crawlspace basement layout

Garrett76 posted:

Anyone build a layout in a crawlspace?

I'm buying a house with a 1/2 basement (unfinished) and it's going to be mostly filled with non-train items in storage.  I just had an epiphany that I could fit a layout with very large radius turns into the unused area.  During the home inspection, the crawlspace appeared to be very clean and spacious.  The surface is about 4 ft above the regular basement floor and the opening is about 2-3 ft tall.  It seems all finished in cement with no exposure to the dirt underneath. 

Perhaps I could build a framed plywood base and rig up some rollers so that I can pull the layout out like a giant drawer.  Maybe put some lights and mirrors on the top so that I can see to the far end of the layout.

Anyone do or hear about something like this?

Thanks

"For everything there is a first.  Don't you agree admiral?" Captain Spock

Sounds like a plan.  I'd take Captain Spock's advice and go for it.  Sounds like an interesting concept worth documenting if you proceed.

How are you going to work on anything with only 2-3 feet of height?

roll it out like a giant drawer, work on it, roll it back in.  the end would need to be supported by a rolling cart intended to hold the weight and keep the benchwork level.  It is my intention to be able to run trains while the layout is recessed in the crawlspace as well as rolled out into the room.

roll it out like a giant drawer, work on it, roll it back in.  the end would need to be supported by a rolling cart intended to hold the weight and keep the benchwork level.  It is my intention to be able to run trains while the layout is recessed in the crawlspace as well as rolled out into the room.

I hope you will share the plans / design to build such a structure.
I briefly considered building a crawlspace layout myself.

My answer is a resounding YES. In my signature line below is my website for my layout. It will show photos of my progress in digging this out. The layout was featured in OGR Run # 279 August/September 2015. My layout is 46' x 30' under my house. You only have to dig out where you want the isles. Only problem here in the Ozarks is you have to mine the limestone, not dig the dirt. My email is listed in my profile and I will be more than happy to give you any advice and encouragement that I can.

You only have to act like you are a 12 year old digging out of jail. Believe me, it is worth it.

Roger Wasson posted:

My answer is a resounding YES. In my signature line below is my website for my layout. It will show photos of my progress in digging this out. The layout was featured in OGR Run # 279 August/September 2015. My layout is 46' x 30' under my house. You only have to dig out where you want the isles. Only problem here in the Ozarks is you have to mine the limestone, not dig the dirt. My email is listed in my profile and I will be more than happy to give you any advice and encouragement that I can.

You only have to act like you are a 12 year old digging out of jail. Believe me, it is worth it.

Thank you, sir!  I do remember reading the article about your project and was completely amazed.  Great work!

I have considered longer term options such as building a train room structure in the backyard and/or excavating some or all of the rest of the basement.

For now, my short term goal is planning a layout to sit on the crawlspace "shelf" (right word?).  I'm in the information gathering stage

Interesting idea. Great way to make use of available space.
A simple roller system can be created with fixed casters and u channel. Have some legs on the front that can fold down to support the table.

Please keep us posted.

Bob

Where there's a will, there's a way. Check out this British layout in a 4 ft. crawlspace. 

Firewood posted:

Where there's a will, there's a way. Check out this British layout in a 4 ft. crawlspace. 

IMPRESSIVE!

Any chance of using the crawl space for storage and the main basement area for the layout?

anything is possible.  I like to use 5 tier plastic shelves and I build custom wood bases with casters.  I make use of all vertical space and roll the carts close together so there is no wasted space in the room.  the crawl space would be a natural fit for a layout while the vertical space in the room is good for shelves on wheels

I would just dig the dirt out from the crawl space and make a bigger basement!

Just remember to shore up the house footings.

Roger Wasson posted: his web site

 

Roger, having trouble getting to your website. Do I have it right at: 
www.solidrockrailroad.webs.com  ?? I just double-checked and it is failing to load. 

What Joe said 

Good idea! My father-in-laws' house has one of those areas. Pull the layout out for running and store it when finished? 

Get a small humidistat from Home Depot and check the crawl space. That crypt could hold a lot of moisture.

You'll need a dehumidifier for the basement anyway.

Firewood posted:

Where there's a will, there's a way. Check out this British layout in a 4 ft. crawlspace. 

 

Wow, makes me look like a wimp.  Crawling on his hands and knees at 60+.  That's devotion.  If I did that very long, my wife could just put my epitaph on the access hatch when I expired down there.  Really not a bad way to go, running trains til the end.

Chris Sheldon

Garrett76 posted:

Firewood posted:

Where there's a will, there's a way. Check out this British layout in a 4 ft. crawlspace. 

 

IMPRESSIVE!

You'll notice the occupational hazard - the owner has a kinda permanent-looking crick in his neck there...

LaramieJoe posted:

Roger Wasson posted: his web site

 

Roger, having trouble getting to your website. Do I have it right at: 
www.solidrockrailroad.webs.com  ?? I just double-checked and it is failing to load. 

I just tried hitting it and had no trouble. Please try again.

My layout is on a raised crawlspace in an unfinished basement. The space was rock-filled and covered with a tarp. I had is sealed (to keep out radon gas) and then covered it with 4 x 8 foam sheets with indoor-outdoor carpet on that. It's not exactly even - which I don't mind - because it gives me another excuse to jockey a throttle. It's about 4 and 1/2 feet above the basement ground so I use a step stool to climb up and crawl around. The space has served me well and hosted several versions of a layout over the past 2 decades!

Put folding legs on it like a stretcher legs so they auto fold and unfold when you pull it out.

Or put a track and roller on ceiling and support the layout with rods or wire/hooks so the weight is held by ceiling and you don't need legs.  Something like this.

Roger Wasson posted:

LaramieJoe posted:

Roger Wasson posted: his web site

 

Roger, having trouble getting to your website. Do I have it right at: 
www.solidrockrailroad.webs.com  ?? I just double-checked and it is failing to load. 

I just tried hitting it and had no trouble. Please try again.

It might have something to do with my University's security setup. Still not loading here (where I should be doing work anyway ;-) - I will try it at home. Sorry to be a pest!

RSJB18 posted:

Interesting idea. Great way to make use of available space.
A simple roller system can be created with fixed casters and u channel. Have some legs on the front that can fold down to support the table.

Please keep us posted.

Bob

I like the u-channel suggestion.  I plan on using casters and the u-channel will allow me to do things a little bigger.  I'd like to make the layout 8' wide and 12' deep.  I will likely have to roll this out over top of a pool table.  If I build a modular set of frames that can be pieced together around the pool table and use joists across the top, I can place the u-channel on top and roll it straight out.  I like minimalist designs and this should work.  I won't start the build for a few months, but this gives me good design ideas

banjoflyer posted:

An alternative plan for access to the crawl space...

Mark

LOL

You might like this Canadian crawl space layout - 42" high and low-rider garage stools.

https://winnipegmodelrailroadc...-silver-springs.html

https://winnipegmodelrailroadc...space-layout-on.html

We I was a kid my neighbor had an HO layout in his crawl space, but he had probably 48" of clearance.