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Table or round the edge

Discussion in 'Suggested Layout Track Plan Examples' started by class48nswfan, Dec 18, 2021.

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  1. Dec 18, 2021 #1
    class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

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    With a house move imminent I am finally going to have an inside railway room although my own layout Wallace Creek will have to be dismantled. :(Whilst I favour a round the edge of the room layout, my wife suggested a large table type layout (say 12x6 feet - not that we have found a house yet).

    I am not averse to the idea, but would appreciate any views and experience people in the group have with regard to operation of such a layout.

    Thanks (and Happy Xmas)

    Dave
     
  2. Dec 18, 2021 #2
    Walkingthedog

    Walkingthedog Full Member

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    12x6 is OK as long as you can access every square inch of it without destroying what is on top. I prefer round the room.
     
  3. Dec 18, 2021 #3
    class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

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    Thanks Brian - I am thinking of a scenic break down the middle (no track or perhaps a single track branch down the middle if that works (possibly hidden). This would give me 2 separate locations to operate but with one operator that may involve some switching from side to side. Mind you I need the exercise.
     
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  4. Dec 18, 2021 #4
    paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    If you ceiling is up to it you suspend the layout from the ceiling, and lower it down when required giving you access to the room central area if required, combine that with fold up desks around the sides you'd have a fully flexible work space, permanent layout and if the fancy takes you somewhere to build a small exhibition layout when the layout is in the raised position.

    Paul
     
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  5. Dec 18, 2021 #5
    Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    Depending on what gauge you intend modelling the layout in, a 'round the edge' one might not give enough width for a 'Roundy-roundy', difficult to have anything more than an end-to-end layout. It may be possible with N or 00 gauge but very unlikely with 0 gauge unless you intend utilising a drop-down section across the doorway and going full circle of the room. At least a table layout could mean you'd have access from all sides, which is useful and saves reaching over. Perhaps a house with a useable loft or maybe a sizeable garage might be an option if funds allow and SWMBO is happy with that?

    Keith.
     
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  6. Dec 18, 2021 #6
    Walkingthedog

    Walkingthedog Full Member

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    I have an O gauge round the wall in an 8x8ft room. Only room for one circuit and I can only run small (0-6-0 0-4-0) locos and goods wagons. Has sidings and a loco shed.
     
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  7. Dec 18, 2021 #7
    class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

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    I model HO scale (Australian diesel) so 11x6 gives me reasonable space.
    Dave
     
  8. Dec 18, 2021 #8
    gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    I would suggest around the wall in preference to an island setup.
    If you imagine the island setup in the room, you need access space all around the layout, minimum 2`6" depending on your personal circumference.
    That access space will determine the size of the island.
    Height and reach are also two important factors. If the railway is set high, your reach across it is limited, therefore baseboard width has to be considered.
    If the railway is set low, reach is improved ( careful of your back ) however viewing is more of a birds eye situation and not as enticing as a high set railway.
    An island setup with visitors and or other operators in the room can get a little crowded without enough free space for people to move about.
    I would go around the wall at a height of 4 feet ( 1200mm ) with a baseboard not exceeding 2 feet ( 600mm ) in width.......less width would be better.
    This would allow better use of the room for all purposes and give you a lot more railway.
    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  9. Dec 20, 2021 #9
    class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

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    Thanks Gormo - love the term personal circumference! I agree with all your comments re height and reach but SWMBO is concerned that if we buy an old house putting a round the edge layout will somehow affect the look of the house. We have agreed a decent space as a prerequisite for moving so I am hopeful that I can get something that will keep my operational interest. With an island layout I am planning around a main station and a smaller station so when I do have visitors they can operate the main and I can operate the smaller station. I really enjoy having visitors to my layout. The centre will mostly be scenery so once complete reach does not become too much of an issue. Any lines under will have to have access hatches.

    Generally I prefer a round the edge layout.

