Building a Shelf Layout

[Anonymous]

Tom,

I'd love to see some pics. my email is wknox at nauticom.net.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Tom,

I'd love to see some pics. my email is wknox at nauticom.net.

Thanks!

[tschmidt]

We were putting in a family room (18x18) and wanted to incorporate the trains (O gauge) is some way. I was able to build a 6" shelf around 3 of the walls and a 20" deep bookcase on the 4th wall. This allows for 3 or 4 tracks across the top of the bookshelf. There were 2 tricky parts. The first was a staircase coming into the room. We cut a hole through the side of a riser along the wall and it made a great tunnel entrance. Where we crossed a doorway a fold down shelf/bridge was built that alligns the track perfectly every time. All my wiring and power was able to be hidden from sight.

I used Gargraves track and Ross switches. By using TMCC I have no power packs or controllers out in the open. It is extremely sturdy. I used a 6" triangle shaped piece of wood at every stud to support the shelf. I found these pre-cut at Home Depot.

On the walls I used shelving from Glenn Snyder display systems out of Buffalo. It's aluminum and strong. I put 12' of trains on each shelf and it holds them easily. It is not very expensive either.

By doing it this way we were able to have our family room and trains all in the same place. It turned out great and looks pretty good too. If anyone is interested in a pictures I'd be happy to take some and email them to you. Contact me if you want more info.

Tom

[tschmidt]

We were putting in a family room (18x18) and wanted to incorporate the trains (O gauge) is some way. I was able to build a 6" shelf around 3 of the walls and a 20" deep bookcase on the 4th wall. This allows for 3 or 4 tracks across the top of the bookshelf. There were 2 tricky parts. The first was a staircase coming into the room. We cut a hole through the side of a riser along the wall and it made a great tunnel entrance. Where we crossed a doorway a fold down shelf/bridge was built that alligns the track perfectly every time. All my wiring and power was able to be hidden from sight.

I used Gargraves track and Ross switches. By using TMCC I have no power packs or controllers out in the open. It is extremely sturdy. I used a 6" triangle shaped piece of wood at every stud to support the shelf. I found these pre-cut at Home Depot.

On the walls I used shelving from Glenn Snyder display systems out of Buffalo. It's aluminum and strong. I put 12' of trains on each shelf and it holds them easily. It is not very expensive either.

By doing it this way we were able to have our family room and trains all in the same place. It turned out great and looks pretty good too. If anyone is interested in a pictures I'd be happy to take some and email them to you. Contact me if you want more info.

Tom

[Anonymous]

I agree with all and would add a few more. The train shelf in my office sits above the doorways so it takes up NO ROOM, which is my biggest problem for O gauge layouts. If you use nice wood and match the room, it also looks very nice in the room as opposed to my former large monstrosity in the basement.
I am also able to indulge in some basic landscaping in the corners and along the rails with street lights and buildings, etc. Its a great way to display the trains, and I love it so far.

[Anonymous]

I agree with all and would add a few more. The train shelf in my office sits above the doorways so it takes up NO ROOM, which is my biggest problem for O gauge layouts. If you use nice wood and match the room, it also looks very nice in the room as opposed to my former large monstrosity in the basement.
I am also able to indulge in some basic landscaping in the corners and along the rails with street lights and buildings, etc. Its a great way to display the trains, and I love it so far.

[FJ and G]

BTW, I'm preparing to start a narrow shelf layout for my 3-rail trains. Here are some advantages of narrow shelf layouts (less than 3 feet wide):

1. The rest of the basement can have multi-uses such as pool table, TV room, bar etc

2. Easy to reach the trains for derailments, uncoupling, etc.

3. Easy to paint backdrop even after layout is done

4. Easy to reach wiring and under layout problems or fixes

5. MUCH better to see the trains up close

6. Allows longer runs (vice shorter runs with islands‚

7. Allows future expansion possibilities with peninsulas

8. Construction much easier and less materials if using steel brackets

9. Flexibility in going from room to room (just punch hole in drywall

10. Gentler curves instead of round and round and round and round a circle of track on an island

[FJ and G]

BTW, I'm preparing to start a narrow shelf layout for my 3-rail trains. Here are some advantages of narrow shelf layouts (less than 3 feet wide):

1. The rest of the basement can have multi-uses such as pool table, TV room, bar etc

2. Easy to reach the trains for derailments, uncoupling, etc.

3. Easy to paint backdrop even after layout is done

4. Easy to reach wiring and under layout problems or fixes

5. MUCH better to see the trains up close

6. Allows longer runs (vice shorter runs with islands‚

7. Allows future expansion possibilities with peninsulas

8. Construction much easier and less materials if using steel brackets

9. Flexibility in going from room to room (just punch hole in drywall

10. Gentler curves instead of round and round and round and round a circle of track on an island

[FJ and G]

SotaBoy,

I have experience building an office shelf layout.

Go to page 1 here:

http://davidvergun.tripod.com/

If the site is down, it will be up in about another hour.

I use shelving from homedepot and styrofoam (construction variety that's at least 4 inches thick). No plywood or wood of any type is used.

I pretty much run trains at work whenever I feel like it as I don't have one of those bosses from hell.

I've got a ton of other tips if anyone is interested.

Dave Vergun

[FJ and G]

SotaBoy,

I have experience building an office shelf layout.

Go to page 1 here:

http://davidvergun.tripod.com/

If the site is down, it will be up in about another hour.

I use shelving from homedepot and styrofoam (construction variety that's at least 4 inches thick). No plywood or wood of any type is used.

I pretty much run trains at work whenever I feel like it as I don't have one of those bosses from hell.

I've got a ton of other tips if anyone is interested.

