WWRWD... what would railwire do?

[soo]

I do enjoy the hobby,,but coming up with a plan just pains me sooooo much. I like yards..lotso and lotso switching,, and also just seeing trains pass by..

  So here I am trying to come up with an idea on how to use this space... I always have liked the peninsula industries,,ala David Barrow. It is a two car garage,, with no vehicles parked inside. The area marked with nothing allowed is storage,,kids toys and general stuff. The wall marked for staging shelf,, is a idea I had,,, not too thrilled about it,,, but could use as staging. It would require a bridge across the door leading to the back yard. I plan on using the entire lenght of the wall on the bottom on the drawing.

  I guess the main problem I have is I can not make up my mind on what to do,,, gentle prodding or even a shock with a taser would be extreamely helpful.

  So ideas would be welcome... I am stumped. Here is the space.


  Here is what I have so far,,maybe I am thinking too linear. The staging shelfs are 14" wide.


  Well there ya have it... maybe I should take model cars and trucks instead of trains.

  Adios Wyatt

[TiVoPrince]

Spend
a few hours 'flying over' interesting places you might want to model.  Bing or Google maps will yield lots of places to model.  Taking the Barrow domino theory and model the trackage with minimal structures leaving you the ability to replace anything you tire of.  Impact of a 'wrong' decision is some flextrack and soldering.  Kind of interested in the 38"/58" heights, is this a seated/standing decision? 

Uncertain how the unavailable space works but an enclosed shelf (hinged plexiglass) could result in added staging while minimmally impacting unsupervised use by family.  Staging at each end of the railroad would be great as you operate.  Begin railway in staging area at 38.  Proceed to inside helix and rise to 48.  Follow back to bottom helix and rise to 58.  Proceed to 'forbidden' staging at a level above normal storage.  With narrow 12" shelves the 10" seperation should give clearance if you use a very thin benchwork like hollow core doors with quarter inch fanfold insulation.  Some bi-fold doors and shelf brackets would prove/disprove this as a concept...

[MichaelWinicki]

There's a lot you can do with that size.

I'd figure in what you can devote resource wise for any layout you plan– the obvious ones being time and money. 

[soo]

well time is no prob,,,, as money can be,,,but I have most of what I need.  Thanx for input tivo.

  Adios Wyatt

[up1950s]

Wyatt , this would provide better door access , and better layout protection .


I would have open staging adjacent to some industry in the small section with running in the bigger section .

[Denver Road Doug]

Wyatt,

Knowing you and your m.o., I would build the layout on the two walls (17ft and 20ft) and keep the garage car-capable.   Build a three level layout, with staging on the lower level and staggered switching areas (3-4) on the upper two plus the yard like you had before.  Cantilever the benchwork except for the helixes on each end although the one near the garage door will have to be at least quasi-cantilevered probably.  Obviously that complexity of benchwork is not for everyone, but I know that is one of your strengths.

If you design the switching areas right, you should be able to manage 3 jobs going at once, so up to 6 operators (with two man crews) plus two more handling the yard, and finally a dispatcher.   (might get a little tight with 8, but workable, especially if you stack industrial areas on the top part of the helixes like you did before, allowing the engineer to work from the end by the door.

Also, when you start let me know, I'm gonna find some custom screws and drill bit so that you can't rip the thing down every time your blood pressure goes over 130/90.   ;D   I'll keep the bit so you'll have to drive up here before you can take it down.

[soo]

Sir Douglas,,, nice,, real nice,, custom screws and a bit,,hmm,, what a jokester . I do you like your idea of just using the long walls,, and three levels.. hmmmm,, I will noodle on that.

  adios wyatt

[oakcreekco]

OK, a little "taser", but it's how I "would think" this out.

Dirt Control/Climate control. What's the enviroment going to be like???? I've had several layouts in "unfinished" basements, and they all took a heck of a lot of time to keep clean. I wouldn't even condsider a garage that still had doors?? Dirt and trains don't mix.

