I've read a number of books which have suggestions for aisle width. I'm curious what you who have actually built layouts what you think is the minimin width. I will be the only one operating this N scale layout which will be built attached to the wall with no legs on aisle side of the benchwork. Layout height will be 40" to 48", I haven't yet decided. At this point, one level layout.
I'm a solo operator too at this point and I have various widths on my layout. Ideally 36" works the best for me, not only for the room it provides to move around but for the view of the layout. I can see a lot by stepping back from it. By contrast I have only 24" on one 11' run. It's easy to move around but much more difficult to view because I'm nearly on top of it. Mike Cannone San Diego
I set my absolute minimum ailse width at 24" but my normal minimum is 30". I used the absolute minimum only where I would never expect more than one person to want to be at the same time. The normal minimum is for everywhere else. The 30" minimum allows 2 people of normal purportions to pass without destroying the layout.
My isles are mostly 24", good enough for 1 person, mot so good for 2. As we get "older" we also seem to get "bigger". In order to build the layout I wanted I had to go with 24" width, I would strongly suggest , if you can, go 30" to 36" width isles, you never know who or how many might pop over for a visit.
Barry, Mininum width of aisle width is not an "isolated" question. For example, I have aisle width that is around 48 inches wide , but it tapers to 19 inches wide at its most narrow point. Aisle space is determined by benchwork, operational needs - access, scenery, double decked?, and a host of other questions and concerns. Maybe in one area you have it wider, in another area, narrower. I can't remember what scale you are in, I am in N. I would take into consideration having other operators (I just looked at your post again - N scale it is). Once your layout is up and running, you will be amazed at how social it will become, unless you are away in the boonies somewhere. I have edited this. I must have been having a blond moment, I talked about benchwork space rather than aisle space in the original post. After an embarrassing moment, I have changed it to reflect the actual topic at hand.... lol. [ 03 June 2002, 03:54: Message edited by: rsn48 ]
48" is really nice if you are going to have switching crews working both sides of the isle. (local club layout has this and we are really glad to have 48") 30" is as narrow as you really want to go anywhere where two people might need to pass each other. 24" is very tight and I would only use this in areas that will never have more than one opperator.
For an aisle where only one person will be working, I'd try my best to be no less than 24" wide. Less than that, and you'll be bumping into benchwork frequently. If two or more people, 36 inches quickly gets rather tight! Better 48" if possible or more. BoxcabE50
Isle space is the reason I am building this layout around the walls. Because I need to sit to operate, the floor to lowest table height (at the roundhouse) is 30". I can reach any place I need to for an emergency by standing up. I got tired of having visitors trying to turn around in an isle and brushing cars and even engines off the layout. (They always seem to want to wear suit coats and ties to visit someone's layout. Try to keep this in mind and be courteous and thoughtful of the damage you can do (and probably couldn't afford to pay for!)
If you are the only person running your layout , you can squeak by with 24" aisles, but you will be wanting more space if you have more than one person running the layout. I have a minimun of 48" aisle space and this is only in two places. My layout is "E" shaped, double decked. I designed it for operation. Sometimes I have up to 10 people in the layout room, and it can be crowded with just 4-5 people in the room. If you are going to operate the layout allow as much aisle space as you can.
Layout height does play a rather subjective but none-the-less important role in this question. The hight your layout is going to be, the wider your isles or else it will start to get claustrophobic. This is one of those strange mind tricks, but it is true. I also agree that this question is mostly a function of use. On my layout there will never be more than 2 people operating and usually just one (THANK GOD!) so my isles are mostly in the 30-36" range with places where it pinches to 24.
