Extending RR into crawl space.

[Anonymous]

My basement isn`t large enough ,half of it is this crawlspace.10x18'. It has a dirt floor with peagravel covering . There`s a four foot clearence.

[Anonymous]

I don't think that I would do it.
A few questions to ask yourself: [1] how am I going to construct the platform needed; [2] how am I going to maintain that portion of the layout; [3] how will I know what's really happening to my train back there; [4] how do I rescue derailed equipment.
There are more, but the "money question" really is "Would this improve my railroad so much that it would outweigh all of the potential problems?" If the answer for you is "No," congratulate yourself for having some pretty good storage space.

Good Luck!

TrummyandElla

[SpaceMouse]

On the other hand, can you use it to expand the layout you have? Meaning 10 x 18 can give you 14" on a 2% grade in one lap or 28" in two laps. You could add a second level to your track and if there are no turnouts, there is little chance of derailing.

[simon1966]

Trummy makes valid points to be considered. Also consider temperature and humidity issues. I remember a brief article in MRR about a guy who made a hole in his basement wall and ran one spur of a Y down a buried pipe in his back yard. Goodness knows how he rescued derailments?

[Anonymous]

Humidity and dust would be my considerations. If these are not a problem, then the area could be used for staging. It could also serve as sort of a helix as Space Mouse suggests if the crawlspace aligns with the upper portion if the basement. Or if you don't mind crouching down or you can roll around on a low desk chair without smacking your head, build a whole branchline in there.

Only you know if the use of the space is worth overcoming the obstacles. If it adds to the enjoyment, do it.

Wayne

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by simon1966

Trummy makes valid points to be considered. Also consider temperature and humidity issues. I remember a brief article in MRR about a guy who made a hole in his basement wall and ran one spur of a Y down a buried pipe in his back yard. Goodness knows how he rescued derailments?

That was in GMR or MRP. The far end of the pipe ended up above ground, as the guy's yard sloped. And he installed a screw -on cap usually used for cleanouts. Unscrew, reach in. Given the pipe size, and the fact that it was O scale, there wasn;t enough room for a derailed car to get sideways and jam up the pipe. And if you have derailments on a piece of perfectly straight, level track - better go back and redo the trackwork there!

--Randy

[Javern]

you could so some things to tidy up the crawl space and perhaps even improve humidty conditions in your house. Put vapor barrier down over the gravel and insulate around the foundation, install a fouation vent for summer use, string a few lights and maybe a camera so you can watch the train..just a few thoughts

[davekelly]

Didn't Terry do an editorial in MRR awhile back where he described the pros and cons of building into a crawl space and why decided against it?

[jkeaton]

Don't forget that John Allen expanded his Gorre and Daphetid by excavating part of the crawl space in his California basement, and cementing over another part. Much would depend on accessiblity and clearance. Is your layout worth some serious shovelwork^

Jim

[claycts]

My $.02. It is all depending on:
TIME (coverting it for use)
MONEY (any change costs money out of the railroad fund)
DESIRE (If you want it you can do it)
LANDLORD (If the wife approves then all is well)
I have taken over the basement in our S.C. house it is 1800 sq ft. I might have enough space (only kidding). The LANDLORD sid if the TIME (honey dew list remember) and the MONEY (my checkbook) then I could have the space.
If the LANLORD is behind you, YOU CAN DO IT. Just PLAN, PLAN, PLAN and then ENJOY[:)]

[davekelly]

claycts,

I hope you bribed the LANDLORD (perhaps a nice dinner someplace?). If not you better make sure there's a kickback (super nice dinner).

[claycts]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

claycts,

I hope you bribed the LANDLORD (perhaps a nice dinner someplace?). If not you better make sure there's a kickback (super nice dinner).

LANDLORD got A 1971 Jaguar XKEV12 2+2 as a BRIB to allow me to build. she said what I spent on the car will be what I spend on a rail road. Glad it was not a HUGO with the price of things today.
FYI visit www.seecarr.org this is a car club we own that does charity work to restore the Aikeb S.C. Railroad Depot. They need $1,000,000.00 to reproduce the depot since it was torn own for a playground.

[davekelly]

Wow. Sounds like a great deal. You should have bought her a hummer!!

[claycts]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

Wow. Sounds like a great deal. You should have bought her a hummer!!

Had one, got a Suburban Z71 works better pulling our car carrier and is MOR COMFORTABLE![:D]

[rrinker]

Wow, BEAUTIFUL car. Without a doubt the sexiest car EVER made.

