I have been reading a number of posts this morning where our fellow modelers are down on their luck, out of work, limited funds, medical issues. I feel so bad for all of this guys and wish them well.
I also read about another of modelers who are interested in building small layouts either because they only have limited space or are short of funds to go larger.
I thought I would do my part to cheer everyone up with an upbeat question.
What would you do if you had virtually unlimited space, say a space measuring 100' x 100', unlimited funds, and the time to build and landscape a huge layout? What would you do? What would you model? How would you landscape it?
Rich
Alton Junction
With those conditions I think I'd start a round robin club to get some help building. My understanding is that many large layouts aren't done by the owner alone but with the help of friends.
Springfield PA
Hamltnblue With those conditions I think I'd start a round robin club to get some help building. My understanding is that many large layouts aren't done by the owner alone but with the help of friends.
C,mon Blue,
You can do better than that. What would you do with a huge space, unlimited funds and time to spare?
Are we talking about Timboy again? I thought he'd been banished to the "other" forum.
But to answer your question directly, I would do something very similar to what he's up to with his new layout. I'd build a layout where the scenery dwarfed the trains. A simple track plan, but with a long enough mainline that it actually took the train an appreciable amount of time to get from point A to point B. And most of that time spent running through open country. Hey, I'm a Midwesterner, and that's how our trains roll....
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
To be honest, I wouldn't. My dream layout space is 24ft x 20ft, and I'm not sure that wouldn't be too much. There's too much more to life than model railroading. I guess I'm a dabbler at heart.
The time to build and landscape a large layout is one thing. Time to maintain it is another. All the great home layouts require substantial work by the owner prior to the scheduled operating sessions. John Allen reportedly wondered at times if his layout was too big for him to keep up with - and he had both time and money.
Linn Westcott once postulated in an editorial that limiting a home layout to less than 20 turnouts - his measure of layout complexity - kept it manageable over the long term. While I think double that number could be managed in this era of RTR, the number of turnouts is a good measure of layout complexity. When my dreams start to get too big, I re-read that editorial.
Bottom line is that I would probably get bored creating forest for thousands of square feet of scenery, or bored laying thousands of feet of track. I would certainly get bored with wiring the beast - even with DCC and its feeders. Acquiring the car and locomotive rosters would likely get tiresome and lose it's sparkle after the first 50 or so locomotives or 100+ cars.
Perhaps if it were kept very simple, with my 24 x 20 track plan stretched into the space, and a way was invented to quickly scenic long stretches of single track.....
I'm just not cut out to be a big layout person.
Fred W
stebbycentral Are we talking about Timboy again? I thought he'd been banished to the "other" forum. But to answer your question directly, I would do something very similar to what he's up to with his new layout. I'd build a layout where the scenery dwarfed the trains. A simple track plan, but with a long enough mainline that it actually took the train an appreciable amount of time to get from point A to point B. And most of that time spent running through open country. Hey, I'm a Midwesterner, and that's how our trains roll....
LOL.
You are correct, stebby, the forum administrators did, indeed, banish Timboy from all forums except the Toy Trains forum. Nobody here on this forum cared one hoot for his toy train fetish. But, having said that, it may be worth a moment of everyone's time to take a peek at the CTT forum and Tim's related blog to see what he is up to. Pretty nice even though it is S scale.
richhotrain What would you do if you had virtually unlimited space, say a space measuring 100' x 100', unlimited funds, and the time to build and landscape a huge layout? What would you do? What would you model? How would you landscape it?
I think I would have liked a fairly long (and not very deep) walk-in and walk-along layout, where trains run along both sides of peninsulas, maybe in a mushroom type design, mostly single track line with passing sidings for 20-30 car trains.
A smaller railroad or not so busy division of a bigger railroad in the midwest in the late 1940s or early 1950s - some lumber, some ore, mostly 40-foot boxcars, early diesels, some 2-8-0 steam engines, cabooses, maybe half a dozen or so small towns and industries, spaced 5-10 typical train lengths apart, a couple of interchange locations, a bigger (say 15-20 foot long) urban area at one end of the layout, with a car ferry across the great lakes at the end of the layout.