Dave Vergun

[dougdagrump]

jodo, sent you an e-mail.

[dougdagrump]

jodo, sent you an e-mail.

[Anonymous]

hey dougdagrump, i'm new to this website, but i was looking to build a shelf up near the ceiling in my kids room for their train. i saw your email and would be interested in seeing pictures of your layout and any help you can give me thanks krausett

[Anonymous]

hey dougdagrump, i'm new to this website, but i was looking to build a shelf up near the ceiling in my kids room for their train. i saw your email and would be interested in seeing pictures of your layout and any help you can give me thanks krausett

[dougdagrump]

kckc61, you've got mail.

[dougdagrump]

kckc61, you've got mail.

[Anonymous]

Hi ;;Sorry this is new to me,,I would like Dougdagrump to e-mail some pics if possible or any other folks that have good ideas, Thanks,Kckc61,, [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Hi ;;Sorry this is new to me,,I would like Dougdagrump to e-mail some pics if possible or any other folks that have good ideas, Thanks,Kckc61,, [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

kckc61, To whom do you wi***o have e-mail you. include screen name addresse.

carpenter matt

[Anonymous]

kckc61, To whom do you wi***o have e-mail you. include screen name addresse.

carpenter matt

[Anonymous]

Dougdagrump; Your shelf system sounds nice and do-able.,If possible could you e-mail me some pictures also. Thanks, kckc61 [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Dougdagrump; Your shelf system sounds nice and do-able.,If possible could you e-mail me some pictures also. Thanks, kckc61 [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

I can't remember who said the garage floor layout, but I will add to it. Take a framing square or carpenters square check all of your corners, rooms are seldom perfectly square due to drywall tape joints in corners. make notes and take wall lengh measurements and then snap chalk lines on the floor then all pieces can be cut to fit according to the lines. I myself would recomend using 3/4 inch plywood with a solid wood nosing an 1 1/4 and step it above the plywood. bottom of nosing flush with bottom of plywood. then you copuld infill the top with 1/2 inch homasote for noise reduction. Home depot/lowes sells reasonbly priced decrative shelf brackets(wood). I am in the process of building mine, I plan to radius the front of a would be triangle to flow into the dimension of the wall shelves. I wil also cut buiding kits so projection is only an inch or more to add depth.

Carpenter Matt

[Anonymous]

I can't remember who said the garage floor layout, but I will add to it. Take a framing square or carpenters square check all of your corners, rooms are seldom perfectly square due to drywall tape joints in corners. make notes and take wall lengh measurements and then snap chalk lines on the floor then all pieces can be cut to fit according to the lines. I myself would recomend using 3/4 inch plywood with a solid wood nosing an 1 1/4 and step it above the plywood. bottom of nosing flush with bottom of plywood. then you copuld infill the top with 1/2 inch homasote for noise reduction. Home depot/lowes sells reasonbly priced decrative shelf brackets(wood). I am in the process of building mine, I plan to radius the front of a would be triangle to flow into the dimension of the wall shelves. I wil also cut buiding kits so projection is only an inch or more to add depth.

Carpenter Matt

[Anonymous]

I just finished a suspended layout in the bonus room over my garage. I suspended it from the sloped ceiling with 5/16 all thread and then also suspended display boards under it for some of the excess trains (no such thing) also put plexiglass guardrails about 2 inches high on the curves. the first section is 7 x 24 ..And when expanded later this year it will be 7 x 45. I made it 10 in. wide to run 2 trains at once. The wood is 3/4 fir plywood . if anyone wants pictures let me know.

[Anonymous]

I just finished a suspended layout in the bonus room over my garage. I suspended it from the sloped ceiling with 5/16 all thread and then also suspended display boards under it for some of the excess trains (no such thing) also put plexiglass guardrails about 2 inches high on the curves. the first section is 7 x 24 ..And when expanded later this year it will be 7 x 45. I made it 10 in. wide to run 2 trains at once. The wood is 3/4 fir plywood . if anyone wants pictures let me know.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad you told me that. At tims it looks relatively easy, but Its one of those projects that look like if you make a mistake, it will be compounded over and over, so the garage / basement idea is perfect. What is the woodland scenics track bed? From your pics it just looks like you laid down O track on the plywood. I'll do a search and see if I can locate what that is.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad you told me that. At tims it looks relatively easy, but Its one of those projects that look like if you make a mistake, it will be compounded over and over, so the garage / basement idea is perfect. What is the woodland scenics track bed? From your pics it just looks like you laid down O track on the plywood. I'll do a search and see if I can locate what that is.

[dougdagrump]

One more suggestion, I used "O" track with Woodland Scenics Track Bed. You might try the Super "O" with the plastic ties or maybe even the Super Snap Track. They might be better at reducing the volume of noise, its not bad now but might be even more enjoyable if a little quieter.
One other suggestion, which I wish I had done, take the dimensions of the room and lay them out on the floor of the garage/basement where you will be doing the fabrication. That way you can lay out everything and make any necessary adjustments before you start assembly on the walls, believe me you will get pretty tired pretty quick of going up and down that blankety blank step ladder.

[dougdagrump]

One more suggestion, I used "O" track with Woodland Scenics Track Bed. You might try the Super "O" with the plastic ties or maybe even the Super Snap Track. They might be better at reducing the volume of noise, its not bad now but might be even more enjoyable if a little quieter.
One other suggestion, which I wish I had done, take the dimensions of the room and lay them out on the floor of the garage/basement where you will be doing the fabrication. That way you can lay out everything and make any necessary adjustments before you start assembly on the walls, believe me you will get pretty tired pretty quick of going up and down that blankety blank step ladder.