If you had the opportunity to design your own train room, what would it include? A second floor room with stairs in the center of the room to allow an "around the walls" layout with no duck under? A drop ceiling with can lighting? What kind of flooring? HVAC? Windows? I may have the opportunity to do this. What would you include/exclude?
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Restroom. Separate area for workbench. Spray painting area with exhaust. Seating area. Wall switch to turn off all layout power. Lights on a separate circuit (blow a fuse and the lights stay on). Consider how your physical capabilities will change in the future and design accordingly, and consider the physical limitations of your visitors.
Width and length to support the largest diameter curves suitable for your planned fleet of locomotives and equipment.
Whether walk-around or around-the-walls plan for comfortable aisles: two feet is absolute minimum for one-way traffic, and three feet allows two people to squeeze pass each other.
Display space to show off your collection. Space for storage of boxes.
Variable color lighting to simulate day-to-night transition.
Access to house equipment if present: power panel, WH, HVAC, etc.
Jan
If possible have it built on the ground floor of your house, so you don't have to climb stairs, have 2 doors, one from inside the house and one from the outside. A separate ventilation system so nobody complains about smoke going into the house.
A basement with access stairs in the middle with an outside entrance (and associated duck under/drop leaf).
Good lighting, no finished ceiling. No carpeting; layout room floors get gnarly. Bare floors are easy to clean. Just sweep and mop.
An alcove for a workshop with associated duck under/drop leaf. Alcove shared with furnace and water heater. Bathroom is a nice to have. Refrigerator and a way to make tea are a nice to have - must haves for tea drinkers.
Lots of storage space that allows for rolling carts with shelves. That makes it easier to get under the layout.
Lots of accessible display space. I have wall display shelves and suspended display shelves. Remember that you'll need two hands to put locomotives onto the shelves.
Convenient electrical outlets for corded tools like soldering irons and chargers.
I am intentionally leaving the "Dream Button" OFF. If one genuinely has the opportunity to have layout space, then I think one truly needs to preface ANY action with a LOT of thought. Such as...
The first priority: Where are you at in life?
IF you're in the winter of your life (i.e. past 60), then the following general health issues need to be considered:
* How is your overall health? Do you have heart issues, joint issues, back problems, are you significantly overweight? Etc? Not talking about the little aches and pains that happen with natural aging and happens to all, but talking existing health issues that may make mobility additionally difficult as the years pass. IF you have health issues, you need to factor that in and temper your "go big or go home" approach. (If you have any such thoughts in regard to your future layout.) Instead, you need to consider that steep flights of stairs will eventually become a deterrent, as will duck-unders and other contortion requiring ploys. You will also need the mobility to be under the bench work stringing wire/whatever. If you already have some existing health challenges, consider scaling back you scope and plan ways to accommodate your challenges. Retirement age (i.e. 65+ is NOT a good time to start from scratch and start a huge layout by yourself. A huge layout requires years in the making, years.
* Are the factors that determine where you live currently within your control? If you have a job that may fold out from under you, or transfer you, etc, that will need to be considered before you sink what will eventually be 5 figure values into creating/finishing the space, materials for the layout, wiring, the train equipment, etc, etc. An individual building a model railroad on a larger scope (500+ square feet) takes a good deal of money AND work (which equates to time.)
* Where are you at with model trains? Do you currently have the needed skills to design, then build, a significant sized layout? Even with the skills, it will be a LOT of work and meaningful time investment to get from an empty room to a functioning layout.
* Lastly, consider asking yourself: What do I want to do within the hobby? Is your interest found in reflecting traditional toy train type layouts? (Which can simplify the bench worked needed and such.) Are you wanting to take the "Hi-Rail" approach and plan your track to have more prototype "feel" along with the desire undulating "sincere" scenery? Do like to just watch the trains go? Do you know if you like switching challenges? These aspects and more will need to be factored into what type of layout would best suit where you want to go with your model railroading.
