Things to have in a train room?

Based on my poor progress in the Barn:

Insulation, Track Lighting on it's own power circuit so you can focus light on the areas that need it (possibly with multiple switches / dimmers), Plenty of Amperage in the circuit running the trains. Seal up the Car Door to avoid excess dust entry and heat / cooling needs.

Run a conduit around the perimeter on its own circuit and install several wall outlets.

.....

Dennis

If you're doing a custom environment, I'd say a master kill switch for the entire layout.

I knew a guy who had one, and he made a very well-executed box that said, "self-destruct" like in the James Bond movies. But it came in real handy when a lightning storm popped up and started blasting the area around him. He hit the switch about 5 seconds before lightning hit the building. Could have fried everything if he hadn't.

Heat and AC…….

Just finished the basics.  Ran 8 outlets around the room, on their own circuit.  Then put up track lighting also on its own circuit.  I'm ready to build.  

This is the best thing you can have in your train room

If possible, put down some rubber flooring or carpet.  When installing lights, remember that you will need to replace bulbs - make sure that you will be able to reach them after the layout is in place.

Hope you are sealing off those garage doors and definitely Insulate

You need good electric.  At a minimum two dedicated circuits for trains.  More would be better, but two at a minimum.  Good lighting.  Your preference as to kelvin color, but daylight will be very good for intricate scenery and towns.  Heating and AC, of course.

Then you must have (1) TRAINS, (2) TRACK () POWER SUPPLIES.  A good imagination, and you're off to there races.  Good luck.   Bob S.

I installed a combination ceiling light/exhaust fan to help remove smoke to the outside of the house. Simply connected it to pvc and right out the side wall. Best of both worlds: let the trains smoke without filling the room.

When the time comes make the table high enough that you can move around comfortably  under it. Lying on your back to do something under there gets old real fast.

Quoted for truth.

I have seen several layouts over the years, most of them HO, in buildings that had neither. They have a local tour of layouts in my area and I went on it last year. One HO layout was in what seemed like a former farm building. No heat in there, everyone was huddled up in jackets.

That's why I went with a much smaller layout than I could have done in an out building, because it's in the house, with all the comfort that goes with it. The room invites me in there and motivates me to work on the layout far more than I'd feel if it was in a unheated or AC'd building way off in the back 40 somewhere...

Plus one on the track lighting.  Run the track down the center of the layout.  If you are going around the room place it over the center of the benchwork.  If you have room add the can lights with a dimmer.  You need a lot of light when your working, but not so much when your running.  My room is 28 X 15 and the layout is a walk in around the walls.  I have track lighting on one side and recessed fluorescent on the other side.  I have already added additional lights on the track lighting.  The other side is a little dark and I wish I had put in track lighting along that wall.

All of the above sounds very good but you also need a sink and running water.  Scenery is much easier if you don't have to tote water or run to wash up a brush or bucket.  Hot and cold ideal but cold only will do.

A utility mop type sink is good with a simple inexpensive faucet.

Also don't forget a door for materials to come through.  Make it a outswing so the layout can go across it if necessary.

George Lasley