Move with a room for trains!

I don't know what locomotives you are wanting to run in the future so I use O72 curves in this example.  I would do a round-the-wall layout.  Two to three feet would be the maximum width of the table tops.

You didn't indicate the size of the door nor its direction of swing.  I expect it is 30" and swings into the room to the left.  I expect that the door will interfere with the track as shown, but changes to the track position are easy.  I would put a removable section where the for access to the interior.

As this is a bonus room, are any of the three side walls knee walls?  That will control your table height.

That 3' square cubbyhole is not very useful as any track and train would be hard to reach.

Jan

Thanks Jan!  That looks like a great place to start!  Right and left walls are knee walls but adequate height.  072 curves is what I was thinking of but wanted to leave it open and see what the forum comes up with.  There is no door but there are stairs leading down right where I stated.

For whatever reason, I can't get your SCARM file to open (I have SCARM). Can you tell me what the measurements (length/width) of your space are?

i usually offer this advice...

1) stay away from 45° & 90° turns.  this means cutting track, but the visual impact is worth it.  tailoring curves will also result in...

2) staying away from long stretches of straight track.  if you have a 90+5° curve in a corner the track will start to head out into the center of the room.  somewhere around the middle of that stretch stick in a 10° curve and head it back to the wall.  have more room?... add another bend.  this gives you some definite advantages...

3) much better photo ops &...

4) expanded real estate between the track and the wall for buildings/ other scenery.  in general it adds some realism breaking up straight lines and squared off corners.

5) have bridges and/ or tunnels make sense.  bridges need to cross something and tunnels need to go through something they couldn't otherwise easily go around.

there are plenty of other things to think about but once the track is down and scenery starts growing, it becomes increasingly more difficult to change the basic track plan.

good luck...gary

C&O Fan posted:

For whatever reason, I can't get your SCARM file to open (I have SCARM). Can you tell me what the measurements (length/width) of your space are?

Total 144 inches wide by ~250 inches long.  If you see Jan's post it states that the cubby area with the window is about 3 foot square.

Thanks!

Thanks for the advice Gary!

OHB1,

   My 1st suggestion is to build a shelf ceiling layout completely around the new Train Room.  They work great and when done correctly make the room look great.  After finishing the ceiling layout then work on your floor layout you want.

PCRR/Dave

Just moved into our new home and did this in my new Train Room/Bar, I love it.