I'm nearing the end of some trackplanning work based on footprint designs supplied by Byron Henderson / Layout Vision. Given my druthers and constraints, he came with several appealing ideas utilizing my space very well. I have a fairly narrow room, so one of the limitations is aisle space if I try to cram too much benchwork in. I know that a 2-foot minimum is sort of generic standard, but I've been cautioned by Byron and others that 24" is often a tight squeeze - especially if it's anything more than a a "squeeze point". One caveat was along the lines of their suitability only for "dwarfs & gnomes" ... Although my plan is for a single-operator layout; I don't want to hem myself (and others) in. I'm looking for feedback from those who have some experience with 24-inch aisles. Are you comfortable with them or would you do it differently the next time?
I agree with Harold....I may still have the same 36" waist of 50 years ago, but it's much harder to suck in! My aisles are 30" which allows me to comfortably twist and turn while laying track and applying scenery. BTW, Welcome to the TrainBoard, Harold! We're happy to have you on board...:yes:
I have a couple of squeeze points that are 30" but everything else is 3 to 5 feet. IMO 2 feet is just too narrow unless there are never any visitors.
Two feet is just not enough, even for a single operator. Try for at least 30 inches. More than that, if any way is possible! Boxcab E50
Suck it in? Deciding your minimum aisle width is important, because changing it later probably would be a problem. I think the first step is deciding what you want to do with your layout - watch, show, photograph, repair & clean, operate it. And how much of each. I like to do some of all. I was lucky - I was able to build this home around a layout room. But I still had overall size and shape limitations. A 24-inch walk-around looked good on paper, so I decided to try it. Two tight-passage concerns I had were room for a tripod (I'm in my 'photo stage' and writing phase, now) and whether large visitors might brush against my cardboard car card boxes mounted on the fascia. Neither has been a problem. Sure, you'd always like more space, but life and model railroading seem to be compromises. Twenty-four inches works for me, and I wouldn't do it differently. Good luck, and please ask me any 24-inch questions that come to mind! Scott
At one spot I have only 2 feet aisle. But you cannot pass there! And in front of the yard there're about 3 feet, and even this is narrow with a few operators. Wolfgang
My pinch point is 40 inches, which is too narrow for two rotund operators to pass through at the same time. Otherwise aisles are closer to six feet. If you have multiple levels like I do, then six feet is about right. The more levels, the more space is needed.
