seniors duckunders and ---

I'm in just about the same shape you are. Have you thought about how you're going to work underneath of the layout to do wiring? I need one of those creepers in order to do it.

Same here.

I made an 8’x 16’ layout with one 16’ side against the wall. I thought that by having a two piece 2’x8’ center lift out section I would still be able to access all areas of the layout. Well, I didn’t count on the lift out sections being too heavy to lift as I added items to them. I ended up using 2 bicycle lifts to raise the center sections. It’s a little odd looking but it works and the pulleys can be unattached. But I regret not making an around the room layout. I’ll be 72 next month and arthritis treatment has become my 2^nd hobby.

I will soon be 81 and understand the duckunder problem. As my solution when I started building this layout back in 2/10 was to use the drop section pictured above after recycling it from my recent dismantled layout. I originally fabricated it in '97  based on Jim Barrett's OGR Magazine article and photos. An easier show and tell on Drop sections and Lift Bridges is in hismore recent Backshop DVD #11[about $20]. The Attic Layout shown here is 9x16.

Basically hinged on a piano hinge and fastens via spring-loaded transom catches controlled with bike brake cables and a pivoting lever underneath.

Another possibility is to make a lift bridge area. Track alignment will be a small issue and/or track pin removal. Add a set of jumper power wires to the bridge area to prevent power loss.

Lee F.

Here's what I did.

John Meixel, that swing bridge are the tracks cut at an angle to allow it to open up at end away from the hinges?

what a great idea.  $oo

$oo thanks.  Hobbies are great in that you have an infinite amount of time to think about a solution!

I have just hooked the wiring up and the 2 track switches in that area the one thing I did do was build the main table 2 feet off of the floor so what I do is connect a red and black wire to track [helps keep my mind right for DCS wiring] and let both spools of wire drop to floor then with wire already looped through holes in my cross braces then cut to length while laying on floor.

$oo

if you all want to see a perfect solution to seniors and no duck under watch the dvd of Misty Mountain Railroad what the one man did with that bridge is awe inspiring to say the least.

sure fells good to know I'm not the only one with senior issues.

I may be the younger senior here as am 62 but worked in printing 25 years and used and badly abused my various body parts and it has come to haunt me now!

$oo

I wish I could remember the person that made some cleaver lift ups using a 2x4 and a lock of sorts as all he did was if I remember correctly was to make a lower area that a metal rod went through the 2x4 and so he raised with hands and then pivoted the raised area away from opening and that metal rod held it up in a locked position and he could freely work. 

anyone here remember it?

$oo

Carl Benvenuto

some days I feel like a creeper of sorts myself if I did something my body is retaliating to the next day!

$oo

I'm lucky in that I have wall-to-wall carpeting under the layout.  If I have to lie down under the layout for wiring I have a nice leather ottoman, with casters, that I borrow from the TV room.  I add a pillow to prop my head up, it works great.

Hoo, boy!  Got a few hours???

Just kidding. 

Actually, working on the layout REGULARLY keeps those @#!&% muscles I didn't know I had limbered up better than working on it infrequently.  I have a favorite chiropractor when all else fails.

My layout is cantilevered everywhere...off the main walls, off peninsula walls extending into the room...so the deepest section is only about 3 feet.  This is dandy for topside work.  But there's still the undertable contortions to deal with.  Everything stored under the table is on rollout platforms, so clearing the space is no problem.  It's the back.  It doesn't enjoy that partial sitting-up position when doing wiring, etc..  So I bought a cheapy beach chair...you know, the collapsible fabric/tubing job that has your butt at about sand (floor) level??  Works great!  Maybe too great!...It gets so comfy, I get so drousy thinking about solving a wiring problem, I've been known to nod off while 'down there'! 

Yep, getting down there's a problem.  But once you're down, it reminds me of the joke: "You know you're gettin' old when you bend down in the morning to lace up your shoes...and start looking around for something else to do while you're down there!!"

But, frankly, getting back up is sometimes worse.  You gotta scootch out of that comfy beach chair,  scoot on your butt from under the table, roll over onto your knees, look for something/someone to grab onto to help stabilize the grunting to verticality...and hope that you've cleared the table edge before your head gets up to that level.  Lord Almighty...I think you could record it and send it into America's Funniest Videos...and be in the running for the big money!  All that laced with 'muffler' sounds and 'blue commentary'...what a hoot!

Sore knees? Try those padded thingies you can strap to your knees. Tradesmen who do flooring...and many elderly gardeners...have made these popular. All of the home improvement stores have them.

I feel for you, brother. 

But as long as I can fog the mirror in the morning and look down on the grass in the evening, it's worth it.  No rocking chairs for this guy!

KD

How about a topside creeper? You can get one from micro-mark.  They allow you stand and lean over and support your upper body so you can reach out a lot more.

I'm 6'2 and made my bench work 50" high and I'm building a non duck section. Makes it easier to wire and to get inside my layout. Also have more storage under the layout. Also the layout is only 24" wide except in two places. Gotta make it easier when you get older. 

When the benchwork on Will Allen's new layout was done we made it so you could put your hands on your knees and go under but not have the knees hit the floor.  We also put a plywood ceiling on the bottom of the benchwork to save heads and backs.  A good bit of foam pipe insulation also was installed along edges to save heads.

If I do have to get on my knees now I tell myself I can always get up one more time.

George Lasley

And I thought I was the only old train guy who started have mobility problems.  I'm doing the same things you guys are to move and get around easier.  It's something how we learn new ways to do what we have to for our trains. 

This time around, being old and lame, I wired a majority while standing prior to covering the Grid. Much easier. Used a lot of T--strips to enable very little time under the layout to connect railpower risers and connections to Tortoise turnout motors/Switchstand lanterns,etc.[photos March 2010] 

Dewey...that sure is nice looking benchwork!!  81 years "young"....you are doing great!! 

Alan

We have a top side creeper and it gives us amazing reach. We have two of the Sears chairs on rollers that are short enough to roll around under the layout once we duck under the L girder. Pulled a few hundred feet of wire on the Sears chairs this morning. 

My layout track plan won't allow for a raised/removable duck-under...so I went to a garden center and bought a few "garden knee pads" and placed them strategically were my knee would land when crawling under. It works!!!

I've hit my head so many times while working under the bench work I could apply for a NFL disability pension. So, I went to Home Depot and bought a cheap hard hat ($12) ...I know, it sounds crazy/over-kill, but I feel better

We have designed a great no duck under walk in layout.  We are having a great time building it but . . . . In the course of building a no duck under walk in layout you still have to build it!  What a pain, we use a garage creeper, a Micro Mark overhead creeper, little peices of carpet to slide on . . . .   BUT when we are all done, it will be a no duck under walk in layout - FINALLY!  Russ