Upstairs unfinished area layout, have multiple questions!

Hey everyone,

I'm hoping to model modern railroading with emphasis on CSX Corporation as it is the predominant carrier here in the Carolinas. Here are some questions, but first i'll be building this upstairs in tandem with finishing the upstairs (adding insulation, lighting, flooring).

I plan on starting small with building a "hidden" staging area in a closet space. Firstly, i'll be insulating and putting some drywall in that space, and then the yard will go in and allow me just a bit of play while I expand. Thankfully, space is not an issue as there is probably about 1000 sq ft of open area up there to play with.

After I insulate some more of the space, I want to try my best at having a layout that will allow for a lot of "running space." I'm envisioning some long trains with 2 or 3 engines pulling along. I'd love to have areas of 2 or 3 parallel tracks for the occasional drive-by. To obtain a "never ending" feel of crossing the country, what would be the suggested or optimal space needed for a reversing loop?

My plan is to incorporate a heavy industrial area surrounded by a harbor like area on one end, and a forrested area on the other. The industrial area would be similar to "Raleigh, NC" with Wilmington and Ashville being other suggested endings.

With a wide open space, and with windows on the walls (so this wont be attached to the wall of the room), what type of benchword would you suggest? Should I build the frame, and then have a base board, or should i do it more like the layouts that have wood cut in the layout of the track and there isn't much wasted board anywhere to be seen?

These are the only questions I have so far, but i'm sure i'll be back as time comes along. I may even throw up a picture of the space tomorrow. Good night all!

 

i'm wondering about not doing all the insulation first. i've seen other posts about people having trouble with expansion / contraction of their roadbed and bench work due to tempature swings, and a partially insulated attic sounds like a great place for that type of thing to happen.
also, how about a drawing of the space your using and some rough sketches of the layout plan.

good luck

 

Your optimal space for a reversing loop will depend a lot on your scale, which I did not see specified in your post. In N scale, 18" radius is considered broad enough for long trains including full-legnth passenger cars. Maybe not the VERY largest articulated steam...


Will coal hauling be important in your scene? If so, it would be good to have an oval loop so loaded trains can continue in the same direction while empties are always seen going the other direction.

Will passenger traffic be featured? If so, it is good to have reverse loops so the same set of equipment that is the northbound train can return as the southbound train.

A dogbone layout allows the appearance of double track with trains "meeting" each other without any actual reversing sections---just a return curve at each end. Here is an example of a dogbone layout-- completely different theme from yours. The loop at bottom "looks" like a reverse loop but it is not electrically a return track.

 

awesome information. I will upload a sketch of the upstairs area. Financially if i were to finish upstairs before starting this build, it'd be years. My daughter has started with her grandfather, and father's, fascination of trains and i'd love to get something going so when she ages another couple years she'll have something she can actually LOOK at and participate with, without the long "getting started" stage.

I love the idea of some passenger service as Amtrak runs on CSX rails around here quite frequently (we have a station at the CSX yard in Rocky Mount which will be one of the proto's i use). Aso, the dogbone idea may work well for me. One of my concerns is being able to constantly run some long loco's while in a separate area i can focus on some operation/switching stuff.

 

I have to agree with what the others have said, that is you need to finish (or almost finish) the area before starting on the layout. Having been in the construction trade I know what a mess it can make. It is possible to finish the area as you go but it would be a lot of trouble to keep the dust/dirt down. I would also recommend that you think about heat and a/c in the area as well. Attics can go from very hot in summer to very cold in winter and that makes working on your trains not so much fun.

A few questions... Can you hang and finish the sheet rock your self? If not then having a train layout in the way will increase the cost if someone has to work around it. It takes time to work around something, and time is money.

Can you do all the other work your self? I mean duct work, electrical, carpet, etc.? All of this will add to the cost if you have to hire outside help.

I would also recommend some kind of modular system that can be moved if it ever needs to. This would also help if you don't finish the whole area first. You can move the modules out of the way and cover them as needed. Just a few things to think about before getting started.


Dave

 

Good information Dave. That is why i was going to start by finishing the closet, and doing the staging yard in there. That will allow me to work my way out of the corner in advance of the layout so it is not in the way. Thanks for your input guys! good information that will help me.

 

Looking forward to seeing a sketch of the space, with the closet area outlined.

I'm curious if you have a center staircase/ladder that would allow you full around-the-walls? A lot of the Brit OO attic layouts are built this way, and they've always looked quite fun to me.

 

What scale are you working with? Please upload a basic sketch of the room dimensions.

 

I'll upload a sketch as soon as I replace my all in one printer with one that my MacBook will work better with. Can't get the thing to scan.


I like the idea of modules. If I did this, what size do you think I should start with?

Oh and no, not a center staircase.

 

My next layout will be a room size layout, but it will be broken into 4 foot modules. My thought is nothing bigger than I can move by my self. I made the mistake of making my first layout a 4x8 and then could not move it before my STBX got rid of it. At least I got most of the stuff off of it before it was gone.

You don't have to make it any modular standard, mine will not be. But modules sizes that you are comfortable moving if needed. You did not mention what scale you are planning. Mine will be N scale. I am going to use Anderson power pole connectors between modules and Atlas code 55 rail (mostly flex) with small pieces of sectional track to be used between modules. Each module will have 12 gauge wire main power with 18 gauge feeders to the track. So electric will be similar to N-Trak standards and DCC ready.

I hope sharing my ideas will help you plan yours. Good luck.


Dave

 

I put up some insulation today. Also put up one piece of drywall before I ran out of time. This closet is 4'x8. I will basically use the whole thing with 2 feet running in a u around the closet. In this area will be a control area, storage, and the staging yard. I'm considering using the Csx yard in rocky mount nc as a proto but it's a big yard so I'll have to slim it down some and play with it to make it fit. But this area will be closed off while I work on the rest of the room.

 

U-shape in the closet seems like a good way to allow for future extension.