O Gauge Layout Build - Start of a Childhood Dream - Update - 11-25-18

Appears we are both at the same point.  Except you have started your bench work.

 

Can't wait to see your progress.  Keep us posted.

What an exciting time for you. Enjoy the experience!

The room looks very good.

Awesome prep on the room!  (And the 70's clock is probably one of the nicest I've ever seen!)

 

-Dave

 

Sean, I see your in Delaware. So am I! I am in Bear and Hockessin,

If you ever need help or want to run some trains when your layout is complete, let me know. I don't have a layout yet, so a large loop for testing all my stuff in the living room :-)

Very thoughtful preparations you have made so far.  A few questions:  Are all your

circuits separate and independent from each other, or did you branch them off from

only a few at the breaker box?  I'm asking out of "electrical ignorance", since I'm

about to begin finishing off my own basement train room.  I won't have as big a

railroad as I plan about 8X16, but I want dimmable track lighting (two parallel rows)

and comfortably enough current to operate three loops plus interior lights in

structures.  I'm just not clear what I need coming from the breaker box.

 

Good luck with your construction and indeed, keep us posted!

 

P.S.  I'm also in Delaware in the Middletown area.

 

     Hoppy

Congratulations on the new space.  I'm looking forward to your progress !

The lighting is on a 2 circuits.  The LED's take so little power even at 27 Can lights its not even close to the max allowed by code on each circuit and I could of actually just had them on one circuit. But I figure if one tripped for some reason (short in one of the LED lights or something) the other half of the room would still be lit so I could see, haha.  More just for convenience.  The electrical outlets are all separate 20 Amp circuits.  I had my electrical panel upgraded to 200AMPs to accommodate the extra circuits as the panel was almost maxed out from the rest of the house.  Its actually overkill, as there is no way I could use that much power for the trains.  I did it because I might want to run a small space heater in winter (separate circuit), or if needed a Dehumidifier in Summer and they need their own circuits.  I just wanted to make sure after I got the layout up I did not need more power and then it would be harder to install more outlets.  I tried to think ahead.  Since the basement was gutted the extra circuits were minimal extra cost.

Sure!  We need some kind of club in Delaware, haha.  The Fantastic NJ Hi-Railers and DC Capital Trackers clubs are 2 hours each direction in not very pleasant traffic so as much as I would Love to join them its just not feasible.

Sean,

nice space for layout.

In my case took me 30 years to have a permanent layout, but you know in this time I understand the concept, so was easy deal with details.

So are you doing 3RS or regular 3R?

Andre.

Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sean,

 

Great looking room! I will be looking forward to seeing your progress!

 

I live in Magnolia, Delaware. About fifteen minutes from the Air Base.  But, currently serving in Kuwait.

 

Again, congratulations on the new room!

Looks like a lot of planning went into your train room, looks great. Looks like you have it all figured out, very nice space. You mentioned a Mianne lift gate, not sure what you are using for bench work, but Mianne is great for that too. Very flexible and configurable if you want to change something. It is very fast and easy and you will be ready for track a lot quicker. It would look great in your very nice train room as well.  No saw dust mess in that nice train room either. What ever you choose, good luck with your layout and hope you are running trains soon.

SEAN< THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY!

 

     Hoppy

VERY nice layout space.....keep us updated!!

I am building my own bench work just because the Mianne stuff (which is very very nice) is too expensive for me for the size I'm doing, but instead of making a hinged gate or something I decided to splurge on their lift gate.  They are making it with extensions on each side so I can join it to my bench work.  I wanted it so I could have a continuous run of track but still be able to get into the middle of the layout with ease (flick of a switch).  They were very nice in accommodating exactly what I wanted.

Thanks! and thank you for your service.  Stay Safe.  Get a hold of me when you get back and we will run some trains!