Maybe a yard or two - no bigger than 4-5 tracks, an engine service facility at one end of the line and maybe a small a turntable or turning wye at one or two other locations.
Enough double ended staging so an operating group of 4-6 people could running maybe 10-15 trains during a three-four hour session (or a single operator could run a train schedule sequentially).
A chance both to run trains over the road, and do some switching.
Not gonna happen, but you asked for dreams, didn't you? :-)
Grin, Stein, heading back to the honey-do task of dismantling the kid's trampoline for the winter
Sweet dreams!
Even with that much space available, unlimited funds & the time to build it, I would not touch a layout of such a size, because I would never be able to come anywhere near to running a train in a time span in which I´d feel comfortable. I´d like to build a layout for my own fun and entertainment, not for my yet unborn grandchildren!
Make the room a little smaller, add a friend or two to help me build it, and the Lakeside Lines RR featured in the November issue of MR comes very close to what I would call a dream layout.
richhotrain Hamltnblue: With those conditions I think I'd start a round robin club to get some help building. My understanding is that many large layouts aren't done by the owner alone but with the help of friends. C,mon Blue, You can do better than that. What would you do with a huge space, unlimited funds and time to spare? Rich
Hamltnblue: With those conditions I think I'd start a round robin club to get some help building. My understanding is that many large layouts aren't done by the owner alone but with the help of friends.
LOL. Actually If I had unlimited funds I'd have a large layout built by one or more reputable builders.
Yes, I know that would make me a "Non model railroader" in some peoples eyes but I'd use my time for other things and simply enjoy a large layout completed or at least close .
You know, in thinking it over I don't knwo that I'd WANT to attempt something so large. It's too much for one person to build by themselves (well, maybe if I had started at 16 and kept the same focus my entire life..). But as soon as you get other peopel involved you end up doing too much people management. Even if you have all the money and this is YOUR layout 100% paid for with your sudden fortune (and not a club where everyone contributes and needs to be accomodated), there's still much to do in keeping everyone's focus on YOUR vision for YOUR layout - after a while it wouldn't be any fun anymore and the project would slowly die off and never be completed.
As for having a custom builder do it, even if I had all the money in the world I don't think I'd want to do that. I have too much fun building. And to have them only 'mostly' finish it, that leaves pretty much just the part I am least skilled at and least inclined to finish - the scenery.
I don't doubt that if you're honest with yourself, we've ALL had dreams of a monster size layout. How practical that is ends up being another matter. I think the more you lean towards prototypical accuracy (be it replicating an actual railroad or proto-freelancing), the less practical that monster dream layout becomes.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I have to agree with Fred above. That much layout would start to be a job not a hobby.
I am getting ready to start building my "big" layout in my basement in S scale. I'll be using about 850 sq ft. One goal is to limit the turnout count to 75. Rolling stock is estimated to be about 150 cars max and locomotives about 14 max, although the layout should be operable with half that. By keeping the aisles to 3 ft or greater the amount of layout surface to be scenic will reduced.
One concern I have is that it might still be too big. I plan to start at one terminal and build toward the the other. If it gets too big before I'm finished, I put in a return loop for the second terminal.
Enjoy
Paul
I think if I had a space that big, I would like to open it up to everyone, but I would especially welcome people who through no fault of their own have neither the space or the funds to get into or back into the hobby.
If they were willing to contribute their time and fellowship in a positive cooperative manner they would be most welcome.
There are people able to build and design a MRR better than I ever could and I would love to have imput from people like that.
My only condition of supplying the space and material would be that it has to be based on the Canadian Pacific in Western Canada and have big Mountains. I would love to see it come together. Now where's that lottery ticket?
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Ya know, I just posted in the thread, "What a year Makes" and yeah, it is more of a sad thread, most people, it seems, have lost, rather than gained.
Good thread, and I will bite! I could use a smile.
I dunno know about 100x100 but I would have a ball with it. But just for giggles, I got a really big honking building. I do admit, I like the idea of making big enough for freinds to come over and enjoy, That much, you almost have to share the love..... so...
1) With a room that big, dont need it all for the layout. I would have a area for sweet work shop to do my work, cut down on dust, paint fumes etc. Have a "crew area" to relax. A section to store supplies, kits and another for my train cars and power to display/store. I would also build out a section that had huge shelves, sorta of like a locker room so freinds could keep there power and rolling stock there in the building.
