No space to rail!!!!

[IRONROOSTER]

When this happened to me, I relocated to the master bedroom. Fortunately it was big enough for a 6' x 6' layout in the corner. My wife was also very understanding.

[IRONROOSTER]

When this happened to me, I relocated to the master bedroom. Fortunately it was big enough for a 6' x 6' layout in the corner. My wife was also very understanding.

[Anonymous]

When I was in my teens, I had a 4 X 8 rigged in two different ways in the garage. First it was hinged to the wall and folded down. I got tired of removing all rolling stock and constantly re-glueing scenery , so I had it suspended from the ceiling with pullies for a little while. It sounds like you've got the will, I'm sure you'll find a way.

[Anonymous]

When I was in my teens, I had a 4 X 8 rigged in two different ways in the garage. First it was hinged to the wall and folded down. I got tired of removing all rolling stock and constantly re-glueing scenery , so I had it suspended from the ceiling with pullies for a little while. It sounds like you've got the will, I'm sure you'll find a way.

[Anonymous]

You could also look for a modular club in your area. Build a small segment (usually 2x4 foot) that matches the standards of the group and is also suitable as a switching layout at home. This is what I am doing.

Doug

[Anonymous]

You could also look for a modular club in your area. Build a small segment (usually 2x4 foot) that matches the standards of the group and is also suitable as a switching layout at home. This is what I am doing.

Doug

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

I saw a great space saving way to rail. It was a wood cabinet like an armour (my spelling) when the doors opened a 4'x6' ho layout folded down. I dont remember the company name but if you can look on some RR modeling pages or maybe someone else out there has seen this, also check out Micro Layouts.com for some really small but interesting layout ideas.

Follow up to the train cabinet idea. Its called Tuck-Away Trains, made by Mesa Verde railraod company 1-718-945-1111. It opens and a 4x8 layout fold down. i wish I could send you the photo I found. Its a interesting idea.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

I saw a great space saving way to rail. It was a wood cabinet like an armour (my spelling) when the doors opened a 4'x6' ho layout folded down. I dont remember the company name but if you can look on some RR modeling pages or maybe someone else out there has seen this, also check out Micro Layouts.com for some really small but interesting layout ideas.

Follow up to the train cabinet idea. Its called Tuck-Away Trains, made by Mesa Verde railraod company 1-718-945-1111. It opens and a 4x8 layout fold down. i wish I could send you the photo I found. Its a interesting idea.

[Anonymous]

The shelf, wall, garage ceiling and module ideas are all great options. I went for the garage ceiling. The pulleys and hardware all came from the higher dollar selection at a 'better' hardware store or commercial grade hardware supply house. Be sure to get hardware with a weight rating of at least double the expected weight of the layout and use any light weight scenery materials possible, you don't want to drop it on your car. I fit a 13 x 8 layout in a 2 car garage, with the cars. You can use a hand crank or electric winch for raising and lowering.

Dennis

[Anonymous]

The shelf, wall, garage ceiling and module ideas are all great options. I went for the garage ceiling. The pulleys and hardware all came from the higher dollar selection at a 'better' hardware store or commercial grade hardware supply house. Be sure to get hardware with a weight rating of at least double the expected weight of the layout and use any light weight scenery materials possible, you don't want to drop it on your car. I fit a 13 x 8 layout in a 2 car garage, with the cars. You can use a hand crank or electric winch for raising and lowering.

Dennis

[nickl02]

How about putting a shelf all the way around the room. You could set up track on the shelf so that a train could go around the room.

[nickl02]

How about putting a shelf all the way around the room. You could set up track on the shelf so that a train could go around the room.

[Anonymous]

live with it

[Anonymous]

live with it

[emdgp92]

QUOTE: Originally posted by centerville

live with it

Some of us enjoy our hobby (or hobbies) enough that we want to enjoy them no matter what. I once set up a 4x8 sheet of plywood, along with a trio of space heaters, in my parents' garage during the winter one year... just so I could run my trains! The basement was being remodeled, and I was forced out.

Anyway, I'm already making plans to expand my shelf layout. I'd like a longer main line, another town, and a coal mine. However, until I get a bigger place, I'm happy with my layout like it is. For now, the extra town buildings (a small factoroy and some commercial buildings) are on a small module that I'll drop into place when the layout is ready.

My advice is, take what space you have, and figure out what you can fit into it. I'd suggest picking up one of Kalmbach's excellent track planning guides...and modifying one of the plans to fit your space.

[emdgp92]

QUOTE: Originally posted by centerville

live with it

Some of us enjoy our hobby (or hobbies) enough that we want to enjoy them no matter what. I once set up a 4x8 sheet of plywood, along with a trio of space heaters, in my parents' garage during the winter one year... just so I could run my trains! The basement was being remodeled, and I was forced out.

