. So, I'm giving up about 3" in clearance between the decks to have the 3rd deck. Thanks for the advice!
I suspect you clearance from the bottom of one layout is sort of tight. The Layout Design SIG and several books mention 18'-20" from track level to the bottom of the benchwork about it. That usually works out to about 24" from rail to rail. Most benchwork/facia takes up about 4".
Our club has 36" for the staging, and about 54" for the on-stage layout. with 30" wide benchwork, we would up using LED 'rope' lighting to illuminate the lower staging tracks(not ideal lighting). We have about 18" of actual clearance from the rail on the lower section to the bottom of the upper section's benchwork.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
I suspect that 24" deep will be too deep given only 15" rail/rail clearance. I suspect you may be happier with 16-18" max depth decks.
My layout under construction has levels at 42", 62", and 82" but the 82" is 'inside' the mushroom and viewed from a 30" high platform. The lower/middle decks are 24" deep and that works ok with the 20" separation.
Modeling an HO gauge freelance version of the Union Pacific Oregon Short Line and the Utah Railway around 1957 in a world where Pirates from the Great Salt Lake founded Ogden, UT.
- Photo album of layout construction -
Thank you!
Thanks! That's a pretty impressive layout you have under construction there. Are you by chance including the branch to W. Yellowstone in your O.S.L. layout?
Relatively deep decks with not much separation may hide much of the lower decks from easy view as well as make it trickier to light.
Best to mock it up and see how you like it from normal viewing angles -- CAD software can be very misleading as to what could actually be seen from the aisle.
In addition, constant-depth decks create much more layout to build and maintain -- maybe more than you bargained for in terms of time and money. Modulating the depth of decks (wider where there are towns, much narrower between) is a "best practice" that many have found useful.
30" aisle width may not be enough if standing operators must work around those in chairs. Wider aisles may also be necessary where busy layout areas face one another across an aisle. Aisle widths are usually best modulated as well to provide wider passing and working areas.
Good luck with your layout.
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
I generally figure the scene should be no deeper than the hieght of the viewing area. 15" between decks, assume 3" deep benchwork and roadbed on each deck, that leaves a 12" opening, then no scene should be deeper than 12".
As far as a chin high deck, can you reach stuff on the deck to couple, uncouple, look at switches, judge coupling distances, see cars on the second or further back track or see stuff if there is scenery in the foreground? Personally I think that the upper bound is the height of your arm pit. Anything higher and you can't reach the upper level unless you stand on a box or a ladder.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Thanks! My layout will be a single operator most or even all of the time. When I had the 18" separation on my previous layout it was fine (about 16" clearance). The layout is really pretty small (about 10.5' X 7') basically with an operator pit. The bookshelf I looked at is probably only about 12" deep, so I probably need to mock up a 12" extension and see if I can still see all the way to the back. Thank you!
Thank you for the advice!
I've double-decked part of my layout, and the lower level, at left in the first photo below, is at a height of 38.5", dropping down to 36" on the right side of the aisle while the upper level is just under 59". Most of the upper level is the same depth as the portion below, and in the photo, the depth is 32" along both sides and 38" at the far end of the aisle:
On this aisle, to the right, the lower level is 36" high, and 21" deep, and the upper level 59" high and 25" deep.
I purposely made the upper fascia deep, partly to hide the undermounted lights from an operator running trains on the lower level and partially to hide the upper level's support structure. In the photos above, the viewing area between levels is 10" along the left side in the first photo, and about 12" for the rest of the double-decked portion.Almost all of the scenery and trackwork on the lower level was completed before adding the upper level, as it would be difficult to do with the upper level in place. I will be adding remote control to many of the turnouts on the lower level, but, with some care, they are still manually-operable.
Wayne
Looks great!
Thanks for your kind words, Jim.
The fact that you're doing three separate layouts at least removes the constraints imposed by multi-level layouts where grades between levels sometimes limit operational possibilities.
I think that your plan should work well enough for train operations, but you may wish to do some construction tasks (tracklaying and backdrops at least) on the lowest level before adding the second level, and do likewise on that before adding the third level. Those jobs aren't impossible with all three levels in place, but they'd certainly be easier if done as suggested.Like you, my lower level is operated from a rolling office-type chair, and the controlled view is good. The upper level is operated while standing, but most layout work there is done with the aid of step-stools. Turnouts are manually-operated, and most are within easy reach of a standing operator. The two or three that aren't will get manual remote control.