2) I would have some big yards to operate out of and I would have a ball designing just long main line runs where you could watch multi-powere, 50+ car trains open up and run the country side. There would be a lot of operating with industires and with that much room, I would model some in full size such as a steel mill, refinery, a couple of the big mid-west grain silo terminals and a container yard.
3) I would also have the layout set so I could work my two eras. (I love it all, I cant commit) One side, the late 70's to modern day and the other, transistion era. Layout would be big enough that you would have plenty of room to design towns and operations in the right era and seperate them with the long runs through the countryside. And oh yeah, I would have some floor to ceiling mountains too!
Ahhh... Happy thoughts!
Best Regards, Big John
Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway
I agree with Brent, CP Rail, Western Canada, but with small towns no large cities, and big mountains and tunnels. Transition era to run both steam and diesel. Freight and passenger service. Maybe even add a narrow gauge line in as well or "adjust" portions of prototypical lines to narrow gauge.
If you cannot fix it with a hammer;
You have an electrical problem!
Well, with unlimited funds, and since I am retired, I would hire one or two of the layout building companies to do it for me. And since I have been in model railroading for 40 years and have built a few layouts, I would design a walk-around layout that went from the water to the mountains. I would design it primarily for operations and invite other modelers to help me operate it. I would also use Rail-Op for the operations program and not car cards.
NOTE: Our club uses car cards, and I use Rail-Op at home, thus my preference for Rail-Op.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Rich,
Like others said that may be too big, but if I were stuck with it I would do an around the wall with a peninsula or two in the center. The area around the wall would maybe be 30 inches deep at the most, and the peninsulas would be the loco and yard facilities. I would put in a two or three track main, set out an ATSF Super Chief and an IC City of New Orleans, and race them around that longgggg main line!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
with that much space, I think I'd try to set up the PRR from NYC to Chicago. Would also have a little of the NYC (just so I could race the 20th Century Limited & Broadway Limited ) -- though the NYC would likely be mostly hidden/staging trackage.
Timeframe would be the high-point of rail travel (and of the grandeur of the Broadway/20th Century Limiteds) or possibly the early-mid '40s as the country's gearing up for war.
Alternatively, I'd split the space into rooms as mentioned by one of the other guys, and focus mainly on horseshoe curve/altoona for the layout, where the other rooms are for a workshop/machine shop, "dispatcher's office", etc.
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
I've spent some time thinking about this very thing. When you have nothing BUT time on your hands your mind will tend to wander. (I'm sick, not in prison) Now, some of the oldest and youngest members of this forum might think I'm a cynic, but for those like me that grew up tall and proud in the shadow of the mushroom cloud you may see where I'm coming from.
First of all, I'd stay put. Right here in the same house I grew up in and have lived and loved in for the last 40+ years. What I'd do is excavate, excavate, excavate. 12 feet down and 40 by 80 in the back yard, 20 by 100 in the side yard and 50 by 80 in the front yard. A big 'U' shaped concrete, lead and steel bunker. A place to keep from getting bored if ever I was stuck there for a great length of time in the event of a major catastrophe.
In the 20 by 100 room I'd build 2 modest pre-war layouts, one in Tinplate O and one in Standard gauge. In the 40 by 80 room I'd do scale O gauge. The largest excavation would be the living area.
Above ground, I'd have a 7.5" gauge line layed around the perimeter of the lot and I'd build an engine and car shed to house live steamers. Since I'm not THAT mechanically inclined, I'd have all of that built by professionals. Inside the actual current ranch house I'd continue to have the same 4 by 6 O and S bedroom layout I have now, and I'd continue to run G scale around the family tree at Christmas time. The only physical changes I'd make to this house are a bigger bathroom and an elevator.
That's what I would do if I had a couple of mil to blow.
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
10,000 square feet, unlimited funds, (I'm fully retired, so I already have all the time I'm authorized...)
In the central 2500 square feet, I'd unfold my well-folded dogbone, increase my current curve radii, provide MUCH more generous people space - and build the same schematic that I'm currently building in 16 x 20. I'd take advantage of the added floor space to get the hidden staging out from under visible track, probably onto shelves beyond the backdrop.
