I'm going to be setting up a overhead layout in my "Den", this Room is my domain and the Wife & Kids rarely go in it so I've decided to set up in there...What do you guys think the best thing to do would be? I've seen suspended support for the track and also shelf type support, I will be running a LGB Freight Train. Thanks for any advice you give! Troy
It is a very good idea if you don't want the train in your way down on floor level. Just don't make the same mistake I did when I built my overhead. I never made any type of side railings and one day the train derailed from a loose track nail senidng it into a 7ft explosive fall. There are a few commmercial made systems available to hang from the ceiling or wall. A smart fellow right here on train board by the name of Route66 actaully built his own overhead ceiling system and has a article here on how he did it very reasonable and it really didn't take him much time to do it if I remember right. Here is the link to his thread> www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=99578 Route66 used material readily available from a hardware store, it was an impressive project. Now for those side railings, I've seen people use clear lexan or just simple strips of woodmounted high enough to keep a derail from becoming a disaster. Make sure your ceiling can support such rolling weight also. My ceiling could not, so I went with a wall mounted system that was home made also. Whe you are done I would love to see pictures
I have started on a Shelf type design, while it will be more expensive the up side is it will be solid. This will be going in my Den, this room is basically my space with it's own bathroom & entrance, perfect for when the wife aggitates me ...Just left the local Hobby Shop (Track 33), I needed more LGB Track (6 X 2' sections) to complete my run...While I was at the Shop I got a Really great deal on a Aristocraft Cab. It's lighted (powered from track) and has a smoke unit. I got it for $45 and he even swapped out the knuckle couplers for me on the spot.:thumbs_up: With any luck at all I will have it running by the end of this Weekend, I'll post pictures when it's done...Still brainstorming ideas for the side rails, now way is my train hitting the Floor!!!
Troy, that is a good idea about side rails, learn from my mistake. Of course if I never made my mistake I would have never ended up with a 300ft layout, 16 locomotives and 90 train cars since they would never fit on the ceiling. I'm very familiar with the hobby store called Track 33, very nice guy who owns it. I haven't been there in ages though, since most of my time is taken up by work and home life activities, I just get trains from internet hobby stores now. I let UPS do all of my driving chores now.
OK, she's running it was quite a project but except for a few cosmetic things I'm done. One issue I have run into is I think I need a bigger transformer, the one that came with the LGB starter set (.7 amp) is having issues, once I put on my aristo cabbose that has a smoke unit and lights the internal breaker in the transformer keeps tripping after about 5 mins. running...I turned off the lights/smoke unit om the cabbose and the pack has no problem...I also ran two extra leads to the track being I have about 55' of track on this layout... Can you recomend a transformer, I want to be able to add lighting and run all my gear without a problem. Troy
There are many transformers out there for many budgets. That LGB trasformer is way too small. MRC makes a nice 10 amp trasnformer within a reasonable budget but I'm not sure what you want to add on. If you can spare a little money I highly recommend Bridgewerks transofrmers, they have the best and most powerful transformers which also feature a DC filter which is why I like them the best. They have a trasformer to fit most budgets also. You can see thier products here > www.bridgewerks.com/
