Layout Decision Number One

Table top height:

A. Convenience of just using tables.

B. Easier to wire.

C. Can sit and relax while viewing/running trains.

D. Not gonna step on anything.

E. Storage under the tables.

F. No critters (cats) will use layout for scratching post, prey, etc....

My layout is built on three distinct levels, 24", 42" and 72" off the concrete. The area under the 24" sections is used for storage. The 42" sections are comfortable to sit under and work. In addition, I have raised the floor in the aisles 12". This makes it possible to see trains on the 72" level.

I have no critters to worry about, which suits me just fine.

I moved my train off the floor 50 years ago, when my mum told me she needed to sweep.  I put it on a table in the cellar and never looked back.

1. Trains on the floor can be in the way for cleaning, get kicked around, and our dog we have now won't let you run a train under the Christmas tree.

2.  I like the track height to be 45 to 50 inches off the floor to allow storage underneath and a nice viewing angle when standing or seated.

3.  Now over 60, getting on and off the floor for trains is too painful.

Ted,

You have reason to be proud of your excellent progress in 10 months.  I have thoroughly enjoyed watching your layout take shape!!

Mark Boyce posted:

Ted,

You have reason to be proud of your excellent progress in 10 months.  I have thoroughly enjoyed watching your layout take shape!!

Thank you.  I appreciate your opinion.  I'm not sure what you are seeing, however.  Seems the videos are not processing correctly.  

Having been in the hobby for 10 months, my motivation for layout setup is "to be or not to be".  Started in mid December with this Xmas setup.  I thought it could be a little better.

I started plans in January for a more detailed Xmas layout with this result.  It's still a work in progress.

Further, during those months, I connected with the good folks on this forum, and since the basement has always been my "turf", man cave and all, I started to develop a layout in my mind.  Although listening to the gurus here has caused me to really think about what type, location, etc., layout I actually want.  Exactly what you are asking about.  And, do I truly want to commit the time and energy and resources, at this stage in life, to build something I feel I would be proud of.  In the meantime running something on the floor is cheap and quick(engines, rolling stock, xfrmr, Legacy, buildings, etc., excluded)!!! 

 So, that's why it's currently on the floor, in my case anyway.  I have an ally in my daughter who lives at home(always will).  She has a LC  Penn Flyer of her own.  But noone else in the household participates.  Not a problem, no interference that way.  So on the floor it is till I make the appropriate decisions.  Hope it helps answer your questions.  Ted

Two things - Back and Knees (maybe that is 3 things?)! Floor was out of the question. I went with 40" and I now wish I would have gone with about 42" or maybe even a little more. I can get around underneath on a mechanic's stool, but I have to duck at all the cross braces. Sometimes I still forget, which quickly gets my immediate attention and causes some serious head rubbing and language I can't post here!    

TedW posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Ted,

You have reason to be proud of your excellent progress in 10 months.  I have thoroughly enjoyed watching your layout take shape!!

Thank you.  I appreciate your opinion.  I'm not sure what you are seeing, however.  Seems the videos are not processing correctly.  

I saw pictures on mine.  I've been following your posts anyway.  

My layout is 50" off the floor and beings I am now 70 years old and crawling around on the floor is not going to happen. Although It is easy to wire and to store items underneath. 

Although my layout is not as large as my largest layout which was 25x14 and I now live in a apt. My layout now is 16x4 and It fits well in my life now. 

I thought I would have to run HO in my new space but after looking at what was available from the likes of MTH railking imperial line with nicely detailed engines that ran down to 031 I knew I found I could run O gauge again. I decided to use all superO track and switchs, all the track was like new it works very well and looks great. Btw superO track is O36. 

With the layout at 50" it also prevents the cats from jumping on the layout. 

No matter how I look at it I'm having fun.

"Thirdly, I wanted the layout to be comfortably viewable for adults and children, figuring 40" would be accommodating."

 I wish I had built my layout for my O scale 2 rail. I would have raised it up some more and made it much smoother. Instead I built it for my G scale layout. As I got more into O, the tracks got swapped out and the benchwork showed it's problems. G scale is much more forgiving. 

 I justify not redoing it by saying to myself, that will get done in the next house, someday.  

My approach to my layout is try to make it a presentation like a play.  The layout is the stage and it needs to be the focal point and comfortable to watch.  I really wanted to make the benchwork higher, but finally decided on 42" above the floor as a good compromise.  I had grandsons that wouldn't be able to help run trains or see if it was much higher.

It had to be carpeted for comfort.  The aisles had to be a minimum of 30" wide so people could pass easily during operating sessions.  No duck-unders again for comfort and ease of getting around.

The fascia and skirting will be a neutral color to make it "disappear" and not detract from the performance.

For me the goal is to make my layout as realistic as my talents and budget will allow.  It has never been about running toy trains around in a circle, but trying to recreate memories of my love of real railroading.

Art

I started with a carpet central when I got back into trains a couple of years ago. I had to pick it up for a party my daughter was having. Used that as an excuse to build "above finished floor". Nothing grand but much easier on the knees. Mine is 48" high due to going over the top of some file cabinets. I'm tall so it works better for me anyway.

I'll just say rug rat and FFwd a few decades to when I could only crawl for months on end due to injury, but was beginning to stand again. Then with help and patience I got a 4.5X9 table made so I could get off the floor myself.

I started at 45" because of nearest eye level suggestions Couldn't reach much. So I cut the legs and lowered it to 40" then folks on the couch started voicing they couldnt see well so cut them again to 32-33. Then added elevation back in Then raised it by adding wheels; 36" is where it sits today. But only because by chance, my added shelves wont let me go lower.

28-32" would be ideal for relaxing veiws in a couch, easy view for kids, and reaching everything with one hand to support my leaning across. Basically, kitchen or card table height.

    I didn't stick with my original viewing side either. Railing stock was easier on the "back side" and I planned on hiding in a corner with the controls with seating on the other side, but the room didnt work well that way with groups. I noticed myself and others watching more of  the straight shots than snaking along and just gave in and mounted #90 button/ controls on one side vs a movable button panel to go with the movable transformers on rolling shelves

Two good things about carpet centrals.

#1 no size limit.

#2 the quietest...nothing is as quiet as running on carpet.

Mine (PRR Panhandle 2.0) will be approximately 48" off the ground.  This makes it easy to rail-fan, store things underneath, and wire.  I bought a roll-away stool to move around underneath the layout.  Except for the Staging Area, there are no duck-unders. 

George

Went with 42" for my main table height.  When I was a kid, my dad used 36". 

I felt the extra 6 inches was a good height (roughly waist high for me) and also allowed extra storage space underneath (as well as slightly more room when working under there).

Also, the convenience of being able to get 2 legs out of an 8 foot 2x3 or 2x4 (assuming you can get ones not resembling hockey sticks ) is nice.  Much less waste wood.

-Dave

Here is my on the rug but off the floor small O scale layout. 

The older I am the farther off the floor the layout gets.

My layout is on folding tables measuring 5' by 16' feet with 30" inches height. Wiring is all plug and play to keep it simple. I can run two to three trains, but keep it at two for now in order to have some buildings and stations on it. Not a lot of track, just enough for my interest. Would not want a big layout, simple is the right way for me with lionchief and now with mth dcs wifi.