The remaining 24 foot wide 'donut' would make space available for museum exhibits, 'coin in the slot' layouts and a hobby/gift shop.
Then I'd open the whole, for a limited time daily and about four days a week, as a public attraction. Since I live in one of the planet's premier tourist destinations, I should be able to attract enough visitors to make it worthwhile. (Note that I didn't say, "Make it pay its own way.")
OTOH, I am, by nature, a VERY lone wolf who treasures personal privacy and detests having to schedule things for other peoples' convenience...
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - my way, at my speed)
I guess I would think about O-scale, where a big layout with realistically-sized curves probably would take that much space. Still, I would wonder about the time issue. If I really had all the time I wanted to spend on building a layout, would I spend that much time? I think not. Once you're doing something every day, for many hours, it becomes a job, like it or not.
I like the time I spend building a model. I've been putting together the City Classics "Grant Street Building." It's 4 walls and a roof, coming out of the package. But, I've been working on this model, using all of my train time, pretty much, for about 3 weeks now. It's almost done, it's as good as I'd hoped to make it, and it's uniquely mine. But, if I were not using compression to gain the image of a city block, and instead modeling the whole block, I'd need a lot more of these buildings. At that point, it would be a chore, not a challenge.
Looking at it another way, Phase 1 of my layout is a 5x12 foot table. That's 60 square feet, and it took about 5 years, or 60 months. So, for me, a model railroad takes about 1 month per square foot. Looking at that 100x100 foot building, there's 10,000 square feet. With really, really generous aisles, there's probably still 3000 square feet of model railroad to build. 3000 months is 250 years.
250 years, you say? Well, in that case, better pre-order that engine from BLI so I'll get it in time...
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley I guess I would think about O-scale, where a big layout with realistically-sized curves probably would take that much space. Still, I would wonder about the time issue. If I really had all the time I wanted to spend on building a layout, would I spend that much time? I think not. Once you're doing something every day, for many hours, it becomes a job, like it or not. I like the time I spend building a model. I've been putting together the City Classics "Grant Street Building." It's 4 walls and a roof, coming out of the package. But, I've been working on this model, using all of my train time, pretty much, for about 3 weeks now. It's almost done, it's as good as I'd hoped to make it, and it's uniquely mine. But, if I were not using compression to gain the image of a city block, and instead modeling the whole block, I'd need a lot more of these buildings. At that point, it would be a chore, not a challenge. Looking at it another way, Phase 1 of my layout is a 5x12 foot table. That's 60 square feet, and it took about 5 years, or 60 months. So, for me, a model railroad takes about 1 month per square foot. Looking at that 100x100 foot building, there's 10,000 square feet. With really, really generous aisles, there's probably still 3000 square feet of model railroad to build. 3000 months is 250 years. 250 years, you say? Well, in that case, better pre-order that engine from BLI so I'll get it in time...
Mister Beasley,
Three thoughts on your post:
1 - After I initiated this thread, I thought similarly to you. If I had that much space, I ,might veer away from HO scale and consider a huge S scale layout to accomodate my old American Flyer trains.
2 - You are right. You may have the 10,000 square foot space available along with unlimited funds, but even with time available to you on a 24/7 basis, it would take a lifetime, and then some, to fill the space with a layout.
3 - Regarding that pre-order from BLI, a follow-up call to their Sales Department has assured me that the order will definitely be filled within the first 100 year period, so not to worry.
I did some more thinking about the dream, especially when I saw some of the ideas about simply spreading out a smaller and simpler plan. And I kept butting up against practical realities that need to be dealt with in large layout planning. Very interesting, as they say.
Let's say I did expand my plan, so towns were spaced 60ft apart (HO). With my chosen theme of coastal Oregon mountains set in 1900, a realistic long train length is 18 cars, plus engine and caboose. A total of 9ft or slightly less. So I design my passing sidings for 9ft (I know, way too short for you modern guys. But longer trains and sidings make the problem worse).
