I've given this a lot of thought, for I've never had the opportunity of choosing the size of a layout space. Heretofore it was a given - this room or that part of the basement or the like.
What I have come down to is perhaps one should design his RR first, and then determine what size room would accomodate it. Of course I've always done it the other way around........... something to think about.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I have found over the years that the size of the room is an inverse proportion to your age. The older you get, the less you can handle, at least if you work by yourself. My basement HO layout room is 14x20. There are no duckunders. Aisle width is 30 in. which allowed a minimum radius of 28 in. It is one long, folded loop with six passing sidings which aren't very long, but that is no problem with short trains. It still takes 15 minutes for a train to make it all the way around. Even with an eight track staging yard under the layout, I still have more cars than the layout can handle. I also opted for a 130 ft turntable and a 12 stall roundhouse, so that eats major space. Right now, I wouldn't want a larger space as I don't know if I will even live long enough to finish what I have. I keep telling my wife that I am content with what I have.
Ken Vandevoort
The snappy answer to "how large" is: There is no such thing as too much space.
However, few of us can afford a vacant department store or similar building, so we
have to work with what is possible. Time is also an important factor. You don't want your wife and kids to think of you as the mysterios stranger who sleeps here.
So, some balance and compromise of size will likely be necessary. I think it really
comes down to what each person is able and comfortable doing, with no really
right or wrong answer, just whatever fits you.
Carl W
28'4" x 32'4"
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 -
Hi all
Just a thought the larger a layout gets the more thought that needs to go into keeping things as simple as possible but still within the builders requirements.
So the project remains do-able and trains can be got running in a reasonable time frame.
After all runing trains is in the end what its all about even though I personaly like having the whole box and dice.
regards John
For what I want to do...30 x 10
- Douglas
When my wife and I designed our home, my interest in the hobby was still dormant. We designed the house with no hallways, and no rooms with less than 5 walls-- many with curved walls. Awesome to live in, crappy to fit a layout in. Our builder suggested using hollow core concrete trusses in the garage, allowing useable space underneath. Would have resulted in a 40 x 20 bonus space For about $25K. At the time we did not see a cost/use benefit. Dang! I would have been in heaven. Too big for my lone wolf operation, but nice to have almost no limits.
I had a large opening into the room, along with three doors, a large window and a fireplace to deal with. This benchwork footprint was the best I could come up with at the time. Back then I was not involved on the forum much, but I wished I had asked for suggestions. I am happy with the result I have, but always wondered if there could have been a better plan for the asking.
This is how I worked around this door. It will be a stock yard when done.
Here is what the rest of the room looks like. Definitely not ideal, but at least I have the space to have something.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
SpartanCooki really appreciate the wisdom of having the doors 5-6 feet Away From the corners of the room to be able to have enough room for a turn back loop. i will be making sure I have my tape measure with me!
That's good advice for a room that is large enough, but it may be hard to find. Alternately, a room with the entrance close to a corner offers a good layout footprint also, as in these rough examples (trackwork is not correct, just dropped-in):
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
mobilman44 Hi, You have lots of good advice so far, all kind of coming down to "get what suits the kind of layout you want to build". I currently have an HO layout in an 11x15 room. I would love to have that doubled or tripled in size for some really long runs. So my advice is get the biggest space you can. Remember, you can always build smaller than the available space. One other point... maintenance time and problems are a direct relationship to the size of the layout.
Hi,
You have lots of good advice so far, all kind of coming down to "get what suits the kind of layout you want to build". I currently have an HO layout in an 11x15 room. I would love to have that doubled or tripled in size for some really long runs. So my advice is get the biggest space you can. Remember, you can always build smaller than the available space.
One other point... maintenance time and problems are a direct relationship to the size of the layout.
This ^
I agree too that big can mean a lot of time to build and maintain. As it is, I have been working on a 10x18' layout and while I've had some extended down time due to house projects etc. it's still taken a fair amount of time to get my layout to the point where it is now and yes, I wish I had room for longer runs. I think a good reasonable larger size would be around 15x30 or so.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I think if you are looking for the perfect house to build a layout in the house should have a large finished basement with standard 8 foot high ceilings. You know, the type where the basement is one big rec-room or maybe has a ½ bath and an office in it.