Anyway, I'm already making plans to expand my shelf layout. I'd like a longer main line, another town, and a coal mine. However, until I get a bigger place, I'm happy with my layout like it is. For now, the extra town buildings (a small factoroy and some commercial buildings) are on a small module that I'll drop into place when the layout is ready.

My advice is, take what space you have, and figure out what you can fit into it. I'd suggest picking up one of Kalmbach's excellent track planning guides...and modifying one of the plans to fit your space.

[ddechamp71]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Danstrain

I purchased boxes of HO scale trains, track, building etc. from a friend, that I planned to build a layout in my spare bedroom. I just recently had another baby, and lost my spare bedroom, any ideas people might have for a space saver layout would really help me out. I really need to be creative to have at least a 4X8 layout.

Dan

Switch to Z scale: 2.5 times smaler than HO. On a 4x8 you can have, let's say not an empire, but a good kingdom!
Cheers
Dominique

[ddechamp71]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Danstrain

I purchased boxes of HO scale trains, track, building etc. from a friend, that I planned to build a layout in my spare bedroom. I just recently had another baby, and lost my spare bedroom, any ideas people might have for a space saver layout would really help me out. I really need to be creative to have at least a 4X8 layout.

Dan

Switch to Z scale: 2.5 times smaler than HO. On a 4x8 you can have, let's say not an empire, but a good kingdom!
Cheers
Dominique

[Anonymous]

Try building a small Shelf layout. Saves space.

[Anonymous]

Try building a small Shelf layout. Saves space.

[Jacktal]

I am new to this hobby and already have felt the same frustrastion many other model railroaders have to live with....no sufficient space to create my dream layout.I have so far drawn a few plans incorporating my "goals" but had to scrap them simply because I didn't have the room to make them a reality.It's amazing how much space a simple curve will eat up,especially if you want to operate "big" locos.
Although with manageable budget considerations,I have everything I need to build an interesting layout,including skills,energy,imagination and a wife who enjoys doing scenery,well...... everything but space.
But we've started a modest layout anyway,although with a few compromises to my desires however.I've converted my 3X4 drawing board for the purpose so that when we aren't working on it,the layout is flipped vertically to the wall taking almost no space.
I know that my big locos won't shine as I first wished and I can't have multiple routes serving many industries but for the moment this layout will allow us to hone our skills and learn from our errors until we can enjoy a more appropriate train room.

[Jacktal]

I am new to this hobby and already have felt the same frustrastion many other model railroaders have to live with....no sufficient space to create my dream layout.I have so far drawn a few plans incorporating my "goals" but had to scrap them simply because I didn't have the room to make them a reality.It's amazing how much space a simple curve will eat up,especially if you want to operate "big" locos.
Although with manageable budget considerations,I have everything I need to build an interesting layout,including skills,energy,imagination and a wife who enjoys doing scenery,well...... everything but space.
But we've started a modest layout anyway,although with a few compromises to my desires however.I've converted my 3X4 drawing board for the purpose so that when we aren't working on it,the layout is flipped vertically to the wall taking almost no space.
I know that my big locos won't shine as I first wished and I can't have multiple routes serving many industries but for the moment this layout will allow us to hone our skills and learn from our errors until we can enjoy a more appropriate train room.

[cp1057]

I think it was Model Railroad Planning 2002 (or maybe 2001) had a number of layouts that made a creative use of 4x8. Perhaps you could find a back issue of this. Iain Rice had a trackplan of a railroad that circled a harbour, it was called the Harbour Belt. N scale is a nice way to get the most railroad in a small space but it seems like you have made a sizeable investment in HO already which would be hard to just walk away from. Good luck!

Charles
Hillsburgh On

[cp1057]

I think it was Model Railroad Planning 2002 (or maybe 2001) had a number of layouts that made a creative use of 4x8. Perhaps you could find a back issue of this. Iain Rice had a trackplan of a railroad that circled a harbour, it was called the Harbour Belt. N scale is a nice way to get the most railroad in a small space but it seems like you have made a sizeable investment in HO already which would be hard to just walk away from. Good luck!

Charles
Hillsburgh On

[on30francisco]

You can always find some space for a layout. It might not be big enough for your dream layout but you can always build something that can become part of a larger layout in the future. You can model a yard scene on a long shelf in either Z, N, TT, HO, S, O or even G scale. Since the layout is small you can superdetail it to the Nth degree. If shelf modeling does not appeal to you build a micro layout.

[on30francisco]

You can always find some space for a layout. It might not be big enough for your dream layout but you can always build something that can become part of a larger layout in the future. You can model a yard scene on a long shelf in either Z, N, TT, HO, S, O or even G scale. Since the layout is small you can superdetail it to the Nth degree. If shelf modeling does not appeal to you build a micro layout.