Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

3-level layout deck heights?

11777 views
60 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Portland, OR
  • 3,119 posts
Posted by jfugate on Monday, May 15, 2006 3:21 PM
electro, deck heights will depend on several factors:

1. How tall is the layout owner? For clubs, what's the typical range of heights among the members, and if you were to pick a member who you would say is "average", how tall us he?

2. What's the average deck width? Narrower decks can be closer together.

3. What's the average deck separation? You can get more decks in your space if you put them closer together.

4. The farther apart you make the decks, the harder it will be to get the trains between the levels. Long multi-turn helix's are just awful, swallowing a train for really long periods of time. Avoid using a helix if you can, but if you need a helix, don't make it have very many tiers -- 2-3 tiers is ideal.

With three decks, at the very least, two of the three decks will not be at an optimum height, which will mean you will need to compromise operation (think NO switching). You run the risk that all 3 decks will not be an an optimum height in order to cram them all in.

Personally, I wouldn't build such a layout because the double-decker I have now (800 square feet) is already plenty of work to build and maintain and still have a life outside the hobby. Still more layout would be too much of a burden for just one guy like me.

But if I were building a tripple decker, I'd consider the lower deck to be no lower than the bottom of my buttocks, and the upper deck to be no higher than my chin. I consider optimum deck height to be the bottom of my *** bone. Each person will need to measure this out for themselves to see what the actual heights turn out to be.

I'm 6'-3", so buttock-bottom height is about 32", brestbone height is about 53", and chin height is about 62".

Joe Fugate Modeling the 1980s SP Siskiyou Line in southern Oregon

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Sweden
  • 2,082 posts
Posted by electrolove on Monday, May 15, 2006 3:09 PM
Sorry, I forgot to tell that I'm in HO scale. The decks are no deeper then 24 inch.
Rio Grande Zephyr 5771 from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah "Thru the Rockies"
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: In the State of insanity!
  • 7,982 posts
Posted by pcarrell on Monday, May 15, 2006 3:03 PM
Are you in HO or N?

In N, if the levels are shallow (not very deep) you can get away with 12 inches seperation + the depth of the lighting and benchwork above. You're gonna have a hard time pulling off the Rocky Mountains with that height and make it believeable though.

HO, probably more like an 18 inch minimum (maybe 20-24) + the depth of the lighting and benchwork above.
Philip
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Sweden
  • 2,082 posts
3-level layout deck heights?
Posted by electrolove on Monday, May 15, 2006 2:56 PM
I'm curious about what deck heights a 3-level layout should have to work.
Rio Grande Zephyr 5771 from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah "Thru the Rockies"

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!