Width of aisles versus depth of layout?

Don't let the 36" be one sided. I have 48 and 60" but with a back small access from the other side. So it is 18" off the wall. 

Gotcha.  I've seen where folks have stood their background buildings off of the backdrop by 6" or so for effect, and this technique might apply really well at 18" while also doubling as an access slot behind some deep bench work.

My next layout will be the around the room type. Figuring out the duck-under/lift bridge entrance is the only drawback in my mind. The biggest curves on my current layout are O72. That makes some pretty big ends on the "Dogbone" that eats up a lot of real estate. Even with hatches or inside the mountain access, the process of getting to the back of the layout gets old really fast. Building a deep layout is a great way to insure that all of your derailments will happen in the back of the layout. At least is seems that way.

It also depends on the 'purpose' of your layout to some extent  Show layout for guests, need aisles, layout for operation you need tables.  Complicated trackwork NEEDS access!  If there are no buildings or track  on either side of an aisle then 'rubbing' room can be less than 36, etc,.  If you kind of have a plan in mind lay it out on the floor (masking tape works) and see if you like the space.  Russ

If one can swing it round-the-wall benchwork makes the most sense as regards access or "reach". [The old photos below give a flavor of how my space is utilized].

 

In my little unfinished 9x19 attic room my best choice was round-the-wall and I went with an overall 16' benchwork length and the actual 9'-2" width. The Yard side of the benchwork is 40" wide, the aisle walkway 34" wide and the Village side is 36" wide.

 

To avoid duckunder I recycled a homemade piano-hinged "Barrettgate" entry drop section from a large dismantled ['09] layout down the hall. 

 

IMHO, the idea to keep in mind is reachability, whether the layout is kept to a fixed width, or access hatches are made.  I know some hobbyists stand upon their layout, but then you have to bend over or kneel.

 

As far as aisle width, it depends on your width and your guests'!  But the wider the better.  Mine is at a bare minimum because I used all the room I could for the layout.

You can go as wide as you want or need to, you just have to have an access hatch or 2, or 3 

 

 

 

30" aisles are perfect. I'm not a little person but 30" is just fine. A couple of the access hatches are smaller, like 24", due to limitations on the layout surface...and boy that is tight!

I have a large space, but in spite of that, I've still had to follow some basic rules. Aisles are all 36" minimum at the hip and 48" at the foot. I think there are 2 minor spots where the 36" rule is broken and the aisle is a little tighter.

The rule for benchwork is 48" depth is frequent, 36" or less preferred and common, with 3 spots greater than 48". Two of those will have pop up space, the third, I'll just have to work on my belly. Once the scenery is in I shouldn't need to go back there again.

 

This is the worst of the three.



The next two will have access.

Here's one narrow spot.


And here's the other.

On my '97 built 15x25 upstairs Condo island layout [dismantled '09], I had three access holes plus an interior aisle reached via a "Drop Gate" to access the Yard comfortably. I planned location of access holes based on my "reach" yet the follow up work and operation was not comfortable or fun and as age & health issues evolved, crawling around under was a PITA.

 

I could have forgone my 096 curves and planned it differently [dogbone w/smaller curve arcs and a yard peninsula].  But my Armstrong "druthers" and "track greed"were at work. Anyway in '09, when we moved back from the Mountain House [its 14x32 layout dismantled in '08], my Domestic CEO solved the access problem by insisting on takeover of the room as an exercise and TV room[photo illustrates]. 

 

As a result, I am down the hall, round-the-wall in the little 9x19 attic with my simplistic tiny rail empire, but no duckunder and far better "reach".

 

My point with this post is that, if you are getting older and less flexible, plan layout configuration and easy access accordingly. I no longer have return loops and a 072 wye. But I have an active 0-5-0 "switcher". For me it is more fun to run trains than to stare at them standing disabled and idle until my crawl-under discipline kicks in. 

 

 

 

 

After having many layouts, I decided that there were two rules I wouldn't break. No duckunders and 36" wide minimum aisles.  I do not have an around the room layout.  I have two reverse loops that are over 7 feet across.  One is open on both sides so I only need access hatches for scenery work.  The other is against an outside wall and I use access hatches for scenery and occasional access to a derailment or related problem on the backside.  I access from both sides on the majority of the layout.

 

Art

Great replies, thanks guys!  I really appreciate the pictures too.