Total Newb Questions- Want to build a 'round the room (ceiling) layout

[Anonymous]

Hey there-
I need another hobby like I need a hole in the head, but here we go... I did sort of have a model train set when I was a kid. My father got me a HO scale train when I was seven or eight...but I never really got any kind of installation going... I even have some of the pieces intact 26 years later...

Anyway, now I have a two and a half year old who loves trains...=)
He has most of the different Thomas variations and I am going broke putting batteries in some of em!
So his grandfather has offered to help finance an electric setup for his room...
I know he is much too young to have any hands on play with the track and all and space is an issue ...so my plan is to do a layout around the ceiling basically--

The room is maybe 12X16 (total guess)
Has anyone seen anything like this done before?...would love to see pics or hear ideas...

I am looking at the Bachmann HO scale Thomas maybe at first...
I really and a complete newb at this though and have no idea if something like this ( http://www.rrgifts.com/product.asp?number=BCM00644 ) would work.

Do you need more power the longer the track?
Do you think the above mentioned set would work on such a large layout?
The controller looks really simple...do you think having my son control basic funtions like direction and on/off speed is kosher?

ok... thats enough for now.
thanks!!

[Anonymous]

Howdy,
Well i don't know if this is any help to you, but i'm buliding a below the ceiling railroad
in my family room. The room is 12x14, that is where the layout will be. I'm making it look like a book shelf using oak boards and oak veneer playwood. The layout is a little bit more than a foot from the ceiling. I like big steamers so my cruves are 33.5 radius, which doesn't leave much room for striaght track, about 8ft on 2 walls and 6ft on the other 2.I'm having alot of fun building it and the wife can't wait to run it,lol.
need more info, write me. My name is Doug and i'm from MN. [e-mail]

[lionelsoni]

This topic comes up frequently. I suggest that you try searching for words like "shelf", "suspended", "ceiling", etc.

The power needed does not depend on the length of the track.

Unless you can limit the speed, a 2-year old can easily cause a derailment, and maybe a disaster at that height. There are discussions on this too

Finally, you might get better advice on an HO layout on the Model Railroader forum. Folks here are generally interested in Lionel and American Flyer style trains.

[dougdagrump]

[#ditto] to what Bob said.
The only thing about doing an HO on the walls just below the ceiling is visibility. They might be seen but detail would be almost non-existent.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Guys... I will check over there...
Doug I sent ya an email.

[Anonymous]

One more tip from this forum, RE: POWER.

You do not need MORE power for longer trackl but it sure helps keep things running at a constant speed if you feed the power you have to more than one place on the RR line.
For a room that size I'd be inclined to feed it once, in th middle or as near as possible on each of the four sides. That way, about the time voltage loss due to poor transmission thru the rails reallky affects train speed, the train will be getting nearer to another feed point.

WATCH OUT FOR POLARITY with HO or any Two Track Direct Current system. Make sure you feed the same terminal of the power pack to the same rail at each feed point.

Ho sets weigh very little so you can literally support this thing on 1 x 3 strapping (DO fasten the rails to that well) and shelf brackets so you don't do a lot of wall damage.

The narrow 1 x 3 also helps solve the visibility of trains from the floor problem cited by doug da grump.

Hope your little guy really enjoys it and gets hooked on this wonderful hobby. My 36 year old son and I are "Building The Dream" that we barely dared dream 25 years ago when the LR&H was "in the flat" and nearly totally un-scenic. And waiting for his 3 year old little guy to be ready to play with it. He too has about "everything Thomas" and loves trains already.

Joe

[Anonymous]

I have my lionel on a ceiling layout, 42" dia curves, I just used shelf brackets mounted to the wall studs and 1 x 6 pine planks, then I stained it all to match the woodwork in that room, the section that crosses over from one wall to the other is like a giant suspension bridge as we have cathredial ceilings. I can send you some pictures If you would like. I have put my HO trains up there and it just doenst look right, too small and hard to see, Lionel or LGB trains work best on an overhead layout. Cheers Mike

[Anonymous]

Hey Guys
Thanks for all the replies. You guys are really welcoming and helpful is spite of my Newbishness.
I think we are gonna go for it. I hear ya about visibility but I really like the HO scale best for some reason. I am sorta worried about track cleaning, but we'll cross that bridge...

What detemines the maximum pitch or grade I can do with my track? I would love to be able to dip the layout down on at least the one blank wall (no windows or doorways.)

thanks!