    Chhers


    Dave
     
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  10. Dec 20, 2021 #10
    class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

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    Not something I have considered yet. Hmmmm Dave
     
  11. Dec 20, 2021 #11
    gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Well Dave,
    That brings up the other word that is often associated with model railways....." compromise "
    Nearly all model railways are a compromise in one way or another, so you have to do the best within the guidelines you set yourself.
    Whatever you come up with will be right for the space you have...:thumbs:
    I will insert a video from a guy here in Oz who builds model railways to sell . This one is more of a Doughnut than an island but may give you some ideas.
    It`s a modular design that can be moved a round......by the way he sells for an average of around 16,000 AU Dollars per railway.....:faint:


    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  12. Dec 21, 2021 #12
    class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

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    $16,000??? My UK layout (small though it is) was built out of some scrap balsa wood and second-hand track! I have been experimenting on anyrail with a 12x6 table arrangement - as I said earlier no actual house yet - its more of understanding what might be possible. The top cement loop would be slightly lower than the main layout. Points are 2.5 feet away from the edge. Dave 12 x 6 v2.jpg
     
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  13. Dec 22, 2021 #13
    gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Yeah I know.....16,000 bucks..????....but it is a quality build and I guess you`re paying for his time.???....not my cuppa tea I`m afraid.
    You seem to have plenty of operating potential in your track plan. Will there be a dividing wall / scenic break along the middle length ways.??
    :tophat:Gormo
     
  14. Dec 22, 2021 #14
    class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

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    :gday: Gormo
    Wresting $16000 out of SWMBO for a pre built model railway is not a battle I am going to win and bar the carpentry I want to do the rest myself. The idea is to have a raised area of hill country between the two sides with walking tracks, a fire tower and wild swimming place. I cannot make my mind up about a dividing wall which would be for sky is needed. It would not affect loco pictures as they would be at a lower level, but would affect photos of the raised area. However, a dividing wall does push the idea that the two locations are further apart and the two sides of the hill area would not then have to join up (e.g. a foot path on one side would not continue on the other side). At a push I could learn to use photoshop I suppose.

    I am warming to the idea of a table layout and SWMBO (who has an artistic streak) is keen to get stuck into scenic work.

    Dave
     
  15. Dec 22, 2021 #15
    gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    The seed has been planted and you will get there......planning is half the fun and the other half is watching it happen.
    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  16. Dec 22, 2021 #16
    paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Hi Dave

    If you build a removable section eg the bit in red

    upload_2021-12-22_23-41-9.png

    Which would be approx 3ft square - and access to the covered fiddle yard from below in blue, if some thing did happen you have access to all parts within a 2.5 ft reach.

    Paul
     

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  17. Dec 23, 2021 #17
    class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

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    Than
    Thanks Paul - certainly worth considering if I go the table route.
     
  18. Dec 26, 2021 #18
    Jim Freight

    Jim Freight Full Member

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    I prefer not to be able to see all of my railway at once, then your trains feel as though they are travelling somewhere, cannot do that with a central board unless you have very high middle ground scenery which would tend to overpower the railway.

    So around the wall aided by scenic breaks is my preference, you get longer runs as a bonus.

    Jim :)
     
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  19. Dec 26, 2021 #19
    James76

    James76 Full Member

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    I have had 8x6 / 12x4 table and around the wall layouts before. The biggest problem with a 6 feet deep layout is being able to reach the middle of the layout. I had an around the wall 'U' shaped 16x10 feet (with 2 feet deep baseboards). The 16x10 feet 'U' shaped layout I had included a 3 track 8 feet long yard, with MPD and RIP track, 3 branch lines, 3 live staging areas (sceniced but act as staging areas) and numerous industries. Sometime after dismantling that layout I eventually built a 14x8 feet 'U' layout (mostly 1 foot deep baseboard, with one leg of the 'U' about 1.5 feet deep). These 'U' shaped layouts were the most operationally interesting layouts I have ever built. When compared with the many table layouts I have built the around the wall offered far more operational potential than a table layout taking up the same area which sits in the middle of the room.

    Regards, James
     
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  20. Dec 27, 2021 #20
    class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

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    Thanks James sounds interesting- have you a track plan of your u shaped layout you can post?
     
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