Are there any walls, doors, appliances, or other services that may impinge on the space, and if so, where are they?
Photos of the room would really help. My room was full of all of the above and required being creative.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
NVSRR I went back over to the building to measure where the door is even though sticking to the 150 sqft means the layout can be positioned to completely avoide the door no matter the spape of the layout. I realized the waste of space. If i move the workbench next to the spray both then move the stored largescale (when not in use outside) where the work bench was, i now have half the building for layout space. a whole 21x10 area.
I went back over to the building to measure where the door is even though sticking to the 150 sqft means the layout can be positioned to completely avoide the door no matter the spape of the layout.
I realized the waste of space. If i move the workbench next to the spray both then move the stored largescale (when not in use outside) where the work bench was, i now have half the building for layout space. a whole 21x10 area.
JaBear The Bear has been told from time to time that he is “as thick as a short plank” because I’m not actually getting what the 21’ x 10’ dimension means. Is it the area that the layout has to fit into, or is it the possible layout size? Are there any walls, doors, appliances, or other services that may impinge on the space, and if so, where are they? Is a 30” wide aisle acceptable?
Alton Junction
Bear. no obstructions. If you follow the walls, 21 feet long and 10 feet deep area un obstructed. AN e shape, the back would be 21 feet, the top leg and bottom leg would be 10 feet. a center leg (penisula) could reach 12 feet long but should stay at 10 feet to keep a rectangular
The window and door split the room in half equally
Shane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
So my idea still works, just needs slightly smaller aisles and losses a little length.
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRAL I would build a 19' long x 6' wide layout with a backdrop down the middle. The mainline could loop twice around and part of it could disapear into some thru staging. That is an 80' mainline run that could have 32" or 34" radius curves, a nice yard for 12-15 car trains and similar hidden staging. No duck unders, no hard to reach areas. And 3' scene depth is a great for good appearance and room for industies , etc. Sheldon
I would build a 19' long x 6' wide layout with a backdrop down the middle. The mainline could loop twice around and part of it could disapear into some thru staging.
That is an 80' mainline run that could have 32" or 34" radius curves, a nice yard for 12-15 car trains and similar hidden staging. No duck unders, no hard to reach areas.
And 3' scene depth is a great for good appearance and room for industies , etc.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
PennsyLou ATLANTIC CENTRAL I would build a 19' long x 6' wide layout with a backdrop down the middle. The mainline could loop twice around and part of it could disapear into some thru staging. That is an 80' mainline run that could have 32" or 34" radius curves, a nice yard for 12-15 car trains and similar hidden staging. No duck unders, no hard to reach areas. And 3' scene depth is a great for good appearance and room for industies , etc. Sheldon This idea has a lot of potential. To use the whole 10' (or 10 1/2') wide space, the 19 x 6 could be a peninsula attached to one wall (say the right hand one) - with access in front, around the left side, and behind (with the viewdrop down the middle). Now there is a 4' or 4 1/2' aisle between the "back" of the layout and the back wall - take a spur off the back and you can either run a branch line around the back of the room on an 18" shelf (maintaining a 30" aisle) all the way to the left side window, or have great visible staging that feeds the rest of the layout (or maybe even both if the staging is lower level with the branch line on the upper). Something like:
Or...
you could start by rotating the peninsula counter clockwise by 90 degrees so it comes off the middle of the top wall and runs N to S. Make the radius sharp enough along the top wall so that you can have access to the base of the peninsuls from the sides. The radius will be you bare bones minimum for equipment to run. Scenicked to conceal the sharpness of the curve.
Then have two wings on either side along the E and W walls, connected by shallow shelves along the N wall. These E and W wings can represent Station A and Station B.
The track plan in the peninsula might not work exactly as shown, but the concept of having a loopy mountain ascention could still work, IMO. (Station A wing could be higher than station B wing, keeping the loops from having to ascend and then descend in the same space....a gentler grade)
Trains move between stations, and use the continuous running provision in the center peninsula to build up mileage between stations, or just let'em run while you work at the bench.
It would amount to a walk-in plan with no duckunders and a deep scene in the peninsula. The challenge would be access at the base of the peninsula, but as mentioned, if you keep the radius sharp and the shelves that come off the base shallow, there should be no more than a 30 to 36 inch reach (by my eyeball).
The left side station, Station A, could exentend as far as OP wanted, around the window and over the workbench if he wanted, since Station A is higher than B. There should be room for some staging tracks in the peninsula, under the ascending tracks.
