When I was in the service there were a few of us that were in the hobby and we would talk about either the layout we had or the dream layout we wanted to have and how we would build it and it's theme. a few of us were able to achieve our dreams.
Ray
I don't have a "Home" layout anymore. Not that i don't or wouldn't mind one, I have use of my club layout that is 10 minutes away.
I am so amazed at how inovative and creative all the posters are as to setting up layouts under all sorts of conditions. I guess w/ such dedication and devotion to the "love" of our hobby we will always find a way. Over the years I've admired the skills of so many whether it is their basement empire, shelf layout or a module. Even those w/o a layout just preparing for it someday by acquiring equipment, skills and/or building some of those fantastic structures and detailing and weathering equipment. Keep up the great work!
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Around 2 walls of my office, though it's not much of a layout yet and won't be until I figure out where I'm going to be living in 6 months
Sean
HO Scale CSX Modeler
Medina1128 ATLANTIC CENTRAL: CTValleyRR: Mine is in my (unfortunately) unfinished basement. Knowing the drawbacks of this arrangement, I'll gladly accept a donation of $50K to finish it, because that's kind of outside of my budget at the moment. Why or how could it possibly cost $50K to finish a basement to the level needed for a model railroad? Install a drop ceiling and some good lighting, paint the walls and floor, partion off just those areas not associated with the train room (utilities, laundry, etc.) Even in a large basement that should not cost more than $8K (or less) to do yourself or maybe $15K if you hire someone. Sheldon Sheldon, my guess is the balance of the $50K would be to "finish" the rest of the layout, as well.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL: CTValleyRR: Mine is in my (unfortunately) unfinished basement. Knowing the drawbacks of this arrangement, I'll gladly accept a donation of $50K to finish it, because that's kind of outside of my budget at the moment. Why or how could it possibly cost $50K to finish a basement to the level needed for a model railroad? Install a drop ceiling and some good lighting, paint the walls and floor, partion off just those areas not associated with the train room (utilities, laundry, etc.) Even in a large basement that should not cost more than $8K (or less) to do yourself or maybe $15K if you hire someone. Sheldon
CTValleyRR: Mine is in my (unfortunately) unfinished basement. Knowing the drawbacks of this arrangement, I'll gladly accept a donation of $50K to finish it, because that's kind of outside of my budget at the moment.
Mine is in my (unfortunately) unfinished basement.
Knowing the drawbacks of this arrangement, I'll gladly accept a donation of $50K to finish it, because that's kind of outside of my budget at the moment.
Why or how could it possibly cost $50K to finish a basement to the level needed for a model railroad?
Install a drop ceiling and some good lighting, paint the walls and floor, partion off just those areas not associated with the train room (utilities, laundry, etc.)
Even in a large basement that should not cost more than $8K (or less) to do yourself or maybe $15K if you hire someone.
Sheldon
Sheldon, my guess is the balance of the $50K would be to "finish" the rest of the layout, as well.
First of all, yes, I would be hiring a general contractor to do the work, so that's a lot of the cost right there. Although I have the skills to do it myself, I don't have the time, unless I want the project to drag on for years and years.
And secondly, I'm not talking about finishing the basement into a "minimum standard for a model railroad". I'm talking about finishing and furnishing the basement, including a half bath and a kids playroom in the half that's not being used for trains. I have some water issues which would need to be addressed before I could finish it, and the quote for that work alone is $3500 -- both to eliminate the seepage and to remove the sump pump and the need for constant dehumidification.
And perhaps I should have said "semi-finished" basement, because the walls and floor are already painted, and I have covered the insulation to minimize dust.
So, yes, it's a high-end estimate, but I'm not looking to do the bare minimum, either. I'm looking to do it right.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
BerkshireSteam Looking at where to put a layout in my apartment so I can start planning the benchwork, I am left with two choices, (a corner of the living room, and a corner of the spare bedroom), and it made me wonder, "where does everyone else put there's? I have heard of other layouts, like one of my options, being located in a spare bedroom. I have also heard of them being built in an attic room, in the basement, in the garage, and heck even in a large shed specifically built to house the layout with electricity and full HVAC. So, I ask, where is yours?