IF there will be period of time before circumstances allow commencing construction, I encourage you to thoughtfully consider the above points and do your absolute best to learn and understand what you're going to be getting into BEFORE any money is laid out. IF you do so, you may discover your "Givens n' Druthers" will favor a simpler and smaller approach.
Best of luck to you!
Andre
I did design my present layout room and I am happy with it. It's a basement room that I finished before I started the layout. I have a half bath, a separate workshop, a computer desk, and a sitting area with a large screen TV and a large table. Also important was two stairways, one from the inside hallway inside and the other from the garage to use for guests and things that make a mess. Both were designed straight down with no bends or corners so as to better carry plywood and etc. down. Ended up with about a 6 ft by 20 ft layout space. Built a 16 ft display shelving into a wall with glass doors to keep out dust.
Layout has no duck-unders, minimum of 3 ft wide aisles, and is 42 inches off the floor.
Didn't think of everything (does anyone?) but am very happy with the way it turned out.
Art
Without getting into lighting color temperature since it is such a personal thing (3000K, 4000K, 5000K, etc.), what kind of fixtures would you want? Recessed, can, track, hanging, flat panel? I currently have LED shop lights while rebuilding the layout. Very bright, but not dimmable.
My layout room was designed by me online and built by Tuff Shed. I have LED lights (with a dimmer switch) on the ceiling, a few train-related decorations on the walls, a custom backdrop from Trainjunkies (designed with my input), and of course, my 11' 4" X 15' 4.5" layout that I'm slowly working on.
Of course, I would love to have a large basement or separate shed, garage, etc. that I could build a much larger layout, but I make do with the space I have. At least I have O72 and larger curves (O84 max) on my layout. That's important to me.
Some of the most important things to consider: Heating, cooling, and moisture. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada, where it is really hot in the summer and cool in the winter. It's pretty dry here, but for someone in, say, Florida, where it rains more often, moisture is a major problem.
Andre, you are definitely in the running for Post of the Year with your thoughtful advice to potential layout builders (4 posts above this one). It should be required reading for ANYONE contemplating a layout build.
@Bob posted:Andre, you are definitely in the running for Post of the Year with your thoughtful advice to potential layout builders (4 posts above this one). It should be required reading for ANYONE contemplating a layout build.
Bob, you said what I was thinking, but I couldn’t say it so well!
It is all so true, Andre!
Hi from Michigan & I hope to see you out rail-fanning. 🚂
A huge layout requires years in the making, years.
A huge or even large layout is also not unlike a small child that never grows up and moves out -- it's a source of endless maintenance and care taking. Some may find joy in that, but not unlike the owner, it gets old. Setting and accepting realistic limits and objectives can be be more rewarding than a endless and frustrating journey.
BTW, my layout is in the back corner of the basement, rather small, no windows, no plumbing or H/VAC to consider, quite dry and perhaps something of a rarity, it's finished. I on rare occasions tweak some details in the scenery, but that sense of completion accomplishment satisfaction is hard to discount.
The 'train room" at Mottler Station is a make-over of an L-shaped addition to the rear of the house built by the former owner (a draftsman) who used it as a home office. That addition was made with two levels to conform to the slope of the land, which became an challenge when installing a 15x19-feet layout. The addition included a workshop - very convenient.
The layout platform was made from hollow-core doors - widened to four feet, supported by SKIL plastic sawhorses, and covered with green patio carpeting. It was placed in the room with minimum-width aisles on all but one side.
With 20/20 hindsight, what I'd do differently and recommend to others ...
1) Remove ceiling florescent fixtures, and install dimmable track lighting fixtures instead.
2) In this case, raise the section of floor so that the entire room has ONE level.
3) Change the walk-around layout to an against-the-wall layout; give up aisle space on two sides of the "L" in favor
of creating more layout platform space for O72 curves. I'm limited to O42 curves at present; some of my best trains can't
be run on the layout and instead rest as shelf queens on display.