Now let's look at the operational implications. At average scale 20mph, it takes my train 3.5 minutes to get from one passing siding to the next. Would that be boring? Would I end up cranking up the speed to unrealistic to reduce cut that 3.5 minutes in half? And to keep it from being boring, I now understand what Joe Fugate says about interesting scenery being critical for prototype style operations and speeds. That 60ft of run would have to be fairly detailed scenery to hold my interest on the 50th run.
An what if I am using geared power, with a realistic speed of 10mph? Now I'm looking at 7 minutes to make that run between towns.
Let's go to the town, where we have a facing point movement to make to spot a car at an industry - could be 2 or 3 cars, impact is the same. To make a runaround at scale switching speeds (6 MPH) on that 9ft passing siding is going to take 2 minutes. Say another 2 minutes to spot the car(s). Finally, it will take another 2 minutes to run around again to put the engine back in front. 6 real minutes for one facing point movement. And unless there are 2 passing tracks instead of one, I have tied up the main for much of those 6 minutes.
For those of us who have always dealt with too short a distance between towns and train lengths of 10 cars or less, it's an eye opener.
my thoughts, your choices
It is funny reading the above replys as to what some modelers consider is a large layout and how they are unsure they could ever get this large thing running.
I had thoughts like that when I first looked upon my brand new 1800 sq ft basement. I have sinse added on another room - you can NEVER have enough Basement!
While I had no problem beginning to build the layout I did have problems moving all of the junk stacked around in it (we just had moved) and I also needed to put up plasterboard to give the room a finished look.
I already had the plan and knew that it was going to be a long project and I was not a spring chicken any more (only 8 years to retirement) but this did not deter me one bit!
I just started at one end of the basement and begain building small parts of the layout benchwork. Then moved onto the next part of putting down the track. This was while I was installing the drywall further back in the basement.
I was able to keep the drywall dust controlled so this did not affect what I already done on the layout but then again I was not putting in scenery - Yet!
Once I had enough trackwork in to run trains I did! As I was building a Point to Point layout - running trains allowed me to test out my trackwork and begin running Operations (the only reason to build a layout) with my friends.
This only made me work harder to add more track and the room was soon finished in 2 years (drywall work) and the layout mainline made its way completely around the room.
Now - I did not have all of the sidings in and only minimal scenery done but OPs became a twice monthly session.
What OPs did was kept me focused and moving forward - something I see a lot of Modelers lose interest in their layouts due to not having a objective to reach for (mine was bi-weekly OPs)!
NOW to get back On Topic - if I had a 100 x 100 layout room - I would do as I did before and build enough to get OPERATIONS going and that would keep the interest there!
Scenery will come in time!
And if I sould DIE before I got it finished - well the it is SOMEONE elses problem - isn't it?
I had fun while I was alive - and not wondering - I CAN FINISH this big layout!
Where can I get a 100 x 100 building at?
BOB H - Clarion, PA
cmrproducts NOW to get back On Topic - if I had a 100 x 100 layout room - I would do as I did before and build enough to get OPERATIONS going and that would keep the interest there! Scenery will come in time! Where can I get a 100 x 100 building at? BOB H - Clarion, PA
Well, Bob, if you were here in Sin City, which has been hammered by the recent economic downturn, you would have your choice of recently-closed supermarkets (three within a 2-mile radius of me, plus a used-to-be Gold's Gym) on major streets, or lots of equivalent space in a number of overbuilt warehouse/commercial districts.
That's why I framed my answer the way I did. The actual idea comes from North Conway, NH.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I'm not sure 100x100 feet would still be enough to duplicate downtown Pittsburgh in the 30s.
That is not enough space for what I want to do. But since you asked. I want a place where people can come into three major exhibits.
Hall 1 is a railroading time line. That is where the first couple towns are back east the beginning of United States railroading, 1820-1840 or so. As one moves through the layout the scenery and trains get more modern. Locomotives and rolling stock moving in operations only in towns where that sort of equipment would be prototypical for. Obviously there couldn't be any "through" trains in the operating scheme.
Hall 2 is a series of prototypical typical towns. Taking the most typical practices of real railroads each town would represent a typical station type, track arrangements, and supporting structures for a given railroad. A Santa Fe town, a MoPac town, Rock Island town etc.
