@Mark Boyce posted:As I have mentioned on other topics, our last daughter married in September, leaving us empty nesters. Just a week ago, I helped her and our son-in-law move the rest of her things out of an 11’ 6” x 11’ 4” basement room she had been using as an art studio. This will be my layout room. While I have built layouts in HO and N scales, this will be my first in O gauge, not counting the temporary 4x8 temporary layout that has our Christmas theme and my Ceiling Central RR in a similarly sized room diagonal to the new layout room.
I have hesitated starting a topic of my own layout design as I have been struggling getting some thoughts down on what I am looking to accomplish and realistically look at obstacles and how to address them. First, this is the most room I have ever had for a layout since my first back when I was about 12, but I never built in O gauge, so there are definite restrictions.
I envision this layout depicting the Appalachians, as I have observed in my home state of Pennsylvania and states of Virginia and West Virginia, where I have lived in the past. It seems I like anything that was around before I was born in 1956, so steam to diesel transition era works. I am not sticking to a year or decade. If there is a car or engine I like that is a bit newer, it will be on the layout. Here are some things I want to include:
- A small town
- Some mountains
- I want a look of the trains going somewhere, but realize I may have to rely on imagination in a room less than 12 x 12
- Coal trains and operating accessories
- Logging trains and operating accessories
- Mixed freight
- Passenger trains
- An area of operating accessories for future grandchildren which could be at a lower level than the rest of the track.
- There are more I will add as they come to mind or as you ask questions.
Some thoughts on how to accomplish this in such a small space. As the preliminary SCARM diagram shows. There is a sliding glass door on the right-hand wall as you enter the door from the rest of the basement. I need to keep full access to it. My thoughts have been a ‘U’ shaped layout with the open end of the ‘U’ facing the door. There are 2 windows as well. I do not want to be stretching across the layout, but may have to have turnback loops at the ends of the ‘U’. To accommodate my Premier N&W J 611, Weaver Gold Edition B&O Cincinnatian, and their consists, I think I would have to include a loop around the room. My thoughts have been to put that at the highest level, with lift-out bridges at the opening of the ‘U’.
These are initial thoughts that have been with me for a good while. It is time to put them out there for anyone who wishes to participate to ask questions, give suggestions, or just chat in general. At the outset, I want to thank everyone who contributes in any way. I want to get this close to what works best for me, because I do not want to count on doing heavy rebuilding at a later age. At 60, I realize I could be hampered in the heavier construction sooner than I would hope.
Mark,
As I've looked through the posts, I get the sense that you are more of a scale guy than a tinplater. If I'm right, than I'd really urge you to think about the scenes you want to depict almost before the track plan. Do you want that beautiful "J" to just go around a loop or do you want to use smaller engines like your PRR H and try to model a small branch line. Do you want to get serious about scenery or just "run trains?" Either way is valid and fun. It's about what will give you the most pleasure that matters..
I've been running a 13 1/2 x 15 foot layout for years which into a more toy like layout because my young grandchildren just love all the Lionel operating accessories. But we're about to construct a new master suite with a bonus 19 x 25 train room underneath it. So I'm going to try to design and build this in phases because it already feels overwhelming just to think about everything from layout design to flooring, lighting and where to put in a work shop. The folks on this forum have been wonderfully helpful, as I see they've been to you.
My room won't be ready for at least 6 months, but my first consideration will be how far apart to space the LED "florescent" lights, both laterally and longitudinally and want what "heat" level to use. The late Jim Barrett had a wonderful piece on this but did not deal with spacing the fixtures. So any ideas or experience will be very welcome.
Good luck with your layout. I look forward to comparing notes and sharing ideas with the group and you as our layout plans come together.
