I know there’s a “Brotherhood of Crappy Basement Layouts”, how’s about a “Brethren of Crowded Bedroom Displays”? Probably a small minority in Choo Choo land.
I imagine there are a lot of factors that prevent one from setting up their trains in their bedroom, a loving wife probably being the number one. But being single and not having a lot of space in the condo makes the bedroom the only available space for my trains.
There are advantages and I suppose some disadvantages to the arrangement. But for me I tend to focus on the advantages.
Because space is limited building and demoing a display doesn’t really take a lot of time. In the past ten years I’ve probably built about 15 different configurations. There isn’t a lot of real estate for operating accessories and switching operations, means there are fewer things to go wrong and the displays are pretty much trouble free. What is lacking in operations can be made up for with illumination.
Most of my operations are at night and I can operate the entire display while lying in bed. I think running trains are more conducive to a good night’s sleep and happy dreams than watching television.
Of course there’s always the creepiness factor a lady might feel when she discovers a full grown red blooded American male playing with toy trains in his bedroom. But the special properties of a chocolate scent can cancel that out and I discovered a few smoke fluid manufactures make such a product.
My current display is now over a year old, it’s the longest I’ve kept one and I still have ideas on how it could be expanded with three more loops while maintaining its current footprint. There’s also a plan for a larger display going from 8’ X 5’ to 9’ x 6’. Which ever direction I decide to go it won’t take a lot of time or effort.
I wonder how small the minority of bedroom display operators is. If there's anyone else how about sharing your creations and experiences?