The same would be good for a finished attic if it has full height ceilings and not dormer windows and walls that close in above 4 feet high.
j.........
Well, let's see...what are the dimensions of Nebraska? My experience that the actual space needed for any moel railroad layout is just a little bit more.
Ron
Owner and superintendant of the N scale Texas Colorado & Western Railway, a protolanced representaion of the BNSF from Fort Worth, TX through Wichita Falls TX and into Colorado.
Check out the TC&WRy on at https://www.facebook.com/TCWRy
Check out my MRR How-To YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RonsTrainsNThings
Thanks for everyone's advice I really appreciate it. To answer a few questions and comments I am 25 so I am not worried about how long it will take to finish, I have plenty of time at the moment. I have a pretty good amount of allowance given from my wife so I am not too worried about cost(she just got me an athearn genesis alaska SD70MAC for my birthday this week). I will want to lay the track over the next year or two then scenery will come as the allowance allows.
My main cause for the questions is to just have these ideas in the back of my mind as we look for new houses. We are looking for at least three uses for our bonus spaces including my train room, a workout room, and a home theater. So I am just looking for ideas on what to look for, or what to design for if we build our own house
i really appreciate the wisdom of having the doors 5-6 feet Away From the corners of the room to be able to have enough room for a turn back loop. i will be making sure I have my tape measure with me!
thanks to everyone who posted so far!
Spartan,
Expect to get flooded with responses given the type of question and individual choice for a layout. You have obtained a lot of very helpful advice on size, cost, time, considerations.
I've read that you want to find a well-open space to work in a finished part of the house. Being young, I don't mind using the stairs and enjoy the 7x13' HO layout. That's why mine is in the basement with room for a workbench. Yeah it would be nice to have the entire basement consumed by trains but I can't fathom dealing with the additional problems and more cost and time involved. Perhaps I can get a larger layout when I retire, which won't happen forever! Bottom line: be happy with what you have and make the most of that!
Hi tomikawaTT
I think I would advocate large moderate or not, and simple in the same design sentance as well.
I have 6m X 6m to play with it still scares the hell out of me when I try and design something to fit that size space.
I have only got as far the bench design is this that works for me.
But every tme I go to design track to go on top it becomes err um OK what now,
or forget it that's way to complicated for me its a one man layout.
As far as room size a multiple of 8 feet is the best. If you figure a 2 ft deep bench, a 4 ft aisle and another 2 ft deep bench that's 8 ft. Having the door 5-6 feet from the corner of the room is good because that allows a turnback curve in that corner. Fewer alcoves makes it easier to fit something in.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
My 'last in this lifetime' layout occupies a space 19ft 4in square with doors in inconvenient locations, a natural gas hot water heater in one corner and vents, but no windows as such.
If somebody gave me a magic wand I'd expand the space to about 30 by 30, with most of the increase devoted to access aisle space. The track plan would remain exactly the same.
However - I'm building to a master plan more than half a century old. Given my limitations, both physical and financial, I wouldn't want a big, complex layout. My present effort is moderately large, but fairly simple - and it's really all that I want and about all that I can handle.
Note the personal 'I' in the above. Since I have no idea about what's on YOUR 'Gottahavit' list, I can't even offer a suggestion on size or shape. Others have already commented on livability and ease of access, and I have nothing to add to their recommendations.
Chuck (Modeling Centrl Japan in September, 1964)
SpartanCook For the others I am modeling in HO scale. I would love a narrow long room with stairs in the middle of I could find one.
For the others I am modeling in HO scale. I would love a narrow long room with stairs in the middle of I could find one.
Yeah, a long, narrow room, about 7' wide and a half-mile long would be ideal for a point-to-point line.
