Need Input on Layout Location

Go with the bedroom space.  For what you lose in square footage (162 VS 110), you will make up in comfort.  Unless you're willing to wall off that 3rd garage space and install a dehumidifier and/or small air conditioner . I live in the Chicago area and would never put a layout in a raw garage space.  Too much heat &humidity in the summer and freezing cold in the winter.

I would go for the bedroom. The garage space is not that much bigger. It will also share space with everything else in there. The bedroom would be designated I’m guessing. Just for trains. It’s not a race to finish a layout. The fact that it’s in your living area it’s much easier to just pop in and get a little work done. Rather than trekking out to the garage.

if you can use both. Setup a work area in the garage for projects such as cutting wood, creating scenery or structures. That way your layout doesn’t become your workbench.

The previous owner of our current house converted the two-car garage to a carpeted game room with a dry bar, base cabinets, and heating & AC.  For several years during the Christmas season, I set up temporary layouts in that 20x20 space.

Then I decided to install a PERMANENT layout, so using the garage space wasn't do-able anymore. But it was a great location while it lasted. Some photos attached.

Mike Mottler    LCCA 12394

I'd go with the garage (it's almost 50% larger than the bedroom, which IMHO is significant) if you can do the following:

1. Wall off the third bay and stick-build a 2X4 frame on the other walls and add insulation, vapor barrier and wall board. Insulate the garage door as well, if possible.

2. Make sure you have enough electrical supply, receptacles and lighting.

3. Install a mini split-system or whatever is recommended in your area to keep the bay cool and dry.   

If you can access the garage through the house w/o having to go outside, so much the better.

I too live in the Houston area.  I had my train collection in the garage for 35 or so years, and had it operational for only 4 or so of those years.  Most things were in their original boxes, and almost all were in some type of container, but not air tight.  I brought them inside in January, and it took me 4+ months to get them operational again.  All the track had to be tossed as well.  I'll never put those things in my garage again.  Since we're empty-nesters, I have a lot of closet space upstairs, and the gameroom is MINE, although I haven't started on the platform yet.  The plan is soon after the New Year.

Leave Texas! Move to upstate NY where we don't have mudslides, forest  fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, excessive cold, heat, or humidity, only moderate snow; in other words boring weather. Real estate costs are low to modest, taxes are high (but you get a lot in return for your tax dollar), and assorted government fees are low. My comments are based on having lived in seven (7) other states in other regions of the country. Besides there are a significant number of model railroaders here and several train shows a year within a few hours drive.

@modeltrainsparts posted:

Leave Texas! Move to upstate NY where we don't have mudslides, forest  fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, excessive cold, heat, or humidity, only moderate snow; in other words boring weather.

BUZZ, WRONG!  I lived in Watkins Glen for 12 years, and I can tell you we had some dozy snowstorms!  Now, in SE-PA, a once a decade snowstorm is over a foot of snow.

I agree with Third Rail and Dave C. Bedroom. Good luck! Terry

To go back answer the OP's request, I set mine up in my garage, but only from September - April.  I bought some small space heaters, and the garage was toasty enough even during the coldest months.  I since found out that there are insulating panels that could be installed in most typical overhead doors which would help even further.  I took the trains & operating accessories off, and dismantled the tables, leaving the track on.  Tear down and build up took most of a weekend each time.  I almost always did some changes too.  If you can leave the platform up all year, that would be better.  A dehumidifier may help in the summer in a closed garage, but it'll still be hot.

Good luck.

Question to OP, is the extra bedroom upstairs?  My train stuff is upstairs now, but it is in a fairly decent sized gameroom.  I have a small work area there, but I'm not allowed (and rightly so) to bring the big tools up there.  Also, I'm able to get up and down the stairs alright carrying stuff 3-4 times a day, but in 5 or so years time, that might not be the case.  YMMV.

Texgeekboy, yes it is upstairs unfortunately.

Mrbig

Do NOT fret being upstairs.  When I built my house I specifically required the upstairs steps to have the LOWEST step rise required by law. BIG DIFFERENCE! Since you most likely can NOT change the steps now, when you get older you can put in a chair lift on the steps. They are not that expensive.

My layout is in a BONUS room upstairs and measures 30x55. Best move I ever made putting it upstairs. Heated and cooled, Weather has no affect on me playing and actually helps. Since when weather is bad I go there and relax!

Curtis

I do prefer the upstairs game room over the garage despite the inconvenience.  As @CurtisH said, it’s comfortable. As an added benefit, I backup to a green belt so the view is really nice. Back when I worked and was able to work from home once a week, I had to move my office up there to reduce the number of times my wife asked for honey-dos. I told her it was because I could have an Ethernet connection to our router and not do it over Wi-Fi. From that point I was only interrupted for more critical honey-dos.

I'd go with the bedroom. Garages are not for models/ toys unless the toy requires various fluids of the combustible type. Neither room would allow for a huge layout but the garage is long and narrow. Put an 072 curve on the floor and watch your space vanish.

I'm in NY- Long Island, besides the temps and humidity, the garage is always dirty with the junk that the wind blows in. Plus the bedroom is finished and no expensive renovations are required.

Just my humble opinion.

Bob

I vote for the bedroom. In my case, I had the option to build my layout in the “great room” AKA “family room” or “living room”. Our home designer soon started calling it the train room after a while. After 3 or 4 years , I took down the 12’ X 17’ layout that took up most of the room and downsized to a more manageable 9’ X 9’ layout off to the side of the room. We now really have a “great room” to enjoy complete with sofas and a 65” TV on the wall where my rather large mountain was.

But the main take away is that I strongly recommend building inside the home.

Good luck withe the new layout !

Enjoy!

Stan

Thanks to all for your input!

I will do the bedroom!

I have my layout (still in progress laying track and wiring) in the bedroom, a 3'x5' "L" shaped corner 2' deep workbench in the back room, and the garage workbench for messy work and outside ventilation. Garage gets too hot and humid in the summer, I try to get done what I need to in the morning out there, and too freaking cold and damp in the winter for my arthritis in Western Upstate NYS even with a Kerosene Salamander Heater.

Good decision.

My previous layout was in a fully HVAC conditioned Trane dedicated system for a highly insulted specially built 20 X 42 foot irregular shaped dedicated train building.

Big mistake.

I needed to dress for weather conditions and or neighbor's eyes just to go to the train room.  No matter how well it is designed, a separate building's operating expense will jump out at you as will the real estate tax basis.  Can look OK on paper but sucks in real life.

We found a ranch style house with a full sized 2k sq ft basement and moved.

Can slip into the train room any time of the day or night in any attire with out regard to pre-setting the building's temperature or dressing for weather or busy body's eyes.

The main floor HVAC ducts were cut into for supply and return with no noticeable uptick in operating expense.