Looking at where to put a layout in my apartment so I can start planning the benchwork, I am left with two choices, (a corner of the living room, and a corner of the spare bedroom), and it made me wonder, "where does everyone else put there's?
I have heard of other layouts, like one of my options, being located in a spare bedroom. I have also heard of them being built in an attic room, in the basement, in the garage, and heck even in a large shed specifically built to house the layout with electricity and full HVAC.
So, I ask, where is yours?
I've had layouts in 14 of the 20 houses I have lived in. Since most of the houses did not have a suitable basement, a spare bedroom or in part of the family room were the most common locations.
Probably the most unusual location was a rather large Lionel layout on the floor of a semi-finished attic. An electric space heater was used to heat the space in winter. In the summer, it was just plain hot - Northern Virginia with no A/C. And always on your knees with a floor layout - i didn't mind, I was young then. The layout gave way to HO and a space in the basement family room when more kids meant finishing the attic into bedrooms.
A caution about layouts in living spaces. Establish before you start construction ground rules for how tidy and presentable the layout must be between work sessions. Nothing will sour my better half more quickly than my making a space unpresentable for guests for more than a week at a time. This is especially true if the layout is in the guest bedroom, office, family room, or living room. I have learned to keep my end of the bargain by scheduling 30 minutes of clean-up time as part of the work session. And if I don't have the 30 minutes clean-up, then there is no work session. Painting the benchwork before or as it is assembled goes a long way towards keeping her happy.
For shelf layouts, I have found building an upper shelf first enables me to hang skirting or some kind of decorative cover to hide the layout shelf until it reaches a presentable appearance. The upper shelf serves as the lighting mount and fascia, and storage for my mr books and supplies. Blue or pink foam, or bare Homasote doesn't cut it for public appearances of the layout. Just a coat of paint and a layer of ground cover makes all the difference. And the difference is between good and no support for my hobby. She very much wants to see the trains that I spent all this money on on display at the very least. To her, keeping them stored in boxes means they need to be sold.
As an example, I have been granted rights to a small bedroom in the finished basement in the current house. It has to also hold my office, my hobby work bench, and a recumbent exercise bike. And be able to be converted back to a bedroom at reasonable cost when it is time to go. The sliding closet doors have been removed and the closet converted into my office with computer work station. Unfortunately, I opened my big mouth before thinking, and suggested painting the walls a light blue before I realized the backdrop would cover the existing mustard covered walls on the layout sections. She now wants to know when I'm going to paint the walls.
One other thing I have learned over the years - 4x8s or other rectangular islands generally are a very poor choice for a spare bedroom unless the spare room can be solely reserved as a layout room. The island just dominates the entire room. And all too often, the 4x8 had to be cut down to 4x7 or 4x6 just to leave adequate aisles in the small spare room. This time, remembering my youth and my Christmas tree layouts, I am building a small portable loop to be a test track set on what ever table is handy. The real layout is a "linked up" shelf layout.
my thoughts and experiences, your choices
Fred W
Dear Sir: My layout is located in a 11 ft by 21 ft rental unit in Jacksonville, Florida These units are rented to those with hobbies, carpenters, gun smiths, clock makers, etc. There are a number of rental companies that rent these spaces in Jax. I built a large layout for a man in Lelanau, Michigan, that he installed in a 20 ft by 30 ft. building ,built just for the layout.
The Ferroequinologist layoutconcepts@yahoo.com eBay store: Backshop Train & China Store Facebook: Model Trains, Train Sets, Buildings & Layout Concepts
In our basement. My wife was kind and allowed me to remove a wall between two rooms for which I forever will be greatful. However. I can't help but notice there is a lot more wasted basement space being used for things other than the train.
