Sixteen foot shelf - Seventeen and a half foot train

"if no one has ever done it that way, it might be fun to try. (and you did and it worked). Looks good Lee.

Lee; You now have 2 choices. Either curb your purchasing or find a bigger train room.

Is that just a display shelf, or do you have powered track up there too?

Lee, nice job on the shelf.  But, if I were you, I would cut the shelf in 2 pieces.  I would cut from the right (original end of the shelf)  end back to the next shelf bracket.  And, then add a new shelf in one piece of wood from the point of the cut out to the end of that extension you added.  That way you are not taking a chance on the extension falling off or breaking off.

Rick

Sure looks good, Lee.

An excellent illustration of one of the "Layout Rules"

If your train doesn't fit on the shelf. Your train isn't too long. Your shelf is too short. Extend it!

Ah yes, the trials and tribulations of too many trains.

Lee, can you show us some pictures of it running around the layout?

“Americans have a tendency to believe that when there's a problem there must be a solution.” 
― Henry Kissinger

Nice solution Lee

Lee, if only an inch or two is needed try uncoupling each car and place closer together, if that extra foot is needed put the Vista Dome in and place one car or the B unit on a siding.

Jack

Dr. Jack, that is a good trick and one I used across the room with my Super Chief on the opposite shelf, but on this train it got me about five and one half inches was all, and I needed at least fifteen.  

A problem that many here would love to have, too many trains!

Absolutely guys!  Don't you feel sorry for those poor uninitiated folks who don't understand the rules.  

Lee, don't ever stop posting.

Doug

I limit all my trains to 14 feet as that is the length of my shortest passing siding and display case.  Also my Union Station sidings are that long.

Art

I forgot that I do run longer unit coal trains and double-stacks, but other than that, everything is limited to 14 feet.

Art

Your train is only too long if it cannot fit on the Layout, Shelves can be changed.

Layout can be extended in many cases as well.

Like hide a section for an up and over crossing and go twice around before you hit the same section of track.

Lee, I recall a prior thread where you did some home remodeling to accommodate a train on a shelf.  When I read the title of this thread, I thought I'd see a major remodeling project.

Glad the longer train will fit with the shelf extension.

Wow.  Patricks Trains is fast!!!.  First, a RK NW-2 and calf I ordered this afternoon at 3:11 PM was shipped at 5:08PM that is quick.  And then my Vista Dome arrived in just just 47 hours from when I got the shipping notice!  I can't run it because the layout is again powered down (serious reconstruction has moved to the south end of the layout now - its a bigger mess than the north ever was and will be torn up for longer both because there is much more work and because its over the master bedroom, so construction can't begin each morning until all parties in the house are awake, or I get yelled at).  

Anyway, the Vista Dome is beautiful and detailed inside, really nice.  Here is the whole City of Los Angeles - just on the shelf for now until the work is done.  But I love it! And I will post a video when I get the layout up and running again.  

Very nice Lee, and it fits the shelf perfectly!