Hall 3 is for my free protolance railroad. One of the features I want is a scale Royal Gorge of the Arkansas with the hanging bridge (Inspired by Electrolove of this forum). Another is the Pueblo steel plant, and the sugar beat industry along the Arkansas toward Kansas.
At one time I wanted Hall 4 for unique railroad locations but they are things I just can't figure out how to fit in - St. Louis Union Station, the Pennsy flying junction at Enola Yard, someplace with 4 track main line (like Horseshoe curve), the dual track yard & dual round houses of Salida CO, etc. etc. too many way cool things out there to model.
I am in a lucky position - if I want to see a layout even bigger than those 100´ by 100´ , I just take a 30 min. train ride to Miniatur Wunderland.
Maintaining a layout of that size requires a crew of at least 5 people and I am talking only about maintenance, not construction! Can you imagine how much time you´d have to spend for track cleaning and dusting?
Life has told me that happiness comes in small packages I´d be more than happy if I had the means to build a 9´by 11´ layout.
100' x 100' = 400ft shelf layout, that 3.1 scale miles, I would build a 400 ft shelf layout, no more than 18 inches wide, with industries based on real industries from my area, with big open spaces in between for running long trains.
I would add spurs into industrial districts no longer than 10ft x 16".
in the middle I would have a nice couch and big TV to watch movies, football, etc. a nice work bench section as well.
I would need a fridge and couch.
I really do not want to much of a big layout, but want to make a realistic switching layout more to scale.
but with a space this big, I would want my own club, so we can build a good layout and have great operating sessions.
I have a 20ft x 20ft room, with good funds and I am medically retired, so I live this dream kind off, I only use 14ft x 7ft for my layout and work space, any thing more is too much for just me.
Remember a short while back Howard Zane posted a question about switching scales and toying with the possibility of tearing down his magnificent 2850 sq.ft.layout? Well I would drive down to Columbia Maryland and knock on his door (I am fortunate enough to know him and where he lives) and hand him an American Express unlimited credit card and say lets go build a railroad.oh and bring along some friends. I am 53 years old and have some limitations physically and we'll not touch on the physiological aspects but for example Howard has spent how many years building his basement empire and he has to be one of the fastest modelers I have ever layed eyes on. So to fill a space that size full of trains and scenery, structures etc. with in a reasonable amount of time one would need a small army of Howard's. I am fortunate enough to have a large space available but not the financial wherewithal nor the time to even consider such a task. It's one of those when I win the lottery dream lists things.
My wife has often commented that she would love to see a layout that encompassed all sorts of scenery along the shores or beaches, mountains, winter scenes summer and fall scenes big cities and small towns sort of like your taking a train ride across America. pretty neat idea and it's one that would require that kind of space or more..
As far as getting folks like Howard and others to help me build it I would hand em all a set of keys and put it in writing that this layout would belong to all who helped build it. Why build something like that if you can't share it with others. To me that would be the absolute best part of such an undertaking. All the friendships formed all the good times and memories created and just a nice way to live life. Thats the best part about this hobby.
My fantasy layout space is not 10,000 sq ft but it is 3,737.5 sq ft; it is L-shaped and measures 59' along one base of the L and 75'10" along the other base. Each wing of the L is 39'.
I have designed N-Scale, HO-Scale and (2 rail) O-Scale layouts to fit this space. The O-Scale layouts usually render out about 10 route miles of double track mainline; HO-Scale about 22 route miles; and N-Scale about 47 route miles. Minimum radii are 30 (N-Scale), 44 (HO-Scale) and 60 (O-Scale) inches. Minimum passing siding length is a scale 3,000' and minimum switch size is #5 for industrial trackage, #7 for yard and siding trackage, and #10 for crossover trackage on the mainline. The O-Scale and HO-Scale layouts are transition era layouts; the N-Scale layouts are now-era layouts.
I have always said that, given the space, I would go into O-Scale . . . . . . . . . . and if you boil everything down to the grit only an O-Scale layout is practical for this 3.737.5 sq ft space although HO-Scale would be feasible given adequate time for construction; an analysis of the N-Scale layouts I have designed for this space indicates that construction time would probably be somewhere in the vicinity of 3-5 years.
COME ON POWERBALL!!!!!
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet