@Lou1985 posted:Less impressive than others, but functional. This is strictly for train repair. My garage workbench (car repair and what not) is much different, and larger.
What’s less functional about it?....looks like you built it well enough to park a dump truck on it....looks fine to me...
Pat
It's easy. I merely push one big pile of partially completed projects and tools off to the side in order to make room for getting started on yet another project. 
As the RR is actively in the process of gradually taking over the entire basement I find that the various tool boxes, roll around power tool work bench and roll a way tool boxes are left to fend for them selves.
At one time or another each of them heard shouted from a less mobile soul, "Roll on, save your self, find a place to hide". So consequently there are quite a few multi drawer Craftsman, Husky & Snap-on tool boxes snuggled in at various locations.
I find Covid a very convenient excuse for not hosting visitors and just maybe by droning on and on the average reader will skip to the next posting and fail to notice the absence of photos of my conglomeration.
I'm a statistician by trade so I've made sure all my tools are uniformly and randomly distributed around the shop.
A moving work bench. Just returned from a sister-in-law project.
Finding coffee cans has become an issue.
Most of the work gets done with these tools.
A good day, there are not-so-good days.
One of the trucks, a long time ago, I installed a pipe vice on the tailgate. Was O.K., got used a lot, but was always in-the-way.
A couple of the trucks, we doubled the ladder storage area, commercial work, an eight foot ladder was more useful. Tools and tool box was not as side accessible. I was O. K. with the set-up, added a 10 ft or 12 ft step ladder to the roof when needed.
The sister-in-law project required an 8 ft sheet of drywall, which fits in the space pictured. Recent years heavy duty plastic trash bags have become an additional item.
The 8ft. bed, pictured, has become a novelty, apparently the rest of the world likes the 6ft. bed. Truck pictured had to be order, 8ft beds don't sell on the car/truck lots, I was told. The high, walk-in vans seem to be the modern trend. May be time to retire. 
@harmonyards posted:Ok, we need to get off topic just for a second...nevermind the workbench, what do we have here??.....please do tell....afterwards, we’ll return to the regularly scheduled programming....
Pat
Pat -
Since you asked, I grabbed 2 or 3 photos from last year:
Williams bottom; "ATSF" Warhorse top; I used a hardware store torch to take off the major components on the Dreyfuss.
New, higher skirting based on the old:
Since no one would build the proper J1e 5344 in its Century-like garb, I did. I used the Wms brass to streamline the Lionel; Wms tender w/Lionel electronics/tether. Added Lionel valve gear.
Still Pullmor, one chuff. On the list for a chuff-ectomy, if I ever get off the layout work. And get the sound to work again...
(I did not "aluminize" the drivers; this loco is dirty anyway, and I just really like those flat gray Lionel drivers. They look serious.)
David.
Start off with my not having finished models in the shop other than maybe for reference purposes, but it's dusty and dirty there so as projects get done, off to another room. Workshop space is not the place for storing or displaying models.
Got a 4'x12' main bench and back 12" are parts bins with front being racks of small tools behind 2 dedicated model building spaces of 30"x40" plate glass resting on a cushioned underlayment. Rest of space is filled with parts and tools associate with ongoing projects. Small 2nd bench is ~4'x4' and set up for seated close work with shelving filled with parts and supplies. Other shelving and file cabinets are filled with parts and supplies.
My work bench is so well organized I sometimes have trouble finding it.
@D500 posted:Pat -
Since you asked, I grabbed 2 or 3 photos from last year:
Williams bottom; "ATSF" Warhorse top; I used a hardware store torch to take off the major components on the Dreyfuss.
New, higher skirting based on the old:
Since no one would build the proper J1e 5344 in its Century-like garb, I did. I used the Wms brass to streamline the Lionel; Wms tender w/Lionel electronics/tether. Added Lionel valve gear.
Still Pullmor, one chuff. On the list for a chuff-ectomy, if I ever get off the layout work. And get the sound to work again...
(I did not "aluminize" the drivers; this loco is dirty anyway, and I just really like those flat gray Lionel drivers. They look serious.)
David.
Wow, that’s nice work...I remember Pete telling me you had built one, and that’s a fine example.....great job!..and now back to the workbenches...
Pat
The sagest advice I can give is DON’T BE LIKE ME. My workbenches are places where I drop my tools when I finish a job. My woodshop workbench is usually so full of stuff that my table saw is my work surface. I built a second work surface in my staging area because the first one was always full of stuff. Now they are both full of stuff. I have a place for everything, but don’t usually don’t put everything back in its place.
Why would I want to "organize" my work bench? Every time my wife "organizes" the garage, it takes me hours, or sometimes days, to find anything!
This is my upstairs clean area. All the messy work takes place in the garage.
I just partially cleaned the work shop after an exterior house painting project. I have some loads to make, and also working on a bird house project, so I had to clean the place up a bit. No photos to show, but I have posted before and after pics on a similar post from the past.
@harmonyards posted:What’s less functional about it?....looks like you built it well enough to park a dump truck on it....looks fine to me...
Pat
Not as big or "full of stuff", but it functionally gets the job done. That's all I need it to do. 
Jay Francis: In response to your opening question may I suggest to consider magnetic tool holders, Speciality gizmos for pegboard use, tool boxes with primarily low profile drawers, vise, soldering station, U shape or L shape work area so you can be perform multi tasking within a seated reach, a spur track connected to your RR, super lighting, lighted magnifier, safe beverage placement, organized small parts drawers for maintenance items like couplers, wheel sets, small fasteners.
One thing I found restricting was a real neat looking machinist tool box. Very professional looking but an awkward time waster frequently sliding drawers reaching for and returning small tools. I replaced it with nook and cranny shelving where certain frequently used tools were immediately visible and reach able with out any extra motion.
Work stations are organic, they will develop and grow as your area of involvment expands.
GRJ has one of the most functional work spaces I have ever seen. He can reach overhead, underneath, side to side and right in front of his position to efficiently address any need.
Hi treasure trove of parts and widgets in the parts containers under his work station is more akin to an electronic supply house. Total envy!! Especially of his knowledge!!
Some very nice set ups here people. Gunrunnerjohn - to die for - nice layout. Mine is more like Lehigh74 's bench. In fact I would post a pic but my camera is MIA somewhere on the bench where I last took some shots of a project I was working on. JP
Everyone, thank you for the insights and that is what I was hoping for when I posed the question.
TomTee, I’m going to be limited to an oddly shaped closet in my train room. The door opening will be about three feet away from the side of the layout and I won’t be able to run a spur into the area. However, earlier Pat had mentioned that he mounts a toolbox under his layout. I intend to that since it will be within reach. There will also be a work bench in the garage.
Jay
When I built benchwork for Joe Genovario back in '09 he requested a raised portion in his benchwork to allow for a roll out 2' X 6' work bench. This saved considerable floor space in his limited area.
I started with a 3/4" X 8" X 8' piece of Maple plywood and shaped it accordingly.
Then I made a rollout work bench with four fixed rollers which provided stable back and forth movement.
Joe had drawer units immediately beside and behind him also under the layout for his supplies and tools. Excellent work provision, zero floor space impact.
For the deck I made a thin honeycomb waffle bottom for a rigid platform. This configuration served Joe very well.
I’m still figuring out my workflow in my shop areas. Currently I share my bench between my two hobbies, trains and woodworking. They share the bench, but have separate storage adjacent.
multipurpose 6’ bench.
A recycled anesthesia cart for the woodworking hand tools.
An old microfilm cabinet provides 36” deep, full extension drawers to hold the train specific tools and spare rolling stock.
On the other side of the wall is a dedicated 13’x19’ power tool shop with dust collection. Keep most the dust in a separate area that way. Storage in that room uses a French cleat wall, recycled upper cabinets and some peg boards.
During the lock down I built a separate work desk for the trains. It’s a laminated hard maple desk. But, the wife reminded me I promised to build her a scrapbook table, so I lost the desk and the space.
I’m back to using one bench for two hobbies.
I took a few pics of the shop that is somewhat in order. I am like Lehigh 74, in that I tend to pull out an arsenal of tools and equipment project after project, until most of the tools are scattered throughout! It is usually months after before I finally force myself to organize and clean. The island work table is on wheels, and folds in half to change t work surface from 2' X 8', to 4' X 4'. It is set to he height of the table saw for cutting long materials.
The last two pics are the normal look!
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