4) Because I couldn't "build out," I "built up" instead and installed a L-shaped upper level as a Christmas area with 36 Dept
56 lighted porcelain buildings with three short trolley lines. Regretfully, I didn't have rise-to-run space for train access
to/from the upper levels.
Mike Mottler LCCA 12394
hmm my dream layout room would a large carpeted well ventalated space probably the size of half my current house.
the layout itself would be an around the room layout featuring traditional o gauge, modern european / american tinplate and japanese large scale / ogauge and battery powered toys
in the center of the room connected by custom tinplate style bridges will be a large city island with a custom "World Union Station" inspired by the old marklin stations where all the trains of different countries and sizes meet and load and unload . it will be a TOY train layout a more modern version of what is seen in Toccata For Toy trains
that is if i ever have plenty of time and help and funds to accomplish it
Andre has said it all.
It was fortunate that I was able to have built a train room at the back of the garage. It has an awkward building line because of the county building codes and set backs. But it’s 18’ across the top and 22’ down the left side. The right side comes in at 12’ feet. Many of my insights came from reading the adventures of others on the Forum. But we went with mini-splits, extra outlets in the walls and outlets in the floor. The lighting is LEDs with dimmers. Outside rail is 54 degree curves and 42 on the inner. There are two independent trolley lines.
Used up a lot of paper and then multiple renditions on AnyRail.
In retrospect I would have designed it from the backdrop out. But, the bench work was built and I had laid, and removed, rails numerous times before having my eyes opened in Run 327 and the article authored by Ronnie Tong, Jr. I. the same edition there is an excellent article by forumite “Trumptrain”. Both very inspirational.
So the reality is something that I could not have envisioned. My suggestion would be; be patient and do your research. When you think you’re done, read some more.
Jay
I'm in the planning stage, I intend to utilize the space which I have available, keeping in mind that I don't have enough years left, the discretionary funds, or available space, to build an a "train empire" sort of layout.
I intend to recreate my childhood layout, but on a larger scale. That way, I will be able to actually build a layout that will allow me to run the stuff I have acquired over the years. More importantly, I will be able to simply enjoy running my trains.
It may not be my dream layout, but it will a feasible and realistic alternative. That's good enough for me!
John, however you choose to create your layout it will be your dream layout. I truly believe that by engaging in this hobby we increase our lifespan. You are working with your hands, you’re using your imagination, and your neuronal networks are increasing because you are engaged and problem solving.
Please update us on your progress.
Jay
One thing that has worked well for me is a separate model shop from the train room. The model shop has a utility sink which is essential for painting structures and figures, as well as all of the model tools mounted on the wall, a big workbench and a wall mounted shop vac. It also has an exhaust fan I had put in to pull out all the paint fumes. And lots of vertical wall mounted shelves for all the kits and supplies.
A very small room can serve as the model shop. Then my railroad room will be more of a "presentation room" without all the dust and debris and paint fumes that come from the model construction side.
@laming posted:IF you're in the winter of your life (i.e. past 60), then the following general health issues need to be considered:
Say it aint so....I am 58. Winter can't be coming that fast! Still maybe late fall
I have told my wife next, I want a smaller house and a bigger train room. Still negotiating...will let you know how it goes....
1. daylight - like to have natural light
2. no duck under learned my lesson this time.
3. small workshop adjacent
Don't know if this was mentioned in an earlier post, but another suggestion is to set the height of your layout so that you can work under it while sitting on a rolling stool rather than on your back. Getting on and off of a creeper gets old quickly.
Put down indoor/outdoor carpeting everywhere, or place padded foam mats in the walking/standing areas. A rolling stool will roll on tight carpet but not easily on the foam.
