After several months and 4 changes to the "Train Room" things are changing again. The train room is being change into a storage and second guest room along with still being the train room. To make this happen we are building a 2'x8'8''x4'(WxLxH) storage cabinet along one wall of the room and putting the layout on top of the cabinet. Above the cabinet will be an enclosed light to light up the train. In addition to the cabinet top layout, my wife also wants a train running along the walls up near the ceiling. We have seen several restaurants with a train running up near the ceiling and my wife really likes that look in a room. So here we go again this time it’s going to be an N-Scale 2'x8'8'' cabinet top layout and a 6'' wide along the walls layout up near the ceiling. Aloha, Da Chief
I have also seen those trains in restaurents with trains running around the walls just below the ceiling. I was really fascinated by it.. Sounds good.
Thanks Telegrapher, I have the new track plan mocked up and I hope to have trains up and running again soon. Aloha, Da Chief
The cabinents idea seems like a sound one. Your fortunate to have a wife who wants you to have trains.
I'd look forward to seeing the 2 foot by 8 foot trackplan. As I person with only 1 foot by 6 feet. I like to se what others do in small spaces.
Working in a small space can be hard, but you can still have a nice layout. If you follow this link: http://home.att.net/~j.s.niedermyer/index.html that will take you to my old layout. This was the layout that got me back into the hobby after over 10 years of being away. It was built to be used as our coffee table, but after we moved to Hawaii, it was to long for our new Townhouse so it was moved to the train room. I will work on getting pictures and the track plan posted soon. Aloha, Da Chief
"[...] an operational, well-scenicked small layout beats a basement full of lumber in my book. " - Marty McGuirk
Those pictures were taken while we were moving into our current townhouse. My wife had borrowed a digitial camera and I snapped a few shots of the layout before I unpacked the trains. By the time we got around to unpacking the train room, she had already returned the camera. Aloha, Da Chief
Well it looks like I will have to wait on posting a picture of my track plan. I just signed up for a railimages account so it might be a day or two before the picture is up. Anyway here are the details. The overall table size is 2’3’’ x 8’8’’. The extra 3’’ in width will give me a 2’’ area long the back of the layout for the back drop and 1’’ buffer along the front of the layout. The 8’’ in length was split into 4’’ on either end so I have space for a river on the left and the mountain tunnel on the right. I’m reusing a part of my old bench work (2’x4’ plywood sections on top of 1x2 framing with 1 ½’’ foam on top of the plywood) until I get the cabinet built. More to follow soon Aloha, Da Chief [ 13. July 2003, 10:12: Message edited by: Hawaii N ]
Ok Take Three on this posting pictures deal. This layout is a straight forward twin loop for two train operation. No grade changes but the tunnel at the right will break up the viewing. The interchange track, 6 industries and the 4 track yard should provide for some switching activity. It is a little hard to see but there is a double cross over along the back of the layout on the left hand side. A train running clock wise starting at the interchange track on the outside loop would be able to cross over to the inside loop, go through the tunnel and then enter the yard via the second cross over. When departing the yard, a train running clock wise would go through the tunnel, and then cross over to the outer loop before entering the tunnel again. I’m planning on using the town area and trees to hide the yard as much as possible. This should also create a mini view block and keep the running trains from being seen the whole time. Aloha, Da Chief [ 01. September 2003, 02:41: Message edited by: Hawaii N ]
Thanks for the feed back folks. Last night I got both loops up and runing. I had to order swithces for the yard so it will be about a week before the yard is done. That's one of the joys about railroading in Hawaii. If you need something it has to mail ordered. The hobby shops here on Oahu stock mostly R/C car items. Model railroad supplies are a low priority. Aloha, Da Chief
Well after a two week business trip and a week at sea with a ton of stuff in between here is an update. All of the track is in and trains are running. I ordered the Woodland's Scenics Town and Factory building set for the town center. I have all of the buildings loacations planned out as well as roads and sidewalks. Last night, I did a run through operating sesion. I used color dots on top of the cars to rout them around the layout. Things worked fairly well. No major problems with the track plan. Aloha, Da Chief
