Here is what I came up with so far. See if these is a good plan?? The platform is 15x8 with a cut 3x4 which is cut in half diagionally to a triangle. This is the biggest platform my basement will fit. I have a TV and PC in my basement as well....So, I kinda have to accomidate for all that. Overhead lighting is nice though in my basement. Let me know what you think. The white paper cut outs are the accessories I plan to lay in there places. Exact base measurements of the accessories I have... too many is list...Over 25 of them. 32 switches and I need I think 15 UCS sections. Need to buy 4 more of those with controllers. I will have 1 main line, gang car line, not pictured, and an elevated train, not pictured. Just the main line is pictured with all switches. Will need some custom cut straights, gaps in track as pictured, did not cut anything yet. Thanks.
Pictures:
1: Overview of the layout plan. I think only (3) 8x4 are pictured, could not fit the rest in 1 pic.
2: Overview of the 3x4 section of platform.
3: Overview of the top sides of the 2 side by side 8x4's.
4: Overview of where the (2) side by side 8x4's join the other 8x4.
5: Another Overview as picture #1.
6: 8x4 on the right side back of pic #1, nearest the TV stand.
7: Little bit closer on that same 8x4 on right side of pic #1.
8 to 11: Pictures of accessories on the layout. Various Points on layout.
Thanks for looking and hope you have any ideas!!
You did not clarify if this is a floor layout, but referred to a platform. I see access as a real issue. You might want to shrink the footprint.and bring the loops closer -parallel perhaps ( at arms reach from the platform edge). , or, at minimum, keep switches within reach. Access hatches might be tight as a alternative, as remember you still need to have an arms reach from them.
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
This going to go up on legs. I had to lay it on the floor, just so I can gain access to all points on layout easier. Where the layout is on the floor will not be where it is going to be in my basement. I have to move somethings around. But, when Christmas comes I will post more pictures of where it will actually be. I will have all switches wired to fixed voltage with controllers, so reaching them is no big deal. I have gone over all my 022 switches and they work 100% perfect, even all the non-derailing features. That is true about arms reach. I think thats why I have all accessies within arms reach, for adjustments and what not. As far as loco's parked in freight yards, I just use a yard stick to flip the e-unit lever to lock and unlock them into position. The loco's with levers underneath, I park them within arms reach. But, with that one 3x4 cut into a triangle, I have a wierd angle near the edge. When I place switches there, they do not present parallel lines of track, might have to fix that. Thanks for the input. Anymore input is great!!
Enlarge the basement?
No can do. As there is a code I must follow, that says that the original foundation cannot be enlarged where I live. If there was no such rule. I would enlarge my basement. I have a finished bathroom in the basement, that takes up a lot of the space, plus there is Paint room, where I store all my paints and such. And the laundry room as well is in the basement. Used to be one open space, never thought I would get into trains. Oh well, not much I can do now. The main part is roughly 25x12. So, a 15x8 layout is fit into that space. Done it before, But, I did add 3 more square feet of tabletop. Just have to rearrange somethings. No problem. But, I wish I had a ranch house or something with a bigger basement.
I like it, one thing for sure, lots and lots of switching capabilities. Should be a fun layout for operation.
Bill T.
I think your situation cries out for an around-the-walls layout. This would solve the access problem and give you the longest possible runs. Depending on where your stairs are located, you might be able to complete a loop or two behind the stairs, making any kind of lift-out bridge unnecessary. (If not, you could put a loop at each end of a C-shaped layout.) Make the layout height close to 4 feet and you can probably tuck other basement features, like the TV and the computer, under the layout.
Bob Nelson
A couple of thoughts. First, even with turnouts (switches) working at 100%, Murphy's Law dictates that the train will derail at the most inaccessible place on the layout. All areas should be able to be reached from either an end or an access hatch...this allows for better scenic work too.
Second, you have a lot of track there. If your main thought is to have as much track and options for running your trains, it looks good. If you have any thought of placing scenery, it would be quite limiting. In that case, you would be better off with less track and more room for scenes.
Lastly, it helps to have a "Theme", or plan to your accessory placement. Where are you taking the logs from the log loader? Are they going to a saw mill? What about coal, do you have a loading area for your steamers near the yard? That type of function to the layout.
Good luck. It is your layout, do it the way you want and enjoy it!Dennis
TCA#09-63805
I cannot do a around the walls layout. I have access panels, such as the fuse box, main water valve, basement door to garage, door to back yard. The TV and PC are in the basement. Stairwell goes right down the middle of my basement, with bathroom below the stairs and to the back wall. Is that a joke? Put the TV and PC under the layout?? Humm...then I wont be able to get on here and ask questions..lol...Oh well. Thanks for the input. Will have to pass on that idea. My basement can only fit a rectangular layout, to maximize square footage of layout. May not be the best idea, but, its what I have to work with. I think It was 116 sq. ft total.
