Post 36
Train Shelves for the Train Room
My train shelves are made in two sections each to allow moving thru doors. They also stand on the floor and are held to the wall by two 1" x 1" angles screwed into a wall stud.
Construction is 1" x 4" straight pine lumber with grooves routed in for train wheels. It is usually less expensive to buy 1x4x 8 ft common pine boards at Home Depot and pick through them to find straight boards. Knots are not that important to me as they can be filled in and painted over. The width of the shelves can be any you like up to 8 ft with these shelve boards. I place the shelves with a 4 1/2 in open space between each shelve. Mine are 7 ft 2 in tall and have 16 shelves with the bottom one 3 1/2 off the floor (about the height of my baseboards). They are glued and nailed together and have 1/8 " Masonite, nailed with 3/4" roofing nails every 6 inches on each shelve, on the back to keep the shape square and keep from marking wall. Pieces of white felt are glued on the back of Masonite to keep from marking wall also.
I chose to paint the shelves glossy off white. One reason was to hid the knots and wood filler and another is I think the light color makes the train cars show up better and makes the room brighter and more cheerful. I use a 2 in x 12 in piece of clear Saran Wrap on the shelf where an engine goes to keep the white shelf clean of grease from the wheels.
Over all view of one shelve shown below
View below shows joint between two halfs of shelves, notice grooves for wheels
routed with veining bit on all shelves
Some 6 inch wide shelves allow display of accessories.
Photo below shows powered track to allow lighting cars
Next picture shows shelf legs setting on floor, showing cut out for base board. Extra, a Boxcar Willie LP record.
Top shelf is 8 inch wide to hold other train items
Over all view of all 3 shelves
The two large shelves on the left and right of the picture above were in the halls of my present house and three prior houses for many years until the train room was built making the spouse very happy!
Notice in last picture I have added two more small shelves under two windows for more trains. One never has enough trains and thus shelves.
Small shelf under window below.
All shelves are standing on floor and held to wall with angle brackets screwed into studs.
Shelves come apart to allow removal and moving to another room or house. Build once for life!
Charlie
