Oops! My bad.A glitch on my end.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Doughless Bob, I generally agree. But the OP is building a house from scratch. I think realistically you have to have a particular layout and size in mind and try to build the house to accommodate it, within reason. Layouts can be planned to fit into numerous shapes of spaces. Yes, the space just has to be big enough. Personally, I like to have a continous run option no matter how big the layout is, but I don't like turn back loops except at peninsulas where there is a center backdrop. To avoid the dreaded lift out, a center entrance layout would be my preference. So I would be more concerned about where the stairs are placed more so than how humongous the layout is.
Bob, I generally agree. But the OP is building a house from scratch. I think realistically you have to have a particular layout and size in mind and try to build the house to accommodate it, within reason.
Layouts can be planned to fit into numerous shapes of spaces. Yes, the space just has to be big enough.
Personally, I like to have a continous run option no matter how big the layout is, but I don't like turn back loops except at peninsulas where there is a center backdrop. To avoid the dreaded lift out, a center entrance layout would be my preference. So I would be more concerned about where the stairs are placed more so than how humongous the layout is.
Douglass
I may not have made myself clear enough.
I figure most people build a home and not build a basement with a Home on top.
So they have a very large basement (what ever size it may be) and look at it as an overwhelming thing to fill up this supposed large area.
If they would just build up a small area and then as time goes on add onto the layout it soon fills the entire basement!
I did just that - I had a 25 x 75 foot basement and began 14 years ago to build the layout in it!
I didn't look at it a large project - but as many smaller areas I needed to fill. YES - I had a design but it could be built in small steps.
I had to install drywall but only did it as I had the funds and time to do so.
This then slowed down the pace of building the layout but I also was able to move a a much slower pace and NOT get burned out either!
What helped - was I was having limited OPs Session as soon as the Layout had 2 towns (no scenery & limited building - just thrown in) and we began having OPs every 2 weeks (this has been ongoing now for 13 years).
Each OPs Session just kept me wanting more areas to run on and thus my enthuasm kept me going!
This is where everyone has a problem - they try and FINISH the Layout before ever Playing with it!
Simple as that
And they wonder why they lose enthusiasm or believe the project is TOO BIG!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
Howard
Some practical pointers from a builders perspective. Any time you can stack a house the cost per sq. ft is cheaper. Enlarging the foot print of a house with out going up or down cost more. Also from a climate control perspective a basement with a "walk out " condition is preferable. Walk out means easier access for bringing in and out materials (lots of trains : ) ) and supplies. It is also easier to climate control a basement because the surrounding ground keeps the temp. firly constant.
Putting the railroad upstairs means tracking building material and trains through the finished portion of the house ( not a good idea if you want to keep the wife happy. It also tends to be hotter and requires more AC/Heat to keep the area temp. controled.
If you decide to go the basement/build route then I would recomend going with 9' or 10' fdn walls. Taht way when you have to box around beams or HVAC then the area will not feel so closed in. Another tip - tell the builder you either want teh basement finished or will finish it later and you want all wiring, plumbing , duct etc... in between the joist or hugging the beams as much as possible. This will allow you to finish it later without going through the expense of moving roughed in equipment later to clear teh ceiling of to drop the ceiling to allow for mechnical systems hanging where you dont want it.
Hope this helps and feel free to message me if you have any further questions
YGW
I think moving to the country is the best thing I ever did. I was thinking trainroom when I did it. I was single at the time but still needed breathing room. The first house (in the city) was average on an average sized lot. The second is big and on acreage. They were close to the same price so it was a no brainer.
We are now thinking of moving again as development is closing in on our peace and quiet. Six KMS away there are now condo's where there use to be cows. The one thing I have decided I need to have is, I must have the layout in the house. Having easy, quick access to the TR means I spend way more time in there as a result. I am retired and full of arthritis, however I am still very busy and if I had to trudge out to another building, unlock the door, turn on the lights for the few minutes I may be there, it just would not happen. I can now whip in and glue on another piece or do a bit of painting or just tidy up while I am cooking dinner or taking care of other things.
As far as size, would one ever finish? Well make it as big as you wish. When your dead, you won't care if you didn't finish it. Personally I always want to be at a place where I still have more to do.
Someone asked Saint Francis of Assisi who was out hoeing his garden "what would you do if you knew you were going to die tomorrow"? He said, "I would keep on hoeing my garden"
I am always perplexed why people change the way they live because they have less time ahead of them instead of behind them. I live life as if I will live forever. I am a steamer out on the main doing 100MPH, not slowing down because I see a station off in the distance. What a waist that would be.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Hmmm..after reading all of the suggestions, I think Howard should build a 40x80 roomless finished "house" next to a new 40x80 regular house, and attached it at a point that's only a few steps from the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and garage!
Go for it Howard!
- Douglas
Everyone (Visitors and Operators alike) have ask me when the layout will be finished!
And I have heard this same question and similar responses of the forum members about building large layouts
My Layout will be finished the day I Die - because NO ONE will be working on it after that!
I live out of town (Clarion - Pop 6000) 3 miles so it really isn't much of a town but there are 2 hills that make for Heavy Truck traffic almost non existant (when we see a Tractor Trailer out here - we usually state that they must have made a wrong turn)!
Same goes for the little cluster of Houses (Village) where my house and Layout are located - nice quiet community and about the most noise we have is the neighbor across the road shooting at ground hogs off his back porch (as we have farms all around us)!
I always wanted a basement with a 10-foot ceiling. In the center would be a room about 16 x 20 built like a stand alone shed so the ceiling of the room would be isolated from the floor above.This would be the home theater where I could play movies at reference level without sound leaking upstairs. Then a doughnut room would be built that surrounds the theater 7 or 8 feet wide. This doughnut would hold the railroad, How about a 8 foot doughnut 30 x 34 with a 16 x 20 hole in the middle for a layout?
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.
Howard ---
Many of these issues will be a matter of what you think is best for you, rather than a matter of what is the absolute best.
As someone who is younger than you, I can tell you I'm glad I bought a ranch style house because I do not consider stairs to be my friends after two hip replacements. The stairs to the basement are tolerable, but I wouldn't want any more stairs in this house as long as I can avoid them.
If you choose a subterranean (basement) location, then be sure you build on high ground with good drainage. I live in Washington County iin your State, and I know for certain that there are an awful lot of damp basements around here. Mine included. Mine is nowhere near as bad as some others I've seen, but it does tend to be damp because the soil tends to hold the moisture. My two small dehumidifiers are there for a purpose, and I'm hoping to find a more permanent solution to that problem.
Tom