4' X 7' display with 5 loops, Completed

When we decided we wanted to have a more permanent train display we thought to base it on the Christmas display of 2012. Initially it was going to be a modular display that could be dismantled easily and moved to the living room for next Christmas. As work progressed this idea kind of fell away. Now the thinking is just getting the the table built so we can run trains will inspire us to continue improvements.

The first phase of construction was the bench work. We wanted something mobile that could be rolled around to allow access to the closets and move over obstacles such as end tables and night stands. What we came up with is 86" X 50" or approximately 7' X 4' table built on a foundation of 14 ball casters.

To keep the weight down and make it easier to move we used 1/4" plywood reinforced with 1x2's supported by Folgers Coffee canisters on the two upper tiers. A side from cotton batting we also incorporated foam pipe insulation for sound suppression.

For the most part all of the track is floating atop the cotton batting. The Real Trax on the third tier is mounted to foam poster board with cotton batting sandwiched between the track and the poster board. The O27 track is mounted directly to foam poster board. The poster board on the top two tiers is floating atop the cotton batting.

The final display gave us a four tiered display with five loops, twelve tunnel portals and plenty of room for accessories, coming in at just over 4' x 7' and 55" high. It's difficult to see from these views but there are two bridges on the top tier.

Above is the view from lying in bed. Because of the mobile transformer table all the controls can be moved within arms reach while comfortably having breakfast and coffee in the morning.

This is the end of the begining. Now I start planning on how to replace the cotton batting with real landscape, one tier at a time.

I call this a display instead of a layout, I think that's apropriate because it doesn't have the intricate detail and switching capabilities I see accomplished by the real modelers.