Layout on wheels?

[MisterBeasley]

I've been looking at benchwork concepts and thinking of how to squeeze a reasonable amount of HO on to a small area that wouldn't take over the whole family room. Then, I saw some structures at work for moving computer systems around the building, and put the two together.

Does anyone have experience with putting a layout on wheels? Yes, it would require more structurally sound benchwork, but you could put it against a wall and still gain access to the back simply by rolling it out. You could also occasionally rotate the whole thing to change your primary "front" view, which might seem like having a whole different layout any time you wanted it.

Has anyone tried this? I'd be interested in experiences and recommendations, both pro and con.

[Anonymous]

The latest edition of "How to Build Model RR Benchwork" from Kalmbach has a whole chapter on building "portable" layouts, including one on wheels that even rotates to vertical to store out of the way. And of course it has tons of great info on building benchwork in general. Definitely worth the price for what you're trying to do.

[Anonymous]

Wow before I opened up this post I was thinking it was going to be about what I have been dreaming up that is a cool idea that I have personally not heard of or seen. I want to get a small/medium Uhaul truck with the box back and turn the inside of the truck iinto a layout on wheels. I would take it to train shows all around. Like for one I would take it to the Springfield show which speaking of I cant wait for. I think this would be cool, but I have a slight feling that though a very great idea some guy must have tried this already somewhere huh? If not I would like to be the first

[Anonymous]

My 6' x 10' table layout is mounted on wheels, with legs on all four corners and two in the middle. I made the four by four inch-square legs by screwing 2x4s together, with 2 inch appliance-type rubbber caster wheels mounted on the bottom. I used the kind with wheel locks on the four corners so the layout wouldn't move unexpectedly. I think if your legs are sufficiently cross-braced, you should have no problems. It does make it handy to move the layout if need be, such as giving the furnace repairman room to work, although I've not had too many occasions where it's had to be moved out of the way.

[Cox 47]

I am working on a 2 by 3 foot N scale layout on wheels 2 by 2 legs with furnature type wheels. My wife and I live in a small Handicaped apartment. I keep layout in bedroom along the wall then pull it into living roor to work on it, I am in a wheel chair and I can turn it any way i want to work on it. Power is under layout so all you have to do is plug in plug in hand held controller and your redy to go . It has a cover that sets over it to protect layout. can have it uncvered and running in about 5 minutes. I have a 4 drawer plastic chest on wheels with a parts chest lite and plate glass work surface that sets in a corner of living room. It no Basement Empire but its lots of fun and after all is'nt that what its all about The Ol'd KZ DJ

[BRVRR]

My 4x10 Black River Valley Railroad was originally on wheels. Legs in the corners and casters mounted on the legs. Worked okay, but the legs always seemed to be in the way and the casters bunched up the carpet. Instead of changing to bigger wheels, I changed over to garage door rollers running on tracks mounted on the walls. The system works well and no legs in the way.
For a picture go to my website below and 'click' on the "What's New" Button.

[tutaenui]

Yep been there done that!! I have a section of my layout 2' x 15' on casters to get to a little used door.
My experience is that it works well, but with a couple of cautions, if the bench work is narrow, say under 2' it is a little unstable and needs to be moved with care, it is also useful if you can hook it to the wall so the layout does not move inadvertantly when in use or during an earthquake. Also if the casters are too small in diameter the layout can be difficult to move on an uneven floor.

[Anonymous]

I was flipping thru an old Model Railroader last night, and an article I saw made me think of this thread. I think it was the 12/98 issue. There is a 4x8 project layout featured in that issue that is on casters.

I didn't read the article, but if you have that issue lying around, it might be worth checkin' out.

John
Underhill, VT

[IRONROOSTER]

In my experience building things with wheels, you want to make sure that you get big ones with ball bearings, at least 3 inches for a layout , 4 inches if you are on a carpet. And don't let the weight they'll support fool you, they aren't easy to move when you load them to capacity - big wheels lightly loaded on hard floor are the easiest to move. Make sure alll the wheels swivel. Locking wheels are handy to keep it in place - get all of them locking, that way which ever two are in front you can lock.. You don't say how big a layout you're are doing or what kind of scenery you are planning. I would suggest you use foam a lot to keep the weight down.
Good luck
Paul

[MisterBeasley]

Thanks for all the advice. Right now, I'm planning 5ft x 12ft. One long side will be against a short knee-wall and a 45-degree roofline, so working in there will be awkward at best. Probably 6 wheels, maybe 8. Yeah, it's on a carpet, too. I might pick up 2 or 3 of those plastic office chair mats to make for easier rolling and to protect the rug.

The Kalmbach book is on order at my local Train Shop. I'm a whiz at DC wiring, but when it comes to carpentry I tend to over-design and end up with something very heavy, so I'll take a serious look at L-girder construction based on the hints above. Thanks again.