- Douglas
PennsyLou Something like:
Something like:
I like this one from Lou Sassi:
https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/track-plan-database/lou-sassis-ho-scale-moving-coal-on-the-co-layout/
You might be able to flip it to align the entrance to the door. You can also remove the yard (at 9 o'clock) for increased access.
And these:
https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/track-plan-database/ho-scale-st-george/
https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/track-plan-database/track-plan-ho-scale-chester-ridge-pennebrook/
Simon
snjroy I like this one from Lou Sassi: https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/track-plan-database/lou-sassis-ho-scale-moving-coal-on-the-co-layout/ You might be able to flip it to align the entrance to the door. You can also remove the yard (at 9 o'clock) for increased access. And these: https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/track-plan-database/ho-scale-st-george/ https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/track-plan-database/track-plan-ho-scale-chester-ridge-pennebrook/ Simon
? They are all nearly twice the size of the available space......
Lou Sassi's layout fits in a room 21 X 23. Is that not correct?
snjroy Lou Sassi's layout fits in a room 21 X 23. Is that not correct? Simon
Ah, sorry folks, I guess I need a picture like others have suggested.
Here are two other options for continuous running:
https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/track-plan-database/one-room-two-track-plans/
I like the one on the right. And plenty of room to add things as these plans are 9 X 15.
PennsyLou snjroy Lou Sassi's layout fits in a room 21 X 23. Is that not correct? Simon Indeed, however the OP has stated that half the available space (10.5') is allocated to other uses. So 21' x 10.5' is what is available for the layout.
From the recent drawing, it appears that the open space is being used for train related things, like a workshop, etc. That's different than truly being public space or a pass through room . (My current main layout room is in a walkout basement, shaped 29 x 13, but it has doors in three of the four four corners...a true pass through to other spaces like a furnace room and lawn tractor garage).
OP could run a shallow shelf along the wall and over the work shop equipment. Used for staging or possibly a loop for turning trains depending upon accessibility.
Doughless My current main layout room is in a walkout basement, shaped 29 x 13, but it has doors in three of the four four corners...a true pass through to other spaces like a furnace room and lawn tractor garage.
My current main layout room is in a walkout basement, shaped 29 x 13, but it has doors in three of the four four corners...a true pass through to other spaces like a furnace room and lawn tractor garage.
Rich
Gravelys are nice. didnt think they made a lawn tractor quite as small as a lawn.
Cannt see the links to the layout. Mr tells me i have seen to many articles. which is wierd cause I havent see any so far this year.
Some good ideas with interesting tidbits
NVSRR Gravelys are nice. didnt think they made a lawn tractor quite as small as a lawn. Cannt see the links to the layout. Mr tells me i have seen to many articles. which is wierd cause I havent see any so far this year. Some good ideas with interesting tidbits
Here is a picture of my GRAVELY in one of its many modes - this one, spring and fall cleanup mode.
This one is 26 years young, quite sure it will last me the rest of my life.
richhotrain Doughless My current main layout room is in a walkout basement, shaped 29 x 13, but it has doors in three of the four four corners...a true pass through to other spaces like a furnace room and lawn tractor garage. Lawn tractor? Is it a Gravely? Rich
Lawn tractor? Is it a Gravely?
It was a Cub Cadet that came with the house, but the lawn isn't that big so I sold it. Now the garage holds an EZ GO, which is not a lawn tractor.
And people walk through the train room all of the time. An around the whole room layout is not an option.
I have no pas through issu since ity is a seperate building.
I did relook and remeasure and realized any penisula coming off the 21 foot wall could reach 16 feet matching the depth of the current layout. The existing layout goes 6 feet past the windows.
My cub is 52 years old. just rebuilt it and found only the 50 year old seals needed attention.
NVSRR I have no pas through issu since ity is a seperate building. I did relook and remeasure and realized any penisula coming off the 21 foot wall could reach 16 feet matching the depth of the current layout. The existing layout goes 6 feet past the windows. My cub is 52 years old. just rebuilt it and found only the 50 year old seals needed attention. Shane
That is a real Cub, and they are great machines.
We only had 1 acre at the old house, but had 7000 sq feet of driveway to clear in winter.
Now we have a smaller driveway, at least until I build a second garage, but we have 2.3 acres to cut, and a dozen large trees.
