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6 replies

Beginning new layout

FR Forty RodOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

We bought  new house in Prescott Valley, AZ and moved in about 10 months ago.

 

Got all the painting, yard work, and modifications done and am turning to a new layout for my Marx O27 train (999 engine and a dozen assorted cars.)... and others yet to come.

 

I have a very large workshop in back, wired for 120 and 220 volt and a 200 amp power box.  I have to lower some wall plug to get below eye level on a 40 ' base.  The room I have for trains is 18' x 30', so room will be sufficient.  I want a 20" space between all walls and the edge of the layout.

 

I plan on using OSB-1 sheet 3/8" thick for the table top and mount it all on 2"x 2", 2" x 4" and " x 4" (for the legs) dimensional lumber,  I intend to bolt most of together.

 

I envision a 60" wide x 320" main table along the long wall on the left.  Butting to this on both ends will be a 60" x180" L toward the right "long wall", and a 60" x 120" L butted to that on the near side.  Another 60"x 180" L butted at the near end.

 

I'd like to put in three towns and a large military base (on the near end of the L).  I'm looking at eventually running 3 or 4 Marx 999 engines with double reduction motors, and a pair or maybe 3 Marx Mercury engine with double reduction gears.  All switches will be manually operated.

 

This is strictly a toy train layout.  Anything to scale will be absolutely coincidental.  If I could find easy to install, machinery with remote or automatic controls I would consider them.

 

Buildings will be a mixture of any O or S make, Plasticville, candy tins, at least one incense burner, a radio Shack batter box, scratch built or kit bashed, etc.

 

I need hints and suggestions on construction, wiring, track plans, painting, overhead lighting, surface materials and anything else that might work.

 

Money is an object, but I can usually find enough for something special.

 

Thanks for the input.

 

Tom

Last edited by Forty Rod
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J JanOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Tom,

 

60" is a long way to reach if you put the table up against the long wall.  I would prefer an aisle around the entire layout.  My vision of a toy train layout is that there is a lot of action near the edges for young eyes to watch. 

 

Construction-wise I expect you could walk the top.  I would use a layer of Homasote to deaden the sound and to screw the track to.  It's the traditional surface for toy train layouts.  You get find it in your area at Home Depot and Pro-Build.  It was $25 a 4'x8' sheet a couple of years ago.  Paint it green.

 

Those are my first thoughts, and they move your post back to the top.

 

Jan

J DaddyJ DaddyOGR Forum Member

Tom this is great news! And you couldn't be in better company than here on the Forum.

I start drawing out on some graph paper what you would like to do. Stick to a scale and decide what reach zones you would like to have. Are you building a around the room layout or a table top? will you have more than one level? I would make a list of wants and what radii you will be using. 

Drawing is the fun part, you can even lay it out on the basement floor and see if you like it...

Don't forget first step: finish your basement... at least paint the floors, paint the walls or dry wall, and hang a drop ceiling with some lighting... this is an important step and can really set up a great train layout.

Last edited by J Daddy
FR Forty RodOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
Originally Posted by Jan:

Tom,

 

60" is a long way to reach if you put the table up against the long wall.  I would prefer an aisle around the entire layout.  My vision of a toy train layout is that there is a lot of action near the edges for young eyes to watch. 

 

Construction-wise I expect you could walk the top.  I would use a layer of Homasote to deaden the sound and to screw the track to.  It's the traditional surface for toy train layouts.  You get find it in your area at Home Depot and Pro-Build.  It was $25 a 4'x8' sheet a couple of years ago.  Paint it green.

 

Those are my first thoughts, and they move your post back to the top.

 

Jan

Minimum 20" all around the layout.  I can reach across 30" without much trouble.

 

Having trouble finding Homasote in this area but I'll fins something.

 

Thanks.

FR Forty RodOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
Originally Posted by J Daddy:

Tom this is great news! And you couldn't be in better company than here on the Forum.

I start drawing out on some graph paper what you would like to do. Stick to a scale and decide what reach zones you would like to have. Are you building a around the room layout or a table top? will you have more than one level? I would make a list of wants and what radii you will be using. 

Drawing is the fun part, you can even lay it out on the basement floor and see if you like it...

Don't forget first step: finish your basement... at least paint the floors, paint the walls or dry wall, and hang a drop ceiling with some lighting... this is an important step and can really set up a great train layout.

This will be a "square G layout and have a flat top with modifications as necessary for rivers, mountains, etc.

 

Nothing real elaborate because I'm going to try to hang on to the "improved toy train " concept.

M MoonmanOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Forty Rod:
Originally Posted by Jan:

Tom,

 

60" is a long way to reach if you put the table up against the long wall.  I would prefer an aisle around the entire layout.  My vision of a toy train layout is that there is a lot of action near the edges for young eyes to watch. 

 

Construction-wise I expect you could walk the top.  I would use a layer of Homasote to deaden the sound and to screw the track to.  It's the traditional surface for toy train layouts.  You get find it in your area at Home Depot and Pro-Build.  It was $25 a 4'x8' sheet a couple of years ago.  Paint it green.

 

Those are my first thoughts, and they move your post back to the top.

 

Jan

Minimum 20" all around the layout.  I can reach across 30" without much trouble.

 

Having trouble finding Homasote in this area but I'll fins something.

 

Thanks.

Hey,

 Good luck with the new home.

 

See if Pro-build or Home Depot will special order the Soundboard 440 for you. No one has it within 50 miles. (homosote site)

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Last edited by Moonman
M MoonmanOGR Forum Member

Tom,

I was going to suggest adjusting the lengths to multiples of 48". That would enable you to cut 48" x 60" sheets all around for the decking and the homosote out of 4'x 8's. That would minimize the seams.

 

I tried to draw the G shaped table in the 18' x 30' space with a 20" perimeter and 60" wide table. I can't make it fit. Were you subtracting the width when butting the ends for an outside length?

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