what height should my table be?

[BR60103]

Height is subjective. I ran on one layout whose owner was several inches taller than me (and I'm 6 feet). He built one yard so high that he could see to operate it but I had to get a stool.
And your layout may not be one height -- it could climb and dip.

[jrbernier]

My first HO layout was 42" high, because that is what several MR articles said! Of course that was back in the 60's. The present layout has the benchwork set at 45", with the track set between 48" and 54". This is great for viewing, but the upper areas do need a step stool when working on the layout. The layout is usually 24"-30" wide for the most part(the loops at the ends are about 6' wide). If I ever build a new layout, I will still use these elevations(I am 5' 8" tall). And being 55 years old, I will never ever think about a duck under design!

Jim Bernier

[mondotrains]

Hi,
My first major layout (about 13' by 16') was built, modifying one of the Atlas track designs and was 38" high. I got a backache working on it because it was so low. However, as another fella mentioned above, I was able to sit in a chair and watch the trains go around the whole layout.

Fast forward to after I met some experienced model railroaders, who helped me scrap my "toy-like" layout and build one with staging and no round-and-round features like those found in the Atlas track plans. While my new layout is much more suited to operation and the height is now 53", I do miss being able to sit in that chair and watch the trains go around-and-around.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you want to walk around with your trains and operate like a real railroad, you'll probably want to have the benchwork high....maybe 53" so you can watch the trains at eye level. However, if you'd rather just sit and watch them roll, then make it lower.....maybe 38".

Hope this helps.
Mondo

[retsignalmtr]

my n scale modular layout is 38" off the floor and i feel that i would like to have it about 50" from the floor. but structural problems (windows) forced me to use the lower height. the around the walls layout would block several windows at 50". and it sits on a shelf on the block foundation of my home so it dosen't need support from below making construction easier.

[IRONROOSTER]

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianiu

Just throwing this out there - does anyone know of a layout that can have an adjustable height? I've seen benchwork incorporating that at various trade shows, but have never heard of someone actually incorporating it.

Yes, one of the mags, I think it was MR ran an article about a layout that is in a three car garage with wires, pulleys and weights so it could be raised out of the way for cars. But they could also lower it to any height they wanted.

As others have pointed out, there is no perfect height, just as with scales, you have to pick the one that works best for you. Higher layouts favor under the table work, duckunders, and better viewing angles for walk arounds; lower heights favor above table construction/maintenance, seated operation, and kids. One of the great things about this hobby is that there are many ways to do everything.

Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

Just throwing this out there - does anyone know of a layout that can have an adjustable height? I've seen benchwork incorporating that at various trade shows, but have never heard of someone actually incorporating it.

[Anonymous]

I'm six feet tall exactly, and I built my table 38 inches high which is just right for me. I can sit in my desk chair (which I've had to lower) and put my cars on the tracks without having to stand.

[dave9999]

I built mine at 48", simply because I have to duck under. BUT, mine is around the walls.
If you are building a table... say 4'x8', it will probably be difficult to reach all areas
without standing on something.
Good luck, Dave

[selector]

Depends on how you want to view....AND HANDLE...your trains and layout.

As a general guideline, the older you are, the higher the layout. This is so that if you need to get under it to fix wiring, pop up in the middle to get a derailed item back on the tracks, or to repair a bad electrical connection between sections of track, you don't have to test your agility bending over, or crawling on your hands and knees!

As stated by the other gentlemen, most make a mistake of putting the main rail line too close to the ground. It should be somewhere near your sternum, the bony bump about four inches above your navel where your ribs meet.

Another mistake, and I hope I'm not wasting your time here, is to not have ease of access to the whole length of your rails. Things will go wrong, and you will regret not building in easy access, whether a hidden pop-up hole near the middle, or configuring your entire layout so that you can walk around it and reach every inch of track from all sides.

[Anonymous]

The height of your table should be at what your comfortable working at. High enough you can work under it for wirring and low enough so you can see your trains.

[countershot]

what height should my table be?