Train Sets in Garage!!
- Thread starter sarge97
- Start date
Flathead Johnny
Well-known member
i think that would be a good use for upper garage space, in the house suspended track may be a little tacky but it the garage its AOK
CARS
Well-known member
I would in a heartbeat, but I work in my garage and can't imagine what it would take to clean it off all the time. Can't keep the layout in the house clean 
Jeff Ivers
Well-known member
We did this when I was a kid. Worked great until the cat leaped from the attic ladder to the train platform while it was in the suspended position, setting it to swinging until it pulled the anchors out of the ceiling. I would make sure your anchors go through a piece of angle iron that spans at least 2 rafters and make sure the pulleys are heavier duty than you may think you need - or make sure no cats are allowed in the garage!
One thing to consider is how involved in the hobby you plan to get. If you really get into it you will want a good view of the trains and the landscape that you build around it. If it is up high you won't be able to see or work on the layout very well.
Model Railroading is a great hobby, just be sure you have plenty of time and money. Or is it money and time? It takes plenty of both.
Model Railroading is a great hobby, just be sure you have plenty of time and money. Or is it money and time? It takes plenty of both.
Lippyp
Well-known member
My godfather had one running around at just below ceiling height in his house, had tunnels through all the walls!
kesslerbmw
Well-known member
Sounds awesome, and if you're ever in KC be sure to go to Fritz's Restaurant.. You'll love it.
http://www.fritzskc.com/
Man, do I miss all the cool things about living in Kansas City.
http://www.fritzskc.com/
Man, do I miss all the cool things about living in Kansas City.
HotRodChef
Well-known member
In my last Garage (a single) I made a 3/4" plywood 6" wide shelf the entire perimeter of the garage about 8" down from the ceiling and ran a O-gauge Lionel SantaFe Steamliner. The corners were curved to match the curve of the track and at one end the garage I built a soffet that served as a place to keep the transformer and made a "tunnel" for the train to go through. I wired a wall switch to turn on and off the power to the transformer that would start and stop the train. (I didn't want the speed control/transformer accessible because I didn't want a train flying off the track and running into my car (or head). I'll see if I can dig up some photos. I'd like to do a new one but my current 3-car would need a lot of track!
If you are going to use O, HO, or N gauge you will want to keep the humidity and or condensation to a minimal. The track likes to rust and or corrode over time of inactivity. You may need to clean the tracks often, there some neat devices you can apply to a car that cleans as you move the train along the track.
G and larger gauge holds up better as it has a larger surface and easier to clean and is used in outdoor layouts.
G and larger gauge holds up better as it has a larger surface and easier to clean and is used in outdoor layouts.
rlitman
Well-known member
I did that at my parent's house in the den. A circle of track going around the room.
G gauge LGB track (solid brass rail). Looks great in the house.
Oh, and there's a 6' long real truss bridge that spans the entrance to the room.
G gauge LGB track