Ideas for a STD Gauge layout

8 loops is a lot of track. Reconsider less loops and more sidings. 8 trains at once can be overwhelming.

Things to consider are do you want around the wall or Island.

Bob,

22x32 is an enormous amount of space -- even for Standard Gauge.  And what you're asking here is akin to walking into a cusom builder's office and asking him to build a house on a 5-acre tract of land.    He'd probably want to interview you before he even begins drafting up a set of blueprints.

Search the forum's "Track Planning and Layout Design" sub-forum for helpful info.  There will likely be some good threads that feature excellent tips for a variety of layout designs.  What's good for one person may not be the ticket for another.  Much will depend upon the things that are important to YOU.

Sounds like you're leaning toward a layout design that just lets the trains run continuously (as opposed to one where operations are patterened after real roalroads).  And that's fine.  Just realize that that 8 loops of toy trains can get pretty noisy.

Some folks prefer to pack lots of track into their real estate... while others prefer less track to allow for more dramatic scenic possibilities.

There's no right or wrong approach... Just thinking out loud here.  Good luck.  Layout designing can be a very creative and rewarding part of this hobby.

David

One idea is I would highly recommend watching all the TM Tinplate Legends as well as other DVDs to get a feel of other tinplate layouts. You can then build a mental logbook of dos and don'ts.

Tim

With a room that large one should consider a smaller layout with furniture in the room.

I miss my smaller layout with an open furnished room. I used to use this room for TV and just turning the layout lights on.

My layout was built at a height of 24". It combines standard gauge and O gauge and incorporates an elevated trolley line.

Hi Bob,

Build it as a floating island and allow 4' all around making the layout table 14 x 24. I like the wedding cake look of one layer in the center. perhaps put the O on that and STD around the outside on the lower level. The floating table provides a full 360° of viewing angles. It's usually discounted due to lack of space, a problem that you don't have. Round the ends for a nice look.

USA Track should have what you need for STD (87, 72, 57 and 42) and Menard's has the O (96, 72, 54 and 36) for all new tubular track. You'll have to sacrifice a loop somewhere to get a good track to scenery ratio.

Tom Snyder's layout is one of my favorites, although the shape came about as it was custom built for two rooms, a rectangle and a round room of a turret on the house.

Look at as many layouts as you can.

Carl, Joe, Jim, Tim, and David thank you for your info.

I am leaning heavily towards an island design. O in the middle sounds good. I also forgot to add in a monorail. and eventually the race track. I will check out the dvds. I have them here somewhere.  An area for tv and visiting sounds good too. I will have many questions over the next 6 months.

Thanks,

Bob

Just a thought here, but you could put your O tin on an island and the Standard on the perimeter with an isle in the center?

That is a lot of space to fill and a big undertaking. Not sure if i would want to try to do it all at once.  maybe half then add to it as you go along. I am enjoying my ONE standard gauge loop with 4 O gauge. If I had the room i would put more standard down. One thing I am sold on are 072 curves. thinking of changing another loop to 072 if I can fit it in.

Tim and Jim:  I thought about that. I hurt my back almost 4 years ago and my old layout was full of duckunders, narrow walkways, and popouts.  I'm not sure if I could reach 87" curves in all spots. That is why I'm leaning towards the island, but I have roughed out several possibilities. Nothing in concrete. I appreciate bouncing ideas off you guys. When I started my layout in 05, I didn't think about all the negatives, I just started building and as I accumulated more stuff, I engineered track and space for it.  Then the tinplate bug hit in 2010, and the layout grew again. Up, up ,up. Fun to operate with zero health issues, but it has been almost silent and untouched for 4 years. I did build some loops in the house however. Now I have feeling back in my leg and my nerves are doing better. Accessibility would be my top priority. Murphy's law, it all goes wrong just slightly out of reach. I agree with the 72 curves. Menards 96 curves are on my radar as well. I will begin tearing down my old layout during Spring Break, and posting pics of the progress. In the meantime, I will bombard you guys will all kinds of questions, and zero in on a track plan.

Bob

You know, with lower extremity issues. You could consider two options. One being to put the layout up high enough that you can comfortably work under it using a small office chair. This requires you to stand to watch the trains. Gives you more storage though. Another option, is to put it low enough that you can lay on a good creeper to work underneath it and then sit in a comfortable large office chair to watch it. The later is what I am planning, my layout top is only going to be around 24 inches high. Again just thoughts.

