Pros and Cons on Layout Height.

Don,

The only thing I can think of is having to reach across to get to something like trackwork.

When I had my layout in the garage it was 48" high.  Nice for viewing, but I (used to be 5'-10") had to get on a small step stool to reach the rear track to clean.

When I moved it indoors I lowered it to 36" and I'm glad I did.

Both heights to me were a PITA to get under to wire, so I eliminated as much wiring as possible (used ground throws and positioned the switches so I could reach them all).

The 36" high layout is easier to clean and IMO no decrease in the operation or viewing.

Pros of a high layout:

Better, more realistic views. And by that I mean closer to a person's eye level instead of the bird's eye view.

Easy to work underneath for wiring.

Cons:

Hard to reach things that would be easily reachable on shorter layouts.

Kids would have a hard time seeing it.

I really liked 48" but this new house has a lower basement ceiling, something always looked wrong until I lowered the table to 42"

Jumijo, No kids so not a problem. Thanks Don

unless you found it objectionable, I would keep it at 46 at least,  mine wound up at 39 and I wish it was a little higher.  I built a lower level and that level would be a little more viewable if the top were higher.  The kids enjoy viewing the lower level, and it is not as delicate.  But then the basement layout is smaller,  so that may not work for you anyway.  You could always run some On30 around your legs though. 

My layout is at 35", which is dictated by my desire to keep it below the window sill.  I'm fine with that, since the relatively low height will make it easier to add a second level. 

To me, Don the deepest width dictates a great deal as to the height wished and then track access/maintenance, scenery built,wiring etc and your way or ability of wanting to reach that farthest point inward by standing in the aisle, access hatch, hinged panel or using one of those creepers to go over the area.

don, you have a track plan???

I recommend 44 inches high for the lower level.  That's a comfortable hight and allows reasonable viewing of the details.  It is easy enough to handle wiring underneath and when a second or third level are added, you're topping out over 50 inches.  This will also allow drop down scenery if you are making valleys and such (or even tuck in a subway). I wouldn't go under 42-44".   I'm 6'2" and this has worked for me and the kids and is a good compromise.  Good luck!

44 inches it is. Just cut my first piece of wood. Forrest I have a rough track plan for the section I'm building first (4x16) but still working on the other areas. This will be the town area. The room is a "L" shape. A very large area will be mountains that come down to the floor. Much larger than my last layout. I've been making molds for some time now. This shot is of my old layout before I was finished with the canyon. Don

My layout is built to 36". Not very tall but it works well for me and am not going to change it. If I had to do it again, I'd bump it up to 40". My upper level on top of my tunnel is a tad over 40" and I sometimes have a hard time reaching something. 

Don:  Do you anticipate having grades and elevations in your track plan?  Because if you are you planning on having several levels, you will likely be going up from your primary level and you don't want to get too high for people  to see comfortably.

My layout was built about 36" above the floor, but I added a lower section because I picked up a nice 7' X 10' ready made train table, which I added to one side of the main layout.  This section is only 30" above the floor but it is primarily a branch line serving a small town, a mine and a quarry, surrounded by a double track main that curves and raises the track from level 2 to level 3. The tracks continue on up through two more levels to the highest point some 60" above the floor. 

If I started at 44", my layout would continue going up to some 80+" or nearly seven feet above the floor.  Wouldn't work. On the other hand, if the top of your canyon is at 44", I would guess that the bottom of the canyon must be very close to your floor.

Paul Fischer

haha

Don,

I have had layouts with the lower level at 36”, 42", and 44”. My present one is 48” from the floor to the lower level, 58” to the mid level, and the “L” train is 68” high (and looks as it should!).

I decided on 48” so I could easily scoot under the layout to work on the wiring and to get to the access holes and hatches. So far the added height has been a blessing.

One thing I had not anticipated was working on the engines themselves; such as connecting tenders to their steam engines, assembling A-B-A multiple units, and troubleshooting turnouts. Having the track at 48” allows me to have a good, close-up look without bending over; and that is a back saver!

I made a small, 8-inch high dolly or scooter, as we call it, upon which I sit and scoot around under the layout without fear of hitting my head. Fortunately, I have no problem getting down to sit on it or to get back up, which I realize may not be true for everyone. I am 66.

Also, I have a couple of hinged items; one being the MRS 34” turntable that doubles as a hatch, and the other a subway shopping center (just in the process of finishing the latter) that folds down for access. The extra height allowed these two items to work much better.