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL CTValleyRR: Mine is in my (unfortunately) unfinished basement. Knowing the drawbacks of this arrangement, I'll gladly accept a donation of $50K to finish it, because that's kind of outside of my budget at the moment. Why or how could it possibly cost $50K to finish a basement to the level needed for a model railroad? Install a drop ceiling and some good lighting, paint the walls and floor, partion off just those areas not associated with the train room (utilities, laundry, etc.) Even in a large basement that should not cost more than $8K (or less) to do yourself or maybe $15K if you hire someone. Sheldon
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
Uncbob wrote: Mine is in a 6 1/2 by 12 1/2 room in my basement that I partitioned off from my wood working shop Needless to say BOTH are cramped But you deal with what you have and I don't want to give up my cabinet making hobby other wise I could have had a 12 1/2 by 18 foot room 51% share holder in the ME&O ( Wife owns the other 49% )
Uncbob wrote:
Mine is in a 6 1/2 by 12 1/2 room in my basement that I partitioned off from my wood working shop
Needless to say BOTH are cramped
But you deal with what you have and I don't want to give up my cabinet making hobby other wise I could have had a 12 1/2 by 18 foot room
51% share holder in the ME&O ( Wife owns the other 49% )
Non-model railroaders call them basements; railroaders call 'em "train rooms" Mine's in the "train room", too, Bob.
B&O SteamDemon Galaxy, I had to wait 22 1/2 years to get to the point where I could build my layout. If I hadn't been wounded and forced to retire from the service I don't believe my layout would even exist right now. I figured this was going to be the last layout I was going to build and decided to do it right and not cut corners on what I wanted. Trust me I spent many a night thinking about having a large layout and wishing I had one to enjoy. I stockpiled cars and engines as well as building while I waited for my chance to build my dream layout. I sometimes find myself looking at the layout and having to remind myself it's mine and it's real and not a dream. It brings me a lot of peace of mind where I can unwind and forget about everything and focus on the world I am building in my barn. Can you build a pole barn where you live? If so you could build your layout right there and begin to realize your dream. Ray
Galaxy, I had to wait 22 1/2 years to get to the point where I could build my layout. If I hadn't been wounded and forced to retire from the service I don't believe my layout would even exist right now. I figured this was going to be the last layout I was going to build and decided to do it right and not cut corners on what I wanted. Trust me I spent many a night thinking about having a large layout and wishing I had one to enjoy. I stockpiled cars and engines as well as building while I waited for my chance to build my dream layout. I sometimes find myself looking at the layout and having to remind myself it's mine and it's real and not a dream. It brings me a lot of peace of mind where I can unwind and forget about everything and focus on the world I am building in my barn. Can you build a pole barn where you live? If so you could build your layout right there and begin to realize your dream.
Oh, to wish, perchance to dream....
I can't have a pole barn where I live as I live in a trailer in a trailer park. We DO have a 10x12 shed but it is filled with other necessities such as lawnmower and other stuff we don't know what to do with.
We finally are in a position to purchase a MRRing space with a house covering it, but our price point is a bit low for what we really want. Inventory around here is low also as people who would move up to larger or newer homes are instead hanging on to what they have. According to the RE agent there is usually a surge of listings this time of year, but not this year. Yet, anyway. THEN I will have a basement I will have to share with My Other Half {MOH} as MOH is also into trains- only I am in HO and MOH is into N scale. I would be seriously happy with a 4 x 8 at this point, but willhave to wait a bit.
I don't think I really want a monstrosity layout anyway. Any Pole Barn we would build on the property would actually be a garage for actually housing our two minivans, and not a layout or two.
I am fortunate that MOH is into trains as well as many vacations we take are to tourist railroads that run steam trains, and there is never an argument about going to the LHS!! Money is tight for us though, so we have to watch that, but otherwise we do fine.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Current one is in a small 6.5 x 11.5 (minus a chimney foundation) room on the lower floor of a two story town house apartment. The room is also used for storage and for my little workshop (except that I take things which makes too much dust or smell outside):
A smaller one consisting of two 4' x 10.5" sections is being built to take to meets is being built on the living room dining table:
Here is a temporary birthday setup in a corner of our living room for our youngest son's birthday a few years ago (in the background a 2' deep and 7 foot long shelf for me):
We've also had a 105 cm x 160 cm (41" x 62") plywood pacific with a Märklin loop of track on (ie about 14" radius curves) on in our youngest son's bedroom. Don't have any pictures of that.