I had an "ideal" room for my planned layout, which was to be all of a 1200sq.ft. basement, with stairs in the centre. What I eventually ended-up with was an oddly-shaped room less than half of the original size:
The size and shape of the room dictated the style of the layout, and while not ideal, it's probably better than anything that I could have planned for the larger space. In some ways, it's still too large.
Wayne
An 80 yo guy I met in the train store told me if he had to do it all over again he would build in modules. That's what I am doing because I plan to move.
Jobs and companies come and go and your needs and abilities to take care of a house and property changes. Even your ability to go up the front steps can be problematic. Neighborhoods change too. My parents home was solidly in suburbia, 1 mile from a college, a couple blocks from schools and a country club. Now the predators come to rob the college students at knife point.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
My wife and I are actively planning to move and build in three years after our daughter finishes grade 12. We are going to move away from the encroachng hordes of people.
We found a house plan that is for a small estate winery. It has an attached 32' x 20' wine proceesing area that would make a good MRR room. We will also turn two of the bedrooms into a dog bathing and grooming area as my wife is the dog showing thing in a big way.
Realistically the 32' x 20' space is probably more than I need, however I would rather have too much space than not enough. It is also part of the house and that is very important to me. If I had to go to another building I would spend way less time with my trains.
We both agree it will probably be our last home as we both have significant health issues, but staying fit keeps us active so it is full speed ahead until we croak, if the time comes we need help, we will get it.
The Plan is
"Harmony Homes plan B101"
Check it out.
The Alaska Rwy is one track, with passing sidings.
Seward in the south is an ocean port, and Fairbanks Air Base is the northern most customer.
Having riden from Fairbanks to Denalle National Park, my main impression is trees, many,many trees.
There is also unit trains of coal, and of tank cars.
Presuming that you use the proposed connection as off line staging, that would give lots of boxcars for consumer goods.
Have fun
Dave
Space, time and money all equate to personal preferences.
Ask yourself, do I lone wolf or do I want a Crew to run trains with. That can determine aisle width. Do I like long runs, deep benchwork or do I like localized switching and narrow deck space.
Preference to me is the finished lower level space with the stairs in the middle, but David Barrow made great use of finished space above his garage with the Cat Mountain railroad he was building. Again, only you and your partner can decide.
Build ahead of time? If you plan well, ala Dr. Bruce Chubb you can build many modules ahead of time, store them and put together when you find the next space.
Best to you
TomO
Over the years, many analyses have been posted that provide estimates of $/sq ft and hours/sq ft required to build a model railroad. I would consult these before embarking on a large layout. Wouldn't it be nice to know in advance if you don't have the cash or the lifespan required to fill the space you're thinking about?
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
I wouldn't build anything until you have the new place. Carrying out more materials, and safety packing (probably a layout can be more problematic.)
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
The idea seems to be proposed once a decade and gains steam then losea traction, the addition would be around 1600 miles
The best type of room is one that is finished with heat and a/c and not subject to flooding from overflow above or backup from below. A plus is having it on the same level as the main part of the house so you don't have to haul building materials up or down stairs (and yourself in later years).
The best size is between 400 and 1000 sq ft depending on what scale you plan to use and what level of detail you want. That is, larger scale larger space, greater detail smaller space. In addition you want a work room next to the layout for model building, maintenance, etc. with lots of storage for kits, parts, tools, etc.
Good luck
Paul
Well, first of all, the size of a layout and therefore the room to put it in, depends on the scale. An O gauge layout requires about 4 times the size of the same set-up in HO scale, while an N scale layout would "only" need a little less than a third of that foot print.
Second, you need to consider the time and the money you can dedicate to your layout. I know of a lot of people who bit off more than they could swallow in terms of layout size and time it takes to get it up and running. I am 60 and I´d never start a project taking me more than 10 years to get the first train running.
Third, the size of a layout is irrelevant to the amount of fun you can have building and operating it.
My personal motto is "the smaller, the better"! I am right now finishing the planning stage of a 2 by 2 ft. Z scale layout, which would be 2´9" by 2´9" in N scale, or 5 by 5 ft. in HO scale, or over 9 by 9 ft. in O sscale.