The only drawback is not having an overall view of the layout when standing on the floor; particularly for anyone under 5’9” or so. To solve that, I made a viewing stage and a couple of ramps. The viewing stage or platform is 16” high and has on step to reach the platform, and the ramps are 8” high. Also, I have several two-step and one-step stools around the layout for anyone to used and get a better look if they so desire. So far these seem to work fine.

Good luck and keep us posted of your progress.

Alex

Don...my main track levels are at 44".  I go both up and down from there but having a friend that always built his layouts at eye level made me decide I didn't want to have to stand all the time to see everything.  So....I obtained some comfortable bar stools and then leaned forward to a comfortable viewing angle.  I then measured the height from the floor to that viewing angle and decided that 44" would be a the sitting viewing height for the average person.  If one wanted to view the trains at eye level they can simply and easily lean down as the train goes by without straining their back or eyes.  It has worked out great plus because I designed the wiring to all run along the front edge of the layout, I don't have to get underneath it unless I want to do so.  No width is larger than 4 feet from isle to wall.

Alan

My layout is 49" high and 30" wide in most spots and I love it. Easy to work on  and looks great. Also leaves plenty of space to store stuff. What ever you choose have fun.

I based the height of my single level layout on three things:  1 - Can I reach across to retreive or place something without having to grab a stool, and 2 - can I sit on the floor underneath and not bump my head on the framework, and 3 - tall enough so that little ones who want to grab the train as it goes by can't, yet youngsters from 5 or 6 years old and up can see it without having to stand on stools.  My dimension was 38 inches.  May go a little higher on the next one so I have room to put a creeper under my butt when I'm under there.  Old age has its privileges.

Hi, Don

My switching layout is 50" high to the top of the table.  Originaly it was 53" high .  That made for great eye level viewing but was to high to reach over if needed so I cut it down to the present 50", which works well for me.  I am 5' 11" tall.  With my arm out straight I have 7" of clearance between the table top and the bottom of my arm.  I know when I start scenery I will have to use a small stool, of which I have two.  Each one is 11"w X 9"d X 9"h.  They are those plastic ones that were popular a while back with short wives.     The layout is 30" deep. I don't have to worry about grandkids, both are girls and want nothing to do with trains.  Their dad and I enjoy banging cars around but they seldom come with him.  I have a rolling mechanic stool and a bump cap that I use under the layout, making wiring very easy.  I think you will like the choice you made of 50".  With a small step stool and a roll aroung stool, you'll be all set.  Now saw some wood. 

I look forward to it. At this stage, I'm still a chance of visiting you later this year, make sure it's done by then. I don't want to spend my holiday with plaster in my hair and paint on my face!

44" for a main level sounds good to me!  My layout is at the generally accepted "standard" of 42", and I wish it was a bit higher (consistent with one's ability to reach things, of course). 

One thing that I had noticed when starting my current layout is that if the tables are too high, they will overpower the room. That's especially so when you try to cram too big a layout in a small room. I ended up cutting 6" off the legs to make the room feel a bit bigger.

J White

Since my 5x8 layout is held up by 4 plastic saw-horses from Home Depot, it's 33" high. As far as I'm concerned, this has worked fine for me and the grandkids over the past 7 years. My 6x4 Christmas layout is 28" high. I find a lower layout lets me see the scenics well, especialy my 1:43 model cars on roads and parking lots. The main drawback for me is having to stoop to see building interiors. As far as under-the-layout work space goes...lets face it, the ideal would be 6 1/4 ft.

I had always been a fan of the higher layouts, but with the grandson showing interest incresing, I realize the benefits of a kid-height section. The modules I recently purchased have both levels, and will be incorporated into a new basement layout with both heights.

B&OBill

My layout  height ranges from 36" to 55" due in part ot a 5" floor pitch in a 70' length.

It is all around the wall and the higher elevations are simply not as deep for reach.  My widest portion is canterlevered 7' off the wall w/o legs.  But at that point it does have a duck under for scenery access at the wide /low points.  No right of way beyond a 30" reach.  tt   www.curvedbenchwork.net

Hi Don, 44 inches is a good height for your new layout. I know you are still young and flexible, but that will tend to change over the next few years. Crawling around on the floor will become harder on all of us over time, even with a creeper.

For those young guest who are still a little height deprived a standing platform that can be rolled out of the way is a simple fix. Sometimes having that extra angular view can add to our own enjoyment of watching our trains run, especially for a guy like you who loves to photograph his work.

I look forward to seeing the layout as it develops, have fun.