[claycts]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

Wow, BEAUTIFUL car. Without a doubt the sexiest car EVER made.

Which one?
Ferrari Testarosa or the XKE? Our TR is a 1988 and the JAg is a 1971. They are on the website. www.leatherique.com.
Wasted to much time and money on cars, could have had my railroad BUILT for the price of a tune-up on the Ferrari.!! I am smarter now a car is to go from point A to point B. A railroad is food for the BRAIN!![:D]

[IRONROOSTER]

If you dig a 2 1/2 ft trench you can walk in there. Consult a professional, but if you stay in the middle it should work.
Enjoy
Paul

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Muddy Creek

Humidity and dust would be my considerations. If these are not a problem, then the area could be used for staging. It could also serve as sort of a helix as Space Mouse suggests if the crawlspace aligns with the upper portion if the basement. Or if you don't mind crouching down or you can roll around on a low desk chair without smacking your head, build a whole branchline in there.

Only you know if the use of the space is worth overcoming the obstacles. If it adds to the enjoyment, do it.

Wayne

Wayne,

Not to be disrespectful, but I'm laughing at a mental picture I'm having of him trying to move around on a rolling desk chair . . .

ON PEA GRAVEL! [(-D][(-D][(-D]

[Anonymous]

Quote:
"Not to be disrespectful, but I'm laughing at a mental picture I'm having of him trying to move around on a rolling desk chair . . .

ON PEA GRAVEL! "

Just put large floatation type tires on that desk chair along with a locking differential, gear reduction and a lift kit...

Oops, we were talking about a chair weren't we?

[Leon Silverman]

You could place any kind of plan king on the bottom of the crawl space to provide you with a surface you could roll the chair around on, but be care that there are no holes in your foundation that tiny critters can get through. Otherwise you may become the victim of Ratzilla. I had this infestation in my crawl space. The only opening I found was the clearance hole around the tubing going to and from the Central AC unit. This was plugged after have to replace more than half of the underfloor insulation which had been pulled down and turned into litter boxes.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jdavid93225

Quote:
"Not to be disrespectful, but I'm laughing at a mental picture I'm having of him trying to move around on a rolling desk chair . . .

ON PEA GRAVEL! "

Just put large floatation type tires on that desk chair along with a locking differential, gear reduction and a lift kit...

Oops, we were talking about a chair weren't we?

The point of my post was to encourage the member to not write off the space as unusable, not to solve every obstacle in doing so. A sheet of plastic on the gravel with some plywood or planking as Leon suggested would make rolling easy .

In general, I've found that those of us with acres of extra space often don't understand the lengths those us us without it may go to find space for our hobby.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TrummyandElla

I don't think that I would do it.
A few questions to ask yourself: [1] how am I going to construct the platform needed; [2] how am I going to maintain that portion of the layout; [3] how will I know what's really happening to my train back there; [4] how do I rescue derailed equipment.
There are more, but the "money question" really is "Would this improve my railroad so much that it would outweigh all of the potential problems?" If the answer for you is "No," congratulate yourself for having some pretty good storage space.

Good Luck!

TrummyandElla

[Anonymous]

I would like to thank everyone for your help. The PROS outweight the CONS and I`m going on with the project. Your right about the Landlord,she had no intrest in the basement until. (well ,you know) I`ve made room for the treadmill ,made a stand for the TV/DVD player.Since I have lots of VHS train movies ,I bought the DVD/VHS player .I hooked up cable so that she can watch Lifetime and Law and Order .When I put up the laundry utilities cabnet ,I`ll have the Greenlight ! Your all my brothers .

[Anonymous]

Ligeral:

Good Luck with the project. I hope you'll keep us all posted on the progress. The other posts gave some good ideas.

TrummyandElla

[Anonymous]

I will post any updates and maybe go into the offroad office chair business.

[Anonymous]

Don't use your crawl space unless you are willing to dig it out and make permanent access to your layout. I did dig out a crawl space under the house we then lived in to provide space for a layout, and the work was daunting. After my experience, I would recommend you look into a coffee table layout rather than use the crawl space. Just my opinion.

Tom

[Anonymous]

UPDATE! I`ve measured the space and it`s 10'x18'. The first thing i`ll do is vacum the ceiling,shore up the vapor barrier along the top. I`m going to inspect the whole area now that i`m going to use it for something REALY GOOD. I`m going to get this space tested for CO2 and RADON. This will give me a 35' to 40' line ,when added to the regular part of the basement.