Here are some pictures of an N scale 8' x 1' layout a fellow forumite who is a little more shy about posting in public is building along a wall in his house, between a wall and a doorway:
One of my favorite track plans (by forum member Robert Beaty) is this 7 x 9 foot corner layout - which includes a plausible scenery plan, not just tracks:
It is often possible to build something somewhere, even if you have little space available.
Smile,Stein
Mine will be built in my bedroom. I too live in a apartment but, as I am retired and on disability. I have a limited income and therefore share my apartment. If you would like more on my plans have a look at this thread, http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/189308.aspx?PageIndex=1
Johnnny_reb Once a word is spoken it can not be unspoken!
My Train Page My Photobucket Page My YouTube Channel
I have stolen part of the messy garage. The wife never said I could but as the old saying goes: "It is better to ask for forgiveness than for permission."
--Zak Gardner
My Layout Blog: http://mrl369dude.blogspot.com
http://zgardner18.rrpicturearchives.net
VIEW SLIDE SHOW: CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW
The backyard, far enough when I need to escape, yet close enough to keep the Mrs. happy.
San Dimas Southern slideshow
My layout is in the dumpster, has been for about a year and the buildings, locos, rolling stock and anything salvageable is packed away in boxes.
Cheers
Roger T.
Home of the late Great Eastern Railway see: - http://www.greateasternrailway.com
For more photos of the late GER see: - http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/Great_Eastern/
I do not have a room that I could dedicate to a layout, nor do I have the funds to build such an empire. My N scale layout consists of mini modules which I can assemble on my desk and which are stored on a shelf above it when not in use. Assembly is one in less than 5 minutes. The modular system lets me rearrange the layout into any configuration I want to have, from a simple oval to a point-to- point layout. Think of it as playing with dominoes. Each module does not take more than 2 or 3 days to build.
More info can be found here
Sorry, it´s in Japanese, but the pics show the story behind.
In Florida we do not have basements only sinkholes and garages . Mine is in 4 modules that are on wheels so when the wife wants to bring her car in I move the modules into half of the garage and she has the other half to park the car. When she pulls out for a week or more I wheel the modules out connect them up and I have the entire garage, a bit of work for me but that is life in sunny fl.
Bob D As long as you surface as many times as you dive you`ll be alive to read these posts.
B&O SteamDemon I had a pole barn built for my layout, my layout is 4'x78'x24x78' it's a U shaped layout that follows the walls with a 6'x50' island in the middle. I had the barn built with total HVAC with humidifer and I keep the temp at 71 year round. I had a drop ceiling installed with indirect lighting to have a even light effect without shadows. I have a 10' wide mechanical area on one end of the building where I keep the small hot water heater, electrical panels and half bath and laundry tub installed plus this is my work shop for my equipment. I have a track that runs into a mountain and comes into my workshop so I can add or remove equipment and then run back out to the layout. When I was "retired" by the military I spent about 6 months planning my last layout and designed the building and layout with all the specs such as lights, outlets, HVAC, work shop, mechanicals and access from previous layouts I had and visited so I had a vision of what I wanted. I had the building built 5 years ago and I have the benchwork done, trackwork done, and about 2/3 of the basic scenery done: i.e. plaster of paris covering the benchwork. Plus making hundreds of trees to add to the layout later. I was going to put the layout in the basement but then realized I would have to give up things I wanted to do or have on the layout in order to fit it in my basement. So the wife got a new car and I got a new pole barn. I figured it was a good trade. My wife likes to point out to me from time to time that I spent more on the pole barn and benchwork than I did for the house when we bought it many years ago. It's nice to go out there and just turn up the tunes and work on the many kits I have to build or applying more plaster to the layout. I run the trains on my layout and sometimes the neighborhood kids will come by and watch the trains so I enjoy a few operating sessions and the kids don't care if the scenery is done. Most of the kids are 6-10 years old. Neighbor is a scout leader so the kids see the lights on in the barn they come over and check to see if the trains are running. ( gives me an excuse to run the trains ) lol.
