How do you reach the far side of your train table?

My layout is 36" deep and 48" above the floor.  I have a 2' step ladder that suffices.  Even with those dimensions there are times when care must be taken so as not to disturb something on the layout.  I try to keep lower items toward the front and taller ones toward the rear.

I use a Top Side Creeper to improve reach.  Micromark sells them.  I also used a Reacher Grapper for smaller objects.

Topside Creeper and a Reacher Grabber.

My 5 foot X 10 foot table has one 10 foot side against a wall.

I built the benchwork on casters to be able to move the table away from the wall.

No problem at all - I just reach over there.  I knew when I started to never make any part of the layout further away than I can comfortably reach. A little thought and advance planning can pay off forever.

Some folks with really large layouts have built in support for portable walkways and maintenance stands.

The big hole on the middle, step-stools, and a great deal of difficulty.  I wish I had had other options when I built it.

Cantilevered off the wall   for 215' on three levels 35", 45" & 55"  high with staggered viewing of differing levels.  Most of everything is within reach.  However, in order to execute certain features I do need to use a topside creeper in a few places.  Should have been smaller.

Our layout "table" is built strong enough to hold at least 3 to 5 adults on top of it. Thus, even though the scenery & buildings are complete, I put rubber pads down on top of the track, and on my hands and knees, I can CAREFULLY reach anything on the layout.

I could reach everything but the corners on my little attic layout. For working the corners I removed the Service Yard stuff and placed risers between the tracks to elevate a 3/4" sheet of plywood to lay my belly on while standing on a short ladder, or crawl up on it if necessary. After essentially completing the corner work I just reach in with a duster periodically. Light wires for structures are still not connected to quick connects underneath. Photos below:

With my Hand! that's why I did not build any where on the layout larger than my reach!

My around the room layout is 32" deep and 34" off the floor.  That's are far as I can comfortably reach.

I have a Topside Creeper that's like new and has been assembled but never used.  I live in Northeast Ohio and would like to sell it to someone that can pick it up assembled that way I can avoid shipping cost, etc.  Reading the above it seems like other like it for the vary reason of not being able to reach areas on the layout.  I'm looking not at a set price but a fair offer.  Thanks, Ron P.

Dan Padova posted:

My layout is 36" deep and 48" above the floor.  I have a 2' step ladder that suffices.  Even with those dimensions there are times when care must be taken so as not to disturb something on the layout.  I try to keep lower items toward the front and taller ones toward the rear.

That's pretty much the way I had my basic framework built as well:  A "U"-shaped layout built 48" off the floor (with shelves underneath all the way around). Depth is 36" all around, except for the two open ends and the closed corners of the "U", so I can easily reach most every area without crawling under or on top of the layout. Can also reach virtually all areas of the much wider ends from three sides and the corner areas at the opposite end from two sides (using a small step-stool for the furthest reaches, which won't be a problem because those areas will generally have easily-removable scenery).

At my age, and based on my previous layout-building experience, I want to make things as easy as possible for these old bones. Once I really get working on the layout, there will be more than enough to keep me busy for years.

That's what Grand kids are for. They love playing Godzilla and walking on top to get things for me.

Steve "Papa" Eastman

Like this....

Area under tanks lifts up and turns to the side.

"Thing" from the Adams family helped me design this 

Old man in the mountain.

Also in the last picture the area behind the water tower opens up.

I mounted it on casters so I just move it away from the wall

DUDE23112,

After having several multi-level layouts, in our Churchill home's office and game room, where I had to reach across or even stand on to complete building work.   I constructed my new Train Room layouts, both using Ceiling Shelf Construction around the entire Train Room, and have completed a Big Bar Top layout, that can be walked behind and worked on from both sides.  

With the construction yet to take place in the rest of the 29'x18' Train Room, there will be a Mid- Isle to fully access the waste high Train Platforms.

PCRR/Dave

I use the long arm of the law.... I'm 6'5"- nothing I can't reach.....

Seriously though....one corner, on the 4' deep side of my layout is a stretch.

My current layout is 24’ across the back, 8’ on the left side and 18’ on the right side. It’s, for the most part, 48” deep...so some areas can indeed, be a stretch! When building this layout, I used casters on all of the legs...and if something toward the rear or corners need attention, then I roll it out a couple of feet from the wall at the rear and have easy access that way. Being in my mid 70’s...it can be a heavy brute to move, especially by myself, but rolling it about 6 inches at a time on opposite ends, gets it done. The process, of course, is done in reverse when returning it to the original position against the wall.

Here is the original track plan:

I'm thinking about installing some zip lines.  

I like the zip line idea!!

My layout is 6ft at the widest, and accessible from both sides... so it is only 3 ft to reach.  Most all else is mostly 4 ft across, and height is only 27".  Not only does this elevation make for easy reaches, but easy to work under when on creeper, plenty of room above to add more elevations later date and expand, good viewing for kids and others.

Jesse

I just walk around to the other side.

Topside Creeper, 2 Reacher Grabbers and a special board that I made to layover track in case I need to letdown or get on top of the layout. Which has yet to be built. I had them at the old house and used them on the old layout.Thought they would come in handy on the new layout.

My layout is only 9' x 6' with one 6' side against the wall. Everything is easily reachable.

I climb on top of my layout, luckily I don't have any scenery really so I do not need to worry about things being knocked over or ruined through various means.

Warning! Obscure cartoonist reference straight ahead.

"How do you reach the far side" - I refer to Gary Larson, the source of all human knowledge.

Tom

My layout is full double deck, with one level 30" above the raised floor in the aisle, and the other 60". There are a few tricky spots to reach, but for the most part, I can get to everything using a variety of ladders and step stools and a couple access holes in the lower level. Planning makes all the difference.

This shot just shows all the levels of the layout.

The access hole in this photo will become unnecessary once the scenery and structures are in place. A structure will cover the hole, and any derailed cars can be rescued with a grabber.

The area behind the post is a very long reach. I have a cushion I can throw over the mains, to work back there. Again, once the scenery is done, a grabber should take care of this.

I've already used this hole, to paint rail and ballast back in this corner. I'll be back there a bunch more in the near future, as I finish the scenery.

Both the upper and lower decks, back in this corner, are difficult. Again, move a few things, throw down the cushion, and bingo.

The upper deck can also be accessed from holes on either side of the roundhouse.

The long reach to the back tracks here, can be done by standing on the lower deck. There are a lot of places where I have to do that.

I saw a cartoon where a guy had made a harness where he could hold himself  and hover over the layout.

Dennis Rempel posted:

I saw a cartoon where a guy had made a harness where he could hold himself  and hover over the layout.

Think Dabney Coleman in the movie 9 to 5 

Mine is an island type layout with swinging gate access to center.

I climb on the table. Stupid, I know. The problem is a steam yard is big and wide. I am, also, big and wide.

So, that is big and wide to the second power.

My layout is 40" High and 4' deep in some spots. I use what is known as a top side creeper that allows you to climb on it and reach down to the layout area from above. 

42" tall benchwork, and tried to keep the maximum reach to 30".

The Layout above displays the simple solution - - Don't build a table!   Build an around the walls layout on benchwork 30 inches or less wide with a liftout for the door.    You can reach everything - narrower than 30 if  you have sort arms, and you get a longer run and more square footage for scenery.

Scrapiron Scher posted:

I climb on the table. Stupid, I know. The problem is a steam yard is big and wide. I am, also, big and wide.

So, that is big and wide to the second power.