Lighting??? The biggest "bang for the buck" for any layout IMO, is lighting??

So for me, it boils down to how much area can I use/make/have, as a "trains only" area/room. I want good climate/dirt control, and lighting.

One more thing, once again, my thinking out loud, is that I won't use or have ANY duck unders, removable shelves, etc on a layout. If you have to do that, then you've got too much rr for the area. The enviroment is a very important factor.

Taser "off". Good luck and have some good fun.

[DKS]

Wyatt , this would provide better door access , and better layout protection .

You've got my vote for this, Richie. If anything, I'd be even more aggressive about making a claim for real estate. Go for the gusto--

[soo]

Oakcreek, I hear ya about enviroment,,, it is a garage,, i keep the doors closed. I also use a air conditioner/heater for my garage. As for lighting,, i use twin bulb 48" fixtures with sunlight bulbs. I am also going to build a valance as to conceal the fixtures and give the layout a more finished look.

  DKS,,,I like your thinking,,but,,,,,,,, that is NOT POSSIBLE. The orginal drawing I made is what I get,,, I had to comprimise to get what I am getting.

  Maybe I just to need to pick another hobby,,, trackplanning or ideas period have been my biggest issue.

  Adios wyatt

[Pomperaugrr]

Wyatt,
Here's an idea of what can fit in your space.  My train room is 13' x 21', so it is somewhat similar to your space.  It is a single level shelf layout with 24" to 30" deep shelves.  This is my version of the Housatonic RR, but you can get an idea or two from it.



Eric

[DKS]

DKS,,,I like your thinking,,but,,,,,,,, that is NOT POSSIBLE. The orginal drawing I made is what I get,,, I had to comprimise to get what I am getting.

Maybe I just to need to pick another hobby,,, trackplanning or ideas period have been my biggest issue.

At the very least, can you possibly install a door?



This will allow you to protect the layout from dust and dirt, as well as "unauthorized entry" (i.e. unsupervised children). A layout, after all, is an investment, one worth protecting.

The space you have is really quite decent, ripe with possibilities, even under the compromise conditions--big enough for a G-shaped plan with a healthy peninsula, for example. You could also gain quite a lot by going to three levels, as was suggested earlier, with staging at the lowest level, perhaps running only along the bottom wall (that alone would provide quite a bit of staging); this does away with the need to possibly venture into the storage area with removable sections at the doors, etc., which can be a pain.

As for track planning, you needn't tear your hair out over it. Plenty of help to be found on RW.

[soo]

DRD suggested that I should just the longest walls and make an L shape... I took that idea and came up with this.



  Here is a side view,,mind you I am not a expert cad user,, but I think you get the jist.


  eric,,like your plan ,,,very nice,,, if you dont mind I am going to save it,, then make overlays of areas I like using 3rd plan-it.

DKS,, a door would be nice,,, therefore I could have an inclosed space which would be easier to heat and cool,, it does get hot in texas,,, right now,,dec 21,, it is 84,,, i miss the snow. But,,, CEO says no walls or doors in the garage,,, so it is what it is,, an open space.

  time fer work,, 2nd shift can be a bear sometimes,, adios wyatt

[DKS]

OK, then no walls. Hopefully a free-standing double-sided sky backdrop doesn't count as a wall, because it would allow you to take better advantage of all that yummy layout real estate...

[soo]

DKS,,, I like that last drawing alot.. Yes the double sided backdrop is ok,,, on the right side upper corner that could a scene that welcomes visitors to the layout.. Say for example,,, a huge elevator,,, maybe even a bridge like the St Croix.. or number of things.

  I do know I want plenty of room for people to walk around.  I was just looking again,,, you could enter the lower helix through the backdrop,,, and then have a line that follows the benchwork around,, rising at the same time,,, say a branch that has a return loop over the helix for a rock pit,,, or large cement plant,, or get this ,, maybe another grain elevator....

  Hmm,,,well today is my friday,,, off thur-sun...  adios wyatt