Can anyone recommend a ceiling train firm?

Any carpenter can do it.  It's just a shelf.  Then install the track and trains like you would any other place.

Try www.ceilingtrainkit.com

Jim Williams, a Forum member, does these professionally for restaurants. His e-mail address is ibew.701@att.net.

I hope this helps.

I am quoting on doing the same thing in a renovated train station.  My idea was to use wood brackets spaced 3' or so and span them with plexiglass so you can see the train from below.  I have encountered a couple of snags with this plan.  I could use some other ideas.  Maybe hung from the ceiling?  A plywood shelf would seem to hide the train too much and not have much of a wow factor.  

I do not know how it would look in a restaurant, but we used upside down wire closet shelving from Lowes (http://www.lowes.com/pd_246408...lving&facetInfo=).  It was really easy and cheap to install.  Also, it is easy to clean/dust and you can see the trains through the shelving. 

lionel89:  That is the slickest (and cheapest) solution to this oft-asked question I've ever seen! What's the biggest curve you can put in there?

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! 

Thank you artyoung.  I have O-42 curves.  However, they do make wider shelving and I do not see why larger diameter curves could not be used with the wider self. 

Thanks! 042 covers a lot of equipment, including Standard Gauge.

I totally agree, this is really ingenious.  I particularly like the built-in guardrail by installing the shelving upside-down, and the visibility is great.  This is the way I'll do a ceiling run if I ever get to do one.  Thanks for sharing this!

And to think I was going to use 1 x 6 , and tack on wood side skirt,  I love

FREE ADVICE,  THANKS  !!! the studs are already marked -- what TIMING!!  might as well ask,  how bout < PICS > 360 degrees of the whole room !

thanks a bunch-- I dont have a show case, just toys  I control and the kids

oh and ah at !!

I agree that the wire shelving is a great idea.

Also, if one used clear plexiglass, all the oil from the train would smear the top, then all the dust would cling to the oil, and you would be able to see the whole ugly mess from the bottom, but not be able to clean it. Yuk!

The wire shelving is the best idea I have seen.

Yes it looks great

Yeah, I finally figured out how to download these pictures from my smart phone.  I didn't build this, but I made it run again and have done maintenance on it.  It's a G scaler in the boys shoe department at a store called Von Maur.  this is the kind of joint that has a guy playing grand piano when you walk in 'If I were a rich man'... and sells $ 500 pairs of shoes.  Back to point - they had 5/8" plexiglass dangling on dowel rods with occasional wire to the ceiling.  I can only find 1/4" plexiglass, but have considered some ideas on how to strengthen up my runs.  These G scale trains and tracks are pretty lightweight.  It won't take much to support them I think, but reliability is a major factor.  It's got to work.  Just thinking... Pics for food for thought  

Here is a quick and short 360 video.  Message me if you have any questions..