New here...where do you set up your kit?

[IAmNew]

I'm new to mofel railway, however my dad has a Freight Train 00 gauge set. I would love to set it up with him, but we have nowhere to keep it. The poor thing has had to sit in it's box, as we've been racking our brains for years and we still can't think of a space large enough to set it up properly, with a scene and everything. So, where do you all keep your kits? Under beds or on a pulley system on the ceiling or something? Just hoping for some ideas. Thanks 😆

[mjb1961]

Hi ,,,,my layout is in a garden shed ,it was bought for that purpose ,,this is a popular choice along with the loft/attic ,if you are lucky enough to have a spare room that would the creme de la creme ,I used to have a layout on casters that fitted under our double bed ,I used to pull it out and rest it on trestles which worked quite well ,but ideally you could do with a permanent site ,,,mjb

[96RAF]

Just because you have a train set doesnt mean you have to set it up in the shape on the box.

 

People have shelves around a room, some have a board that folds up against the wall, others have modular boards that link together when required, others use a garage or shed For permanent or temporary boards.

 

Mine is a 6x4 ft board on 6 braced legs which have castors so I can shove it around to get at all sides.

[LCDR]

 There are many different options. All have pros and cons.

 

I have three options I use. (a) a 16 x 8 shed in the garden, lined with insulation and a oil filled radiator inside to keep it dry. (b) A garden railway on a permanent timber trestle  and © some loose boards that are put on the conservatory table when the grand children are coming round.

 

Other options can include the traditional rectangular board on legs which dominates a room. You need space and tolerant family members for this option, or abundant spare rooms (well at least one)!

 

Then there is the layout hinged from the bedroom wall that folds down over a bed. Or is supported on ropes from pulleys in the ceiling. These require some advanced DIY .

 

A similar arrangement in the garage is another option.

 

A railway on a shelf around the edge of a room is further option.  A narrow board can be fitted into a habitable room, but if your plans are ambitious then you are back to the dedicated spare room option.  An out and back type layout can be used to save space, and may give more advanced operational options.

 

Attics and cellars can be used, but the former will need access and insulation and you will need to check out the building regs, the latter needs to be dry and free of contamination.

 

If you use a small scale e,g. OO9, N, Z or T you might consider a layout in a coffee table or similar.

 

 

 .

[Tony57]

Hi

You can set the set up on a board or you can set it up on a shelf.

A board takes up more room because you may need to move around it

Where as a shelf layout can be as narrow as 6" going as wide as 2'. It can be a (1) straight shelf running along 1 wall or (2) L shape running along two walls (3) U shape running along 3  walls or O shape running around all 4 walls. Fiddle yard - narrow scenic track section to terminus station with small goods yard as an idea for 1,2 and 3. Terminius station  to Terminus station  with small goods yards another.

Hope this helps

[Buz]

Hi IAmNew

A model railway does not have to be large mine is only 4'6" square.

It is on a table that was specifically made for it in a spare room in the house, the grand plan is to build a large set up in the shed that was built for that purpose.

The ideal situation is to have a dedicated space for the layout where nothing but the railway is and it is set up permanently.

Don't get locked into the idea a railway has to be a square or a rectangle in the middle of a room it can be on a shelf built for the purpose around a room or an odd shape to suit the space available. 

Quickly put pay to any domestic authorities idea that the train space is also storage or other use as well  space the two ideas are mutually exclusive of other things

regards John

[RDS]

Mine is a permanent layout on an 8' x 4' board in a spare room mounted at table height on a very strong structure.

[Nick_]

Mine is a shelf running around all 4 sides of my office which is a 3mx3m insulated shed. There is a lift out section past the door, but as the door opens outwards I usually leave it in situ and duck under.

[tyneside emu]

mine is on a fold down table connected to a wall in spare bedroom,which I raise when not in use, only issue being is limitations to permanent scenic stuff, having said that intend to put into new shed when I get it, but then no doubt  there will be issue's during the winter.

[roythegrass]

My layout was originally on an 8'x4' board located in a double garage and could be hoisted up by pulleys to the underside of the roof rafters and hence above head height. I then decided to extend the layout to 9'6"x4' but now it is too long for the pulley system I installed! Nevertheless I would recommend this 'pulley' method as it enables the room to be used for other purposes.

Roy