My rails are 58 inches from the floor, all one level. I'm 6'1". The layout is supported by rather heavy duty steel inverted L brackets, so no support legs are in the way. My workbenches are under the layout, and I have about 21 linear feet of workbench space 29 inches from the floor, ranging from 30-38" deep. Sitting on a rollee chair, it is all comfortably accessible, with designated space for machine shop, (Sherline mill and lathe, Harbor freight drill press), a soldering station with a 68 inch long test track, plenty of tool and project storage space, and ample work area for laying out large items like big structures and ships.
Then, under those workbenches, comprised of tables, desks, hollow core doors supported on short cabinets, there is reasonable room for boxes storing kits and supplies.
This packs a lot of action in a 10x20 room without feeling cramped. That also includes a 3x6 foot 1/24 diorama built on yet another door, with a trundle bed under that, which gets used occasionally when we have more company than the house can hold.
SO! I'd recommend going as high as you comfortably can.
Mine is 4 foot to the rails, but 3 inches lower to duck under. I'm close to 6 foot and getting too old to duck uner 45inches. Wish it was 60 inches high, but maybe I should eliminate the duck under altogether. 48" is a good viewing height for me.
Alan Jones in Sunny Queensland (Oz)
My design height is 48" but elevated track reaches 53" and terrain reaches considerably higher in areas. And some track drops below to 46". I wanted enough room underneath to work comfortably but still be able to view detail across the dogbone ends. I don't have a duck-under in the design so that wasn't a consideration and I am 6'3" so its a comfortable reach height for me.
I think the viewing angle looks pretty good especially sitting on the stools that I use when operating.
Huntington Junction - Freelance based on the B&O and C&O in coal country before the merger... doing it my way. Now working on phase 3. - Walt
For photos and more: http://www.wkhobbies.com/model-railroad/
Hi again,
I've already replied (41") and after sifting through all the replies its obvious I'm in the minority for sure. Most folks that replied have their layouts significantly higher.
Of course this is a personal preference, but if I was asked about the typical layout height before this thread, I would have said "about 42 inches".
HA!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Even at the 40 to 42 inch height, my grandchildren had to climb on things to see. That is annoying if they are following a train.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Mine's 41 inches. This is a comfortable height for working on and operating and it is enough of a distance below a window to allow for a short backdrop but still provide a view out that window.
My layout is three levels (and a mushroom design).
The lower level is mostly 42" with some at 44".
The middle level is mostly 62" (in order to have deck separation above the lower level).
The upper level is 82"-87" absolute but 52"-57" relative to the elevated floor.
Edit to add: The track that passes over the aisle to get from the middle level to the upper level is about 80" high so only NBA players should need to duck.
Modeling an HO gauge freelance version of the Union Pacific Oregon Short Line and the Utah Railway around 1957 in a world where Pirates from the Great Salt Lake founded Ogden, UT.
- Photo album of layout construction -
I'm 5' 7", my layout height is 48". I use 2x3 legs. It was easy to buy 8 foot 2x3s and cut them in half. 48" is high enough with a two foot depth. Any higher and reaching over scenery would become prohibitive.