"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Mine is in the garage as well. (That was my requirement when Mom and I went house hunting after Dad passed - somewhere to put the layout.) At the moment the garage is unheated. However that will be looked into when we get the new furnance for the house. The garage is detached but I will get an estimate for putting heat in as well. Even before that, the old layout was in an unheated outbuilding on the ranch where I grew up.
While not ideal, the equipment does reside there during the winter. I have never run in problems. (But then Eastern Montana is not known for having high humidity so I haven't had benchwork problems and I have only had very minor track problems even when it was in the outbuilding.).
The only thing that I have is heavier duty furniture levelers (5/16" shaft). They are a residual from when this layout was in my apartment bedroom as the floor wasn't very level in spots. Even in the garage I still find they are useful as the floor isn't perfectly level either but not to the extreme of my old apartment.
It is also built in sections as already discussed. Makes moving a lot easier as some pieces of this layout have moved twice. Also make sure any wiring that bridges sections has easy ways to separate and reassemble if it need to move.
My layout is in my garage. The doors are new and seal very well. Since we replaced the doors we have had no mice in the garage. My biggest problem is that the floor is not in good shape so I will have to address that issue before the layout gets too far along.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
My 10’x14’ layout is in our garage, mounted on casters with tool storage under the layout. Gota make use of every square inch in the garage. It takes two to get it rolling (about 1900 pounds total with tools) but we can roll it out on to the driveway to clean the garage. Out on the driveway on a warm Saturday after noon it is a kid and dad magnet. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
SeeYou190 First... CONGRATULATIONS on the baby! I love babies! Considerations for the layout... living in Florida, garages are common locations for layouts, but not for automobiles as well. I built my layout test segment in the garage, but nothing special was needed due to our climate. The red Mustang was in the garage with it, but the Mustang rarely was driven, so it just stayed beneath a canvas tarp. I am of no help here. Take care of that baby! -Kevin
First... CONGRATULATIONS on the baby! I love babies!
Considerations for the layout... living in Florida, garages are common locations for layouts, but not for automobiles as well.
I built my layout test segment in the garage, but nothing special was needed due to our climate. The red Mustang was in the garage with it, but the Mustang rarely was driven, so it just stayed beneath a canvas tarp. I am of no help here.
Take care of that baby!
-Kevin
Oh she will be very well taken care of. She already has more stuff than me and my girlfriend combined!
tstage Two come immediately to mind but they are somewhat contingent on where you live: Temperature/humidy - Even an unheated/un-air conditioned garage is going to experience temperature and humidity fluctuations that your Ni-Ag track and wood benchwork will react to. This could cause kinked trackwork or buckling joints during the summer and gaps during the winter. Dust & Dirt - Everytime the garage door is open your layout will be exposed to dust & dirt in the air so regular cleaning will be a must. The layout could also be exposed to damage if someone's depth perception isn't as good as it should be when the Equinox is brought in. The key to a consistent layout is to place it in a room where the temperature and humidity fluctuate as little as possible. I personally would never consider putting one in a garage for the reasons above...unless I was going to seal my garage door off and outfit it with an HVAC unit. But...I live in OH and 1) I like bringing my car into the garage so that I don't have to scrape the snow off of it in the winter and 2) have a place to store my lawn mower and yard tool throughout the year. Tom
Two come immediately to mind but they are somewhat contingent on where you live:
The key to a consistent layout is to place it in a room where the temperature and humidity fluctuate as little as possible. I personally would never consider putting one in a garage for the reasons above...unless I was going to seal my garage door off and outfit it with an HVAC unit. But...I live in OH and 1) I like bringing my car into the garage so that I don't have to scrape the snow off of it in the winter and 2) have a place to store my lawn mower and yard tool throughout the year.
Tom
Well be moving to Southern Wisconsin so cold winters and hot summers. I'm still going to attempt it. Just with caution!
Living the dream.
John-NYBW Since you are renting, I would build it in sections so it will be easy to move when you decide to. It's probably going to be a switching layout unless you can find space for return loops at either end to allow continuous running. One way to lengthen it would be a series of switchbacks which would allow you to run the entire length of the layout several times while also gaining elevation.
Since you are renting, I would build it in sections so it will be easy to move when you decide to.
It's probably going to be a switching layout unless you can find space for return loops at either end to allow continuous running.
One way to lengthen it would be a series of switchbacks which would allow you to run the entire length of the layout several times while also gaining elevation.
Was going to make it an L shape switching layout with one end a lumber yard and one end my bakery. Pretty much the same layout I have now, just bigger
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
With the addition of the family still cooking in the oven, we found a 2 bed apatment with an attatched 1 1/2 car garage that is pretty long. The Girlfriends equinox will be parked in there but that still leaves me a ton of room to make an L shapped layout.
What types of considerations should I take into account when making the new layout? I believe it is insulated but I would not store any engines or my power cab out there except for running them.