I had a pole barn built for my layout, my layout is 4'x78'x24x78' it's a U shaped layout that follows the walls with a 6'x50' island in the middle. I had the barn built with total HVAC with humidifer and I keep the temp at 71 year round. I had a drop ceiling installed with indirect lighting to have a even light effect without shadows. I have a 10' wide mechanical area on one end of the building where I keep the small hot water heater, electrical panels and half bath and laundry tub installed plus this is my work shop for my equipment. I have a track that runs into a mountain and comes into my workshop so I can add or remove equipment and then run back out to the layout. When I was "retired" by the military I spent about 6 months planning my last layout and designed the building and layout with all the specs such as lights, outlets, HVAC, work shop, mechanicals and access from previous layouts I had and visited so I had a vision of what I wanted. I had the building built 5 years ago and I have the benchwork done, trackwork done, and about 2/3 of the basic scenery done: i.e. plaster of paris covering the benchwork. Plus making hundreds of trees to add to the layout later. I was going to put the layout in the basement but then realized I would have to give up things I wanted to do or have on the layout in order to fit it in my basement. So the wife got a new car and I got a new pole barn. I figured it was a good trade. My wife likes to point out to me from time to time that I spent more on the pole barn and benchwork than I did for the house when we bought it many years ago. It's nice to go out there and just turn up the tunes and work on the many kits I have to build or applying more plaster to the layout. I run the trains on my layout and sometimes the neighborhood kids will come by and watch the trains so I enjoy a few operating sessions and the kids don't care if the scenery is done. Most of the kids are 6-10 years old. Neighbor is a scout leader so the kids see the lights on in the barn they come over and check to see if the trains are running. ( gives me an excuse to run the trains ) lol.
That MUST be SOOOOOOO nice! I have a small 3.5 foot x 5.1 foot HO layout in the spare room. WE live in a trailer and the BR's aren't that big. There is other "stuff" in there too, which I am trying to get rid of so I can expand my meager layout.
The closest I can come to your layout is that a good close friend of mine bought a 3 acre farm with a good sized dairy barn on it. He offered me space in the hay loft area of any size I chose. I declined due to the fact that it is NOT insulated, NOT heated, NOT a/c'd, NOT dust free, NO sink for rinsing after projects, NO hot water {no running water period}, NO half bath, Electrical service is a mere 20 AMPS run off a single ROmax wire to the barn and has only 4 4' flourescent lights for ligthing that are about 20" above any layout I could build. Oh, and it doesn't have wall-to-wall carpeting either. He is also a good 45 minute drive out to his farm and that costs time and gas, the less money I would have for a layout.
My friend would like eventually to turn half of it into a Ball room with a balcony to host parties in when they have the money after upgrading the very large farmhouse. I COULD have a layout in his basement, but is is only marginally heated, it IS naturally cool in the summer, but it is a stacked-stone foundation and very musty and dirty.
*sigh* *alas* SOme people have all the luck.
The layout is in a friend's finshied basement. We took over the bedroom then knocked down the laundry partition wall and even ventured as far as the garage... The actual layout is a U-shaped shelf in the old basement bedroom (11' x 15'), the expansion fill the main room (14' x 18') with shelves on 3 walls and a peninsula.
My personnal layout (Harlem Station) is located in my 26' x 36' unfinished and hard to heat basement. I will probably move it in a spare room when the benchwork will be finished.
Matt
Proudly modelling the Quebec Railway Light & Power Co since 1997.
http://www.hedley-junction.blogspot.com
http://www.harlem-station.blogspot.com
My house is a split level, I get the 30ft by 33ft part for my layout, which is three decks and works it's way through two partitioned rooms. The other rooml is a bathroom, no trains in there. Just a "rack" of railroad magazines.
Bob
After my daughter got married and moved out of her 10.5' x 13' bedroom, I started construction of my 10.5' x 8' HO layout about 30 seconds after she left. It didn't take her long to figure out what the gallon of primer paint and the two gallons of "sky blue" paint were for the day she moved out.