 

Get a Go Pro and mount it in the corner at the bottom of the stairs.  They have a wide field of view.  They do a time lapse and can be powered from the outlet where the sign is.  Every time you do work just activate the camera.

Very exciting. Like starting with a "blank canvas." Good luck!

Sean,

Congrats! What a great looking train room. You sure have set yourself up for success by making sure that the room has everything you may need before the layout is built.

I love all those dealer signs, looks terrific.

I look forward to following your progress.

 

Jay in Ottawa

Fantastic can't wait to see more

Congrats, wish I had a room like that, all I have is a cold during the winter and hot during the summer detach garage. But then again its better then nothing along with a supportive wife makes a happy life!

 

Beautiful space, and it sounds like everything was thought out very carefully.  I especially like the on-demand water heater and the sump pump setup.

 

Just a couple of questions / observations - Based on the blue tape for layout boundaries, will there be enough room to access the sump pump area when you need to work on it?  It looks like it might be awkward to get in there with equipment and tools.  Ditto for replacing the furnace when the time comes.

Yup, when I started the bench work framing last weekend and I made plenty of room around it, the blue tape was just a guestimate.  The furnace has plenty of room in front of it and the chassis slide out of the front for service, but thanks for checking!

Sean, what a great space you have create for your layout.  A lot of thought went into that room, from the lighting, electrical, and storm water management.  I'm in the process of putting in the same lighting in my room.  Unfortunately, my layout is already up, so I got a lot of covering up to do before I get started on the new lighting.   Work bench space looks great too!  I like the carpet you put down.  The vintage clock and signs look perfect in that space.

 

Looking forward to seeing your next video.

It looks like you really put a lot of thought into that room so nothing would need to be done to it after the layout goes in.  Which is very important.  To try to deal with a water issue after the layout is up would be beyond impossible.

 

Looking at that empty space is both exciting but also daunting to know the work you have ahead of you.  And so much of the initial work is not so fun.  But as soon as get you get the point where you have track down, then it will start getting fun again.

 

Keep us all posted on the progress.

Was thinking about the cost to fill your nice, large space the whole time I was typing the previous post. I understand completely. I am doing mine in sections, I started with a 6'x16' and am planning what to add next. Mianne's flexibility is great for this too, since I can't decide on a final plan. Splurging on the Lift gate is definitely a good idea though. Those are impressive, may have to work one into my layout somehow.

I agree.  You don't know how many times I was about to say the heck with doing the basement and just throw a layout down, because I was so anxious to setup a layout, but I resisted the temptation.  I am a little intimidated once the bench work is up to know even where to start.  I see all these incredible layouts on the forum.  I hope I can make something close to the great work I see on here.

Great job Sean! You are going to be very happy with that drainage tile system and backup pumps. I have the same set-up and not a drop of water has come in here.

 

Also, having all of those can lights is the way to go. When I was building out my basement and spending a ton of time wiring in all of the cans down here my wife and friends thought I was insane. Now they love all of the light down in the basement!

 

Enjoy the building phase!

Looks like you will be having a blast!

Keep us posted with pics!

 

Peter

Looks great Sean. Good luck, and enjoy the journey.

 

Andy

Very nice, now 3 youtube people to follow;

Ericstrains
Pghtrainfanatic
Yours

Congratulations Sean,

 

  Looking forward to seeing your progress

 

 

Alex

Great start, seams like alot of people starting lay-outs right now. It is getting tempting to get at least something up in my basement. Have to water proof it first and should upgrade the electric. Thanks for the video, Keep posting as you go!

Good for you (and lucky too! I'm still carpetbagging).

Looks great.  I think it is an excellent idea to finish the space as well as you have to make it a nice place to spend time once the layout is done. 

Thanks for sharing Sean. Fine workmanship and preplanning on the basement. Gives us a good reference to what a magnificent layout you'll be building.

Sean,

Awesome space good luck with it, and enjoy the entire building process.

Very nice.  I look forward to seeing your progress.