Here a write up on how to build train shelves inexpensively and explaining why they were build this way. I have made the shelf spacing ( 4 1/2 inch opening) as close as practical to maximize use of space
Charlie
Train Shelves - Economical, Wall Friendly and Moveable
Three wall, easy to build, economically, wall friendly and moveable train shelves were made in the 1980's and were installed in a hall ways and/or a spare bedrooms of three prior houses and the current house. Each shelve is made in two sections each to allow moving thru doors and up stairs. They also stand on the floor and are held to the wall by two 1" x 1" angles screwed into a wall stud per section, meaning only two small holes in the wall are required. The shelves are backed with 1/8" Masonite, with some strips of white felt glued to the back, to protect the wall. The shelves have router grooved surfaces to hold the train wheels and keep the cars and engines from rolling off. The design has one wider 1" x 6" wide shelve, one half way up and one wider 1" X 8" top shelf to allow display of wider accessories or other items in addition to the typical train cars and engines. Some of my shelves have track sections and are powered to allow lighting of train cars.
Construction is 1" x 4" straight pine #2 lumber with grooves routed in for train wheels. It is usually less expensive to buy 1x 4 x 8 ft long #2 common pine boards at Home Depot and pick through them to find straight boards. Knots are not that important to me as they can be filled in and painted over. I used 5 min epoxy glue(fingered on) to coat the knots to keep them from bleeding through the white paint which I chose to make the trains show out better. The length of the shelves can be any you like up to 8 ft with this type of shelve boards. I place the shelves with a 4 1/2 in open space between each shelve. Mine are 7 ft 2 in tall and have 16 shelves with the bottom one 3 1/2 off the floor (about the height of my baseboards). They are nailed together with two 2 1/2 inch finish nails per shelf each end and have 1/8 " Masonite, nailed with 3/4" roofing nails every 6 inches on each shelve, on the back to keep the shape square, keep the shelves from sagging and to keep from marking wall. Pieces of white felt are glued on the back of Masonite to keep from marking wall also.
I filled knot holes and nail holes with DAP Plastic Wood Latex Based Wood Filler (update- I now seal the knots with 5 min epoxy to better hide them when painting, too), Natural and primed the shelves and backing Masonite with Kilz primer probably oil based but would use latex now. I chose to paint the shelves glossy off white latex paint. I think the light color makes the train engines and cars show up better and makes the room brighter and more cheerful. I use a 3 in x 12 in piece of clear Saran Wrap on the shelf where an engines go to keep the white shelf clean of grease from the wheels.
View of one shelve shown below The 8 inch wide shelf is shown on top and one 6 inch wide shelf is in the middle with the picture framed pictures and milk car and cattle car accessories. There are some powered track to operate the accessories and operating cars on this shelf.
View below shows joint between two half's of shelves. , Holes were drilled in the ends of both side boards and two, 3 inch finish nails, with heads sawed off, were inserted in the holes to allow the two sections to be secured.
Notice the grooves for wheels routed with veining bit on all shelves, a 6 inch wide shelf is one half way up 16 shelves. Also note the picture shows the joint between the two shelve sections that are aligned with cut off finish nail to keep the sections secure.
Some 6 inch wide shelves allow display of extra accessories and figures.
Photo below shows powered track to allow lighting cars
Next picture shows shelf legs setting on floor, showing cut out for base board. Extra, a Boxcar Willie LP record.
Top shelf is 8 inch wide to hold other train items
Over all view of all 3 shelves which were moved to from the house to the new 2010 train/all purpose room over a new two car garage/shop.
The two large shelves on the left and right of the picture above were in the halls and spare bedroom of my present house for many years until the train room was built making the spouse very happy!
Notice in last picture I have added two more small shelves under two windows for more trains. One never has enough trains and thus shelves.Small shelf under window shown below.
All shelves are standing on floor and held to wall with 1in X 1in angle brackets screwed into studs. Shelves come apart to allow removal and moving to another room or house. Build once for life!
Some train storage on the shelve hints are below.
Post war locos with Magna-traction are put on a section of steel track to act as a "magnet keeper" and hopefully help save the magnets.
For engines with traction tires I keep them off the wood or track to protect against flat spots.
I also store all cars and trains with the couplings open to "save the springs".
I use a 3 in x 12 in piece of clear Saran Wrap on the white or light colored shelves where greased engines are stored
I do not know if any of this makes a difference but I feel better.
Update: May 2020 : A fourth shelf section was built and is the last section of trains shelves. I have noticed a couple of knots are showing as slight yellowish through on some of my three original 30 plus years old shelves. I have searched for a cure to hide sappy knots and some Kilz B-I-N shellac based primer is recommended but does not always work. I have purchased my boards at Home Depot and the choice of #2 cheap lumber is of a much lower quality than in days past and this lot had several knots on about one half of the boards. I have decided to not buy the expensive shellac based Kilz for this small job and have decided to use cheap Harbor Freight 5 minute clear epoxy glue, to seal the knots. I applied it thinly with my finger tip. We will see in a few years if it works at keeping the knots from showing thru.
I now have four larger sections plus two short sections under the windows, totaling 425 linear feet and built my last shelf section.
Picture below shows all train shelves, with new in May 2020 longer shelf section the on right
Charlie