My layout is approx 8' x 12 and is located in my family room which is 14' x 20' .
As my house is a rancher it has no basement so the alternative would have been on of the bedrooms.
However, as I am single there is no need for both a living room and a family room, besides the family room is larger than either of the two spare bedrooms.
The garage is unheated, so that was never an option. Too cold in winter and too hot in summer.
My Basement off-course, However, I would prefer much more natural light,more large windows,which would be the whole upstairs of my house. honestly, Ive often thought a Hospital operating room would be ideal,great lighting,very clean,nurses...... no..... im off topic again,not a Mental Hospital either,but my Girl-freind disagrees.
CTValleyRR Mine is in my (unfortunately) unfinished basement. Knowing the drawbacks of this arrangement, I'll gladly accept a donation of $50K to finish it, because that's kind of outside of my budget at the moment.
If you do much of the work yourself, get some friends to help, buy products on sale or discount, do some scrounging, some patience etc... You can finish your basement off for a lot less. I finished my basement off my self. Total cost around $8000. for 1000 sqaure feet. The basement has walls built 16inches on center, 1/2 drywall, recesses lights (20) , full bathroom with ceramic tile floor, tub with full wall of tile, Kohler bath fixtures, 3 piece crown system , 2 piece chair rail, kitchenette with bar sink , granite counter tops, small built in book shelves, carpet through out, we also remove some columns to open up the floor plan and strngthened the beam to make the span greater, relocated the HTW, Cut in a door and window in a concrete wall and installed the door and window, Added extra supply vents and painted surround system and large flat screen tv.
BerkshireSteamI am left with two choices, (a corner of the living room, and a corner of the spare bedroom)
All things being equal, the spare bedroom space, is most likely easier to justify, for model railroading as so much today tends to be influenced by "HGTV fixer-uppers" => All within a $2,500 budget only taking 30 minutes to construct (minus commercials).
CR&T is reserved for a 5'x9' N Scale layout space in an obscure area of one of those newly remodeled "spare rooms" in the lower living area of a split-entry home. The other half of the layout room is now a library.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
My little 5'8" by 8' layout is in a spare room in our small house. We dont have a basement unfortunatly. I kind of inherited the layout from a fellow modeler in the local club, he is building a much larger NKP themed layout in his basement. My layout has become the BN in the mid to late 70's on the west coast. Mike
LHS mechanic and geniune train and antique garden tractor nut case!
My current layout is located in my basement.
When we began planning this house (built in 1999) I figured it from the beginning to have the whole basement for my layout.
The house was custom designed and built at a Modular Plant and moved onto the basement walls in October of 1999.
With all of the utilities up in the main house - this left all of the basement with no restrictions except the posts holding up the house.
I had an Office built off the one end of the basement - separate of the 25 x 75 main basement.
The Office has the stairs coming down in it.
The basement was built with no windows and all of the walls were insulated and drywalled.
A drop ceiling was installed and all of the flourescent lights are attached to the steel frame of the house above and are plugged into outlet boxes run with conduit (8 switches control all of the room lighting)!
The wall outlets have multiple circuits (Switched and non switched) so I can shut down the layout when I leave the room.
Two years ago I added a 16 x 16 room on the back of the basement and when I finally extend the layout into my Office - will have over 2500 sq ft of layout.
I figured that I would never be satisified if i did not do for this layout room size.
One thing about it - it is taxing my modeling skills
BOB H - Clarion, PA
In my pole barn I put the drop ceiling in myself, I rented a laser level that had a spinning laser that kept a line on the wall so I could mount the grid work. I saved about 60% of the cost to have someone install it for me. Took about 4 days to get it all done, but I wasn't in a hurry and it came out real nice. I installed the lighting at the same time and finished the duct work for the HVAC. I did most of the electrical after the contractor installed both electrical panels. I farmed out the HVAC and plumbing and I was able to finished the inside of the barn for just over 27k but this also included indoor/outdoor carpet on the floor too that I had installed. Biggest costs were HVAC and plumbing.