My ideal train room would be a full-sized basement the size of the entire house footprint, ideally rectangular with two very long sides, entered by a stair into the center of the room, with no other doors and no windows, with an 8'6" ceiling. Furnace, water heater, slop sink, and electrical panel would be co-located to take minimal room under the stair. The room would have a finished ceiling with only general lighting for use when the layout is not in use, and for the service area. this lighting would not be used when the layout was in use with its own behing-the-valence lighting. Ideally, non-model-RR shop equipment and tools would be in a different space. No need for fancy walls since the backdrop would cover that behind the railroad and drapes would cover them below it. It would be heated and air-conditioned, but ideally would be its own zone for both to avoid excess cost in a space not used daily. I agree carpet is a mistake. I would consider the rubber flooring used in gyms. I installed it in our home gym and use the leftovers as walkways over my concrete floor. It can be mopped after you spill plaster on it, but paint is more permanent (ask me how I know).
Many of these features can be approximated in your space after the fact. I stapled black landscape cloth to cover the open basement ceiling, and portable heaters and air-conditioners are available. Windows and doors can be covered. I chose to avoid using spaces where access to utility features was required, preferring less-but-pure railroad space to more-but-substandard railroad space filled with distracting features.
I agree with almost everything mentioned in the comments but unfortunately, we don't always have the opportunity or finances (OR TIME) to have our dream layout room. Two years ago, I was house hunting in a new state with the hopes of the perfect train room. My hunt lasted TWO YEARS! Fortunately, I had an awesome realtor who understood my needs and we would do house tours via our phones. The sprawling ranchers (not my ideal home) with unfinished basements offered the best world but it would mean lots of time and money to refinish PLUS the one we liked the most was on a highway, so we turned it down. I purchased a home with a finished lower level, heat and AC, a separate room for my studio/workshop and the so-called crawl space not only houses the HVAC and HW heater but leaves PLENTY of room for storage. Oh, and I have a full bath down there as well as a walkout to a very small deck. Much of the requirements mentioned in the comments are answered for. I spent money for an electrician to install curved track lighting which mimics my trackwork and painted the wall a lighter version of the deep blue-violet-gray which is on the other walls. THIS allowed me to start right onto the layout without spending a year finishing the space. The only negative is that the doors and windows do not allow me to have full use of the room for the layout but 12x16 L-shaped will do and more importantly is that I love hanging out down there; it is not the depressing, low-ceilinged, damp, unfinished basement in my prior home. YOU have to decide what will be the most important features for YOU!
@Mallard4468 posted:Don't know if this was mentioned in an earlier post, but another suggestion is to set the height of your layout so that you can work under it while sitting on a rolling stool rather than on your back. Getting on and off of a creeper gets old quickly.
Put down indoor/outdoor carpeting everywhere, or place padded foam mats in the walking/standing areas. A rolling stool will roll on tight carpet but not easily on the foam.
My rolling stool is a lifesaver
Wow, what a great question, many great thoughts, and building our dream layouts, if it really happens is a true blessing. Andre nailed it, you measure your wealth by your health. Health is such an important part of allowing us to bend, crawl, stand on ladders, and do carpentry, electrical work, so many bi-products actually building the table our trains will run on. First, you need to know what you’re trying to create. Do you want post war type conventional trains, or command control trains. Do you want to run smaller O gauge trains, 031-036-042-054, etc, or go more scale type operation with wide sweeping curves, 072-081-092-099-0120, etc…. There’s also a thought of what particular railroads yo wish to model…. My advice is go with something that’s affordable with your budget. Keep it simple.
My layout table is 17 by 38 and begins 42 inches off the floor, going 4 levels to 77 inches off the floor, twin helixes, and 24 inch isles. My error was the isles, and no half bath in the basement. However, my ceiling is 8’1 inch, central heat and air, steps up at one end of the room and a door going outside. We used track lighting, placed a 60 amp breaker box in the back room of the basement with storage.
Now, before you build or make plans for your model railroad, watch a lot of OGR layout videos, Rich Melvin has produced a lot of interesting layouts for your review.
Also, the OGR magazine has tons of interesting layouts for your review.
Last but not least, have your friends help you, especially those that know electricity, building, carpentry, and painting, and scenery work….Friends made my layout happen..