Yeah, I agree with you on that. Trains always find a way to derail where you cannot reach them. You would figure, I could only reach maybe 3 and a half feet across the layout at any point around the perimeter. The middle of the layout, that 2 feet span, I cannot reach. I do not have any accessories within that span. Yes, I have a lot of track. Not too big into scenery, I only have about 12 to 15 plasticville buildings. Will worry about those in the end. Oh, I see what you mean...Try to make it all flow, have destinations and such. I have a little bit of flow I guess, the log accessories are close to each other, as are the coal ones. Maybe I should try something else on RRTRACK. We'll see!! thanks for the input, great insight!!
Not a joke. I have a desk and a workbench halfway under my layout. The CRT computer monitor (when I had one) lived entirely under the layout. I also have bookcases, tool storage, cabinets, and so on, completely under the layout, flush with the inside edge. You seem to have a couple of doors more than most basements, which is a bit of a show-stopper.
lionel 2 - your layout packs a lot of action into a relatively small area. The problem is you have no access to the inner most areas of the layout, and it appears this is going to be against a wall? If so you aren't going to be able to access 95% of the layout from the 3 edges. Which means you are going to be doing a lot of crawling on the surface which leads to - broken switches and damaged track - which leads to more crawling on the surface.You will be MUCH happier if you provide ample access panels so you can crawl UNDER the layout to the access panel, then up through the hole to access the layout. The panels could be made in such a way that you could still have track or buildings on the panel... you just have to modify the track so the rails can slip over the pins... takes a bit of work to get it right, but in the long run you will be happier.
It will be against one wall, a stretch of about 7 feet down one of the 8x4's. The one with no accessories on it. The rest of the perimeter can be accessed within arms reach, 3 and a half feet into the layout. There will be about 22 to about 24 sq. ft that I cannot reach. Out of 116 total sq. ft. 80% within arms reach, the other 20% I cannot reach, thus have no accessories in that area. Just switches, that I hope will hold up. Access panel will eliminate portions of my layout. I need the room to fit everything or most of what I have. I can crawl under the layout no problem, to fix wiring and such. I used to have an access panel on my old layout, did not look so good with a big hole in the middle of the layout. The access panel would have to be pretty big for me to fit up into it. I will look into the idea of the access panel, go to think where to put it. Thanks for the help.
Have you considered putting the layout on casters? You would only need directional casters, just make sure they are all pointing the same direction. You could then pull the layout out from the wall to get to what you can't reach otherwise.Something like this - http://www.bastiansolutions.com/equipment/item.aspx/COLSON_4%7C04108%7C339Since you are making the base and legs strong enough for you to crawl on, you could beef up the legs by doubling 2x4s and that would give you enough space to mount the casters.I would also recommend getting the casters that would be along the outer edge with locks on them.
Never thought of that. Like a layout on wheels. What kinid of casters would you recommend?? Metal or plastic? I will look into it. Thanks.
lionel2,
I used casters on my garage layout and they worked out great. I had casters on all six legs with two of them having locks. I do not remember the specific brand but they were not very fancy. I made sure they were able to support the weight of the layout and I purchased them from Lowe's. I have a thread of my layout titled Benchwork/Layout Update (http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/174104.aspx) where you can see what I did.
Joe
Joe - I don't think the casters you used are rated high enough for his application.lionel2 - I provided a link to the ones I would use for your application in my post. http://www.bastiansolutions.com/equipment/item.aspx/COLSON_4%7C04108%7C339It looked like you were puting this on carpet, so that is why I recommend the 4" diameter by 2" wide caster - that should have no problem rolling on carpet. The roller bearing will provide nice smooth rolling as well.
Hello, My layout has 14 legs total. They are 2x4's about 32 or 36 inches High...I would have to check. I do have thick carpet in the basement. The casters would have to be pretty good ones. To support the weight of all my track, switches, and accessories. And dont forget the locomotives and cars. You think 100 lbs rated casters are good enough per leg?? Spread that out over 14 legs, thats 1,400 lbs. Good enough? I seen the casters at Home depot. I am not looking for something too pricy. If I can get each for around 6 to 10 bucks, I will be happy. I plan on putting the layout together section by section. And predrilling section by section. Not just put all the boards together and put the legs on and then lay track and switches. I have to screw down the track, and like you all said some areas will be hard to get at. So, I will do one 8x4 at a time and work my way down. Drilling as I go along and wiring up as well. thanks.
lionel2 - don't look simply at the load rating, you need to look at the size of the wheel. The smaller wheels will not roll easily on carpet, plus they probably do not have roller bearings for smoother operation. You want a rigid bearing, not one that rotates, this will make it easier to control the layout movement while rolling. Not knowing how many legs you would have I went with something in the mid-price range.These may be more economical for youhttp://www.bastiansolutions.com/equipment/item.aspx/COLSON_2%7C03308%7C92
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