Some help in designing a "foldable" model railroad

[Anonymous]

Any help on this would be appreciated. I have a modest-sized space in my kitchen (read: approximately 6 ft. x 10 ft.) that would nicely accommodate a respectable track plan. I am not planning my dream layout here, but something that would be able to get a few of my Chessie's and B&O units out and about. My question is this: I need to be able to put the layout away in my second bedroom/office, preferably folded up or at least stacked against one of the walls when I have company over or a dinner planned. I also don't want to have anything permanent, so it has to be free-standing. Any ideas on construction? Am I better off building a few independent sections with foam board and connecting? A ping-pong table type where it can be folded up? Again, any help would be most appreciated.
- j
2005 is the year of the CAT.

[pcarrell]

You took the words right out of my mouth,...Ping Pong table sounds like it would fit the bill. Just make sure that your scenery is VERY secure and I'd connect the tracks that cross the joint in the middle in the same fashion as the module building guys.

[knewsom]

I built a layout like you described for my nephews the year before last. It was only 4'x8' but I built is so that it could be folded an stored under a bed, so that my sister-in-law could put it away while cleaning. I built the foutside rame out of 1"x6" with 1"x2" cross members for rigidity. I thin used a very high quality 3/8" plywood for the shell. I used extruded foam as the sub-roadbed and in the middle where the hinges were, I made a river. When it was folded up it slid neatly under the bed, and when they wanted to play, they would fold it out, place the two bridges over the river in place, and run the trains. I used a corner of the layout to place the power pack and ran feeders to the track from underneath the foam.

[cuyama]

Whatever you plan, you might try to have some section that does not fold vertically ... such as a shelf along on edge. If you place some yard tracks on this surface (visible yard or staging) you'll be able to store most or all trains on the track. This will allow you to have a lot less set-up and tear-down time.

A lot will depend on the kinds of hallways and doorways you must negotiate between the operating location and storage location. Stackable (non-hinged) sections set up on a folding table might be a great solution if you can't roll a large set-up easily between locations.

Regards,

Byron
http://www.modelrail.us

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cuyama

Whatever you plan, you might try to have some section that does not fold vertically ... such as a shelf along on edge. If you place some yard tracks on this surface (visible yard or staging) you'll be able to store most or all trains on the track. This will allow you to have a lot less set-up and tear-down time.

A lot will depend on the kinds of hallways and doorways you must negotiate between the operating location and storage location. Stackable (non-hinged) sections set up on a folding table might be a great solution if you can't roll a large set-up easily between locations.

Regards,

Byron
http://www.modelrail.us

Thanks Byron. I do have some flexibility in terms of room and length. The other idea I have toyed with is building an extension that I could attach at one end to use as staging. I can easily roll the fold up version into the next room, but the idea of stacking the modules is appealing. The benefits of finally having a "spare" room. :-) Thanks for your suggestions!

[SP4449]

Have you seen the August 2005 MR? Page 60.