Tim

The creeper idea is a good one.

Bob

One possibility is around the wall , narrow enough to reach across. My 5 tracks are about 22" total so 24" would work. Depends if you want all the O together and the Standard together plus clearances.   With the around the wall you have enough room for a peninsula or two. One could be your engine facility.  A lot of guys like a high layout but with back issues that might not work.  I wanted to be able to look down and across on mine so it is 33" high. That way i got 3 legs out of an 8'  board. It has worked well. i can see across and I sit on a high stool by the transformers. Not practical with a big layout like yours. With problems like yours I don't think you will be under the layout much. I have switches in the attic -didn't use them. started with used track, put new tubular track down then went with the long 36" straights and wider curves. I wasted a lot of $$ doing that but happy with it. I like tubular with my old Ives and Lionels but like the look of Gargaves.  I would think comfort and accessibility would be top priority.  If I planned one like that, I think, I would have points of interest connected with running track.  Good luck. Keep us posted.

The island layout is limited to 8 feet wide without popups because of reach. I like the island with trains on the walls on 3 sides. Curves also dominate unless the layout is long. The around the wall is more operational orientated and easily allows vignettes of scenes.

I have 2 layouts one in O gauge with a height that allows me to sit on the floor and not hit my head on the layout joists. My STD gauge layout which is a little lower I just hit the top of my head on the joists (PITA).

Whatever you build make the bench work modular. All layouts do come down eventually.

Here is a link to a layout that is made from retired SGMA modules. If you look close one can see the 87 then 72 and finally 42 loops around the outside. All curves at the corners would make it 8 feet wide so this has straights making it a little wider but has center openings. 

Thanks for the link. I really like that setup. Need to figure out how to incorporate  O tin. Keeps the tips coming!

Thanks,

Bob

Hello My friends, You have a very nice Standard Gauge and O scale layout that looks cool and neat. I love you made a small layout with your trains to me that is the best 2 scales on one layout. I hope you have lot fun with your trains and your layout. You do nice work too my friend great job too. thanks longbow57ca. I just love small layouts I am really a big fan of small layouts and modular railroading. Thanks for showing your work.

CP BOB posted:

The creeper idea is a good one.

Bob

Just another thought here and to add one more idea to Timdude's post above, you can also get a mechanic's stool to get around under the layout. That is what I use with a layout height of 40". the 40" is a tad low for me at 5' 9' tall, but works for me if I duck for the cross braces. I think about 42"-44" might have been a little better, but I also have a grandson who I wanted to be able to see and reach the layout top. Anyway, table top is probably less than required for an office chair and more than required for a creeper, ending up somewhere in between.

I got two different mechanic's stools at Harbor Freight for about $20 each. Both have a tool tray under the stool which is handy for screws, wire accessories, tools and other things. Both stools are fairly nice and also sturdy, one is slightly taller than the other. I can use them both, but the shorter one is my preferred stool. I have a bad back, knee and hip and these have really helped me, probably would not have been able to work under the layout without them.

Bob,

I did some concept work on the Island at 14' x 28'. First a track sizing exercise. Then a look at a different way to get 4 STD trains running not on concentric loops.

Then finally, shaping the table like an hourglass to provide maximum access for a wheelchair. After the hourglass shape, considering O can be anywhere mixed around all of your accessories.

remember-the final table is still 14' wide and 28' long.

Just something to consider...

Carl, that is a very imaginative design. Thank you for taking the time to create and share this. Definitely something to consider.

Thanks,

Bob

Bob

After the Holidays, I'll have to drive out and we can stare at your space for a while and contemplate.

Steve

Steve,

I was hoping you would offer something like that. I think you need to figure out how four roundhouse fit anywhere!

Bob,

The hourglass with STD & O provides a reach from the edge of 32" except for the center which is around 37". While it accomplishes the track count and access Druthers, it creates a high track to scenery ratio. It leaves an almost 5' x 9' in the center for buildings and such. Not much for all of your stuff.

Hojack has a nice plan with multiple tables and Gauges using around the wall and a small island or two with aisles. It has a nice feel and may be the direction that you want to go. he doesn't have an email in his profile and I couldn't find his postings of his train room overview photos.

Anyway, I wanted to push this concept to a conclusion. While attractive for a few lines, it will lose something with 8 lines.

Let see what can be created with sectional rectangles.

Steve, sounds like a plan. 

Carl, maybe I can extend one end to a short L.

Bob