Benchwork Height

I like my double decker layout... the lower level is a perfect desk height for me to work on in a roller chair... approximately 26 inches... and the upper deck for bar-stool sitting is 56 inches high.

Its best to look at your body dimensions, so when you work on your layout you are not getting tired and items are not out of your reach zone.

 

 

Mine is at 36 inches it works for me.  But as I get older I can't seem to do the LIMBO as good to crawl beneath the layout, something to consider.

It is a balancing act. You need space to get under the layout. The lower the layout, the easier it is to reach further from the edge. For my layout, the magic number was "32". The lower height IMHO makes it more "kid friendly".

 

As for the club modular layout, we selected a height that would allow us to connect to modules from another club. That club us was instrumental in helping our club get on their feet. FWIW, we've never put the two layouts together, yet. 

 

When building your layout, you need to consider what is right for you.

 

gilly

My workbench in my workshop is 30 inches.  It is a good height for working on big stuff when standing.   I sit in a low chair, too, so I'm close to the work when sitting and working on a model: I'm close to it then.

 

As for the benchwork on the layout.  Mine is at an average of about 40 inches off the floor and higher.  I like it higher rather than lower.  I have three distinct levels of terrain, as shown.

  

I put my new layout at 32" so I could gt 3 legs out of a 8' piece of lumber. No duck under, a crawl under but I can deal with it. I prefer to look down and over my layout and the height is good for working on it.

My mainline layout height is 40 1/2 inches with the upper line at 48 1/2".  If I were to do it over again, I would make it higher.  My old bones don't work well at the lower heights and I love to watch trains at more eyelevel that top down.

 

Art

Mine is at 42" and a good height for me to easily get under and into the interior.  While the layout is for the most part a square (20' x 20' with one corner cut off to accommodate aisle space), I do have a yard that runs through the middle of the layout so I do a lot of crawling under modules to get into the interior. It is also a good viewing height.  It used to be at 36" but I find the additional 6" a big improvement in viewing.  I considered going up an additional 6" to 48" with the thought that a low chair on rollers would make it easier to navigate into and out of the interior, but because the ceiling is so low (just over 7") my friends think the layout would look 'squished' by narrowing the space between the ceiling and the taller elements on the layout.  So, as has been mentioned, it is a compromise.  But from a purely viewing perspective I think somewhere between 42" and 46" is optimal.

 

Dave

I think 40"-42" is more the norm.  Especially if you have a layout that you have to get under from time to time.

.....

Dennis

40 inches plus...Age will make it very difficult to crawl under a short table. That is an iron clad guarantee. And don't let it's for the kids fool you(that's how they got me)they love climbing up on a stool or chair to watch the trains.

Don't Do It.

46 lower, 53 mid level, and 60 for the top level ..... yes its tall

38"

I agree with chugman; I'll soon be 68 and bending over makes the back muscles ache more as I age. My layout is 48" off the floor and makes viewing more eye-level along with allowing a "use-able' duck-under which my available layout space dictated for an around the room layout. Table depth is 30"s on the straights and 34"s on the corners allowing 0-99 maximum diameter curves and hi-speed turnouts.

Buy a very comfortable fully adjustable office chair with wheels suitable for any surface.

 

Attach a tape meaure to the wall with "0" on the floor.

 

Determine your optimum viewing height.

 

That should be your bench height. This is your railroad. 

I have two levels for our benchwork. About 2/3 is at 36". while the balance is 46". It has worked out well for us and I would not change it if I had to do it over again.

Bob,

34"- 36" whichever you're comfortable with, however, plan ahead for the unforeseen. My last layout and workbench were built to allow for wheelchair access. This made my last few years in the hobby more enjoyable.

 

God Bless,

"Pappy"

I'm with Milwaukee Road Dave 

 

Watch your ceiling height, I had mine at 48" and really liked that. Something didn't seem right so when I rebuilt I lowered it 6" and boy that make a differenc in the overall looks of the display. Much better. I do prefer 48" but not in my basement.

 

Clem k 

51" from floor to railhead.  If I could do it over, it would have been 54".............Youngsters who visit are lifted up by their parent(s) to enjoy.

Much more realistic (IMHO).

Pete

40" is my height of the layout.

Mine is 50" which is a great height, it's like being track side.

42 inches here on my redesigned layout.  It used to be 37" but that wasn't enough to work underneath using an automobile type creeper. My neck is thankful for the change.

Before I started building my benchwork, I went and measured the height of my kitchen counter since it seemed comfortable for cooking.  36".

 

So, my bench layer is 36", the second deck is at 43.75", and a small third layer is 51.5".  The reason for the odd sizes is they match the trestle heights offered by TW Trainworx.  I have mocked it up and it looks good so far.

 

Another good thing about the 36" -- for me at least -- is that it's the height exactly where my legs end and my torso begins.  I can stand against the front of it and lean over and reach to the other end of a 4x8' sheet of plywood.

 

I also have a subterranean Subway about 7-8" below the main table surface.  I planned it that way because it's going to be about eye-level with a 3-year-old.  For crawling purposes, however, I wouldn't want to go any lower than that.  I look at it some times and predict that, as I continue to get older, I'll be needing a mechanic's creeper to get under it...

 

25 years ago when i built mine, 30" - 36" was the norm. i built mine at 42"on the main level and the upper level gets as much as 8" higher than that. If i were to do it over again my main level would be at least 50". Why? My old joints and aftermarket knees don't bend like they used to, plus i like viewing trains from eye level (a habit i developed as a kid lying on the floor watching trains run on the carpet).

 

Kids can stand on stools, or, come back in a few months when they've grown taller.

 

It's your layout do what makes you happy.

 

jackson

 

I built mine at 40 inches.  If I could do it over I would go higher.  If I ever build again it will certainly be another 6 - 8 inches higher.

After several HO at 36" and 40", my first O-Gauge was at 44", but the next one, the one I have now, is 48" and I am so glad! The upper levels above that are at 57" and 65".

 

The 48" provides enough room for me to sit on a small home-made 'scooter', and travel under the layout for wiring and to reach the numerous hatches I have. For viewing, I made an observation area as well as a raised walk around a portion of the layout. I extended this walk and now is along one side and along the back of the layout. In addition, I have several small stools that kids enjoy taking around for a better view.

 

Good luck!

 

Alex

Mine is 56" to the top of the roadbed.  Im just under 6' tall.

Sit on the floor and measure to the top of your head.  Add three inches.  This would be the minimum height for the layout since you will spend a lot of time underneath wiring. Anything higher than that is a personal choice.

 

Al

42". Attic knee wall is 55" @ junction with rafter/roof pitch, leaving a 13" high backdrop. Feb.2010 photo of future Service Yard area during "roughing-in" the wiring prior to cover up.

Wiring rough-in saves a lot of "train neck" and "train back" ailments from working underneath.

 

 

I like 40"-42" to top of bench work, or for custom sizes,

 

get one of these: Mechanic's roller seat  or  Mechanic's stool

 

Sit down on it (if it's the 2nd one lower it all the way down), then measure to the top of your head, then add a couple of inches. That should be the lowest measurement for your lowest under bench supports for your layout. Someday your back and knees (and possibly other body parts) will thank you for it.

 

I have Mianne bench work, at their standard height of 40". The top supports are just a tad low for me on the stool, have to duck a little. This height is ok and quite do-able, that is unless you forget to duck when moving around. Always keep a supply of band aids handy in your work area.