Good Luck, Happy Railroading
@PRSL Pete - Pete, if building a layout in a basement, make sure it is dry.
Tom
With all above viewpoints considered, especially consideration of the frailties of aging to which we all are subject, does hiring a layout builder enter into your thinking? Would it exceed your financial wherewithal?
Expensive? Yes, but, the tradeoff is time, which is invaluable. And you will be operating a whole lot sooner than building your own empire.
@Mark V. Spadaro posted:With all above viewpoints considered, especially consideration of the frailties of aging to which we all are subject, does hiring a layout builder enter into your thinking? Would it exceed your financial wherewithal?
Expensive? Yes, but, the tradeoff is time, which is invaluable. And you will be operating a whole lot sooner than building your own empire.
Mark, excellent point. Like you said only Pete knows if he could cover the cost. As I age, the idea is more appealing, but I wouldn’t be in a position to do it that way. I have seen some wonderful layout builders’ work on YouTube.
If you're building a new house and going to have your layout in the basement, plan to have your basement property land slope down so you have walk out access with a handicap accessible ramp and door for a wheelchair sloping down outside away from the house instead of steps, put 2 sump pumps in the basement, if one fails, you already have a second one in place that comes on. Dehumidifier in the basement, it can drain into the sump pump If you run smoke, separate HVAC, Fresh Air Intake, Exhaust Fan to the outside is a must. Bathroom with Toilet, Bathroom Sink, and Shower. Utility Sink in a separate workroom with workbench and computer areas. Electrical Panel or at least a sub panel. Dimmable LED Lighting, either Can, Track, or combination of both with dimmer switch on wall and/or remote. Outlets in floor, walls, and ceiling. Layout power kill switches ( get red switches from an electrical supply business for your kill switches so you know they're your kill switches) wired in series all around the layout. Turn one off (down) and it shuts down all power to the layout. Refrigerator and microwave, cabinet with snacks, seating area and TV on wall for when you or your friends and visitors need a rest break from standing. Plenty of room around the layout in case you ever end up in a wheelchair, you can still enjoy your trains. Hey, we can all dream for the perfect space for a layout, can't we?
I live in the deep south Louisiana, no basements but carports with "boat ports" on the opposite end o carport than the house. My boat port was 20 ft x 15 ft, bigger than many. It held lawn stuff w/riding lawnmower, 4 bikes, two work benches, power table saw and sections of the train layout which was 3 boards with 1x6 frame leaning on walls, ready to go the den for a couple months starting a week before Christmas.
After retiring I had a two story garage, up stairs being a multipurpose room and with a shed attached for lawn stuff. The up stairs is the multipurpose room man cave. The room has two windows in each wall giving a great views of woods and neighbors yards. There are 6 dim able incandescent light fixtures, two with spot lights for the trains. I have central AC thanks to Obama,s generous discount deal.
That room holds the L shaped layout, 3 ft from two walls. It is the same, now 44 year old, layout I had on the floor in the house. Those walls contain train shelves, floor to almost ceiling. I failed to add electrical outlets on the floor but have found out I could add one if I wired it to the garage door opener wiring below if I wanted too. I use one wire on the floor with rubber covering from HD. The other two walls are home to two complete 100 watt plus stereo systems. There as an old drafting table also used for train repairs and bible study. Above one stereo system is a 55in flat screen and a couple of recliners are the center of the room to view TV. The garage below has dusty power tools, tool shelves, bikes, etc. The area under the stairs is piped for a 1/2 bath but piping to the sewer and water would be a big deal and I do not have to have it.
Charlie
Personally, I do not want TV, easy chairs, or bathroom in the train room. I also don't want display shelves or logos or signs. IMO, the train room is for the layout. Get the laundry upstairs, too.
Also, I personally have zero interest in hiring someone to build a layout, regardless of the money. This is my artistic expression. Yes, it takes years, but there's plenty of train running along the way if you build in stages.
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