I was reading an article recently where a modeller had used this width only where you dont require operators to pass each other, if your plan requires operators to pass each other then 24 inches would be too narrow. Do you have a plan of your layout design for us to see?
Not one with 24 inch aisles! I wanted to get an opinion on whether that was going to be too narrow before I reworked a benchwork plan. Back to the drawing board! Mike C Phoenix
24 inches starts getting a bit tight. I've always tried to keep a minimum of 30 inches. 36 being even better. Boxcab E50
Yeah, I can do a 36 inch aisle, but if I do I end up with a plan that doesn't provide for off-layout staging areas. In order to fit in the towns along the mainline that I want to model I end up with a true point to point plan with stub-end yards at either end. I suppose I'd be in good company though, Rick Rideout's huge HO Scale L&N was/is a point-to-point plan with stub-end yards and his layout made it into Model Railroader magazine as well as a "Great Model Railroads" video. Ah well.. will keep fiddling and sketching.. Planning is half the fun anyway! Mike C Phoenix
I mainly have 30" walkways and they seem to work fine. A few spots narrow down to 24" but I would rather put up with a little inconvenience than mess with the layout plan. Then again I'm 6' tall and 140 pounds so I still can get two of me through 24"!!!
Great point! I have had many hours of fun, planning in anticipation of my new layout. As soon as that darned basement finishes itself.... Actually, I have been glad to have the time, as I've spotted a couple of flaws in my designs. And also caught some excellent ideas here. Boxcab E50
I had planned to have six operators on my layout. I used 30-36 inch aisles. As it turns out, I am usually a lone operator and the aisles are just enough for me. Six operators would be a disaster. Also, keep planning. It took me almost two years to figure out my basic layout plan. Lots of fun.
Most likely I'll be a lone operator as well, maybe ocassionally two or three others so I'm guessing I can probably get by ok with 36 inch aisles. I'm in no real hurry to start hammering up benchwork. I want to take my time and work out the best possible plan I can for my space and modeling desires. There's certainly plenty I can do in the meantime, such as collect operational data on the former subdivision, find old photos for modeling reference, work on building up the motive power and rolling stock rosters, and work on scratchbuilding some custom buildings. Hmm..with that list of stuff to do I probably won't have time to START a layout!! Mike C Phoenix
Aisle width is directly proportionate to opperator width. Another factor is grace. Me, I'm a bull in a china shop so wider is better. I will try to keep a 36" minimum.
All good advice here. Another one of the problems with narrow isles (usually less than 30-36") are the elbows of visitors.
Even at 36", it would help to have a few wider areas, perhaps one in each aisle, to allow people to pass. That would be essential in narrower aisles. I have nominal 36's aisles. I have added scenery, etc. and squeezed them to 33 in spots. Even those 3' make a difference when more than one person is in the aisle.
I have 36' - 48" in most aisles. I have one area where it is 30" - it is across from the west yard ladder, but most switching is done from the east ladder. A little tight, but sure beats a 'duck-under'! Jim Bernier
I have one bottleneck at 36 inches. The rest of the layout has aisles of 48-60 inches. The bottleneck is a pain. If you are running multiple decks like I am, the aisles have to be wider.