The rear engine GRAVELY rider is a unique all gear drive machine with a long list of attachments and surprising ablity for its size.
If its just you occupying that separate building, I would think about an around the walls design. (It wouldn't have to be a complete loop if you didn't want a duckunder at the door). If you plan a layout height of about 48 inches (and that may be too high for you), a twelve inch deep shelf in the dual purpose areas would not be intrusive at all, but could hold 4 tracks for something like staging.
Yeah Sheldon, my grandfather had farming implements that he used to til a quarter acre of the property. I still have the single disk narrow. And after that kind of use all these years later that cub is still turn key and almost factory new in that gear box. Surprised me when I tore it down to over haul it. There was nothing to fix. I do believe all the attachments for Gravelys are the same ones cub used since they had a three point as well. Ever here of wheelhouse machines? Supposedly the low budget line of Gravely
i have to keep from getting carried away with the design. I could do an around the room. But to easy keep going" if I add a siding here". Originally I had thought of that years ago. Ore like the PRR corridor sort of thing. I decided to make Ben work on the other layout instead of other stuff
shane
NVSRR Yeah Sheldon, my grandfather had farming implements that he used to til a quarter acre of the property. I still have the single disk narrow. And after that kind of use all these years later that cub is still turn key and almost factory new in that gear box. Surprised me when I tore it down to over haul it. There was nothing to fix. I do believe all the attachments for Gravelys are the same ones cub used since they had a three point as well. Ever here of wheelhouse machines? Supposedly the low budget line of Gravely i have to keep from getting carried away with the design. I could do an around the room. But to easy keep going" if I add a siding here". Originally I had thought of that years ago. Ore like the PRR corridor sort of thing. I decided to make Ben work on the other layout instead of other stuff shane
Are you talking about a rear three pont hitch? GRAVELY only made one tractor like that and only made it for few years.
While the looks changed and the features expanded, from 1971 to 2002 GRAVELY built the rear engine, gear drive tractor in my picture, all using the same transaxle design.
It is a gear drive tractor with 8 forward ground speeds, and instant forward/reverse by virtue of separate clutches for forward and reverse.
It shares no attachments with other brands, and Wheelhorse was a totally separate company.
A few pictures:
A good view of how the engine bolts directly to the transaxle, the silver/black disc is the reverse clutch, a similar forward clutch is on the other side.
The 200 lb 50" mower deck is driven by an automotive grade drive shaft, not by belts. There is a belt on the deck to drive the blades. It has a wet disc PTO clutch inside the transmission which is geared directly to the engine.
The 48" snowblower is also all gear/driveshaft driven, no belts.
Mine has optional individual rear wheel "steering brakes" like full sized tractors.
I repowered the tractor two years ago, rather than doing a valve job on the 25 year old Kohler 18 hp, flat head opposed twin M18. The new engine is an overhead valve Kohler CH730, 23.5 hp V twin.
Other products made by their parent company Ariens have been sold branded with the GRAVELY name, but this gear drive rear engine machine, and the original two wheel walk behind tractor, remained their core products thru the 1990's.
They did make other attachments, rear tiller, front rotary plow, front cultivator, several out front mower decks, a larger mid mount deck, mid mount grader blade and more. I'm not a gardener, so I don't have any of the tillers, etc.
In the 1980's GRAVELY led the pack in the development of out front commercial mowers and zero turn technology.
Today they are considered one of the best zero turn commercial mower on the market. They no longer make riding garden tractors, but they still provide considerable parts support to these 20 -50 year old machines.
LOL.
Sheldon, would you by chance have a photo of the underside of your Gravely?
richhotrain LOL. Sheldon, would you by chance have a photo of the underside of your Gravely? Rich
He's already got a new pic of it in front of the new house....
And my apologies. I think I am responsible for being the first to type the words "lawn tractor" in this thread.
BTW, I think I saw a pic somewhere of a drop ceiling installed in the new layout space. It might be time he updated his layout build thread.
Doughless And my apologies. I think I am responsible for being the first to type the words "lawn tractor" in this thread. BTW, I think I saw a pic somewhere of a finished ceiling in the new layout space.
BTW, I think I saw a pic somewhere of a finished ceiling in the new layout space.
What is this about a finished ceiling in a layout space I am seeing1?
richhotrain I was the first to mention GRAVELY.
Some people will never learn.
Really? How many do you want?
This one shows the drive shaft and lift system for the snow blower.
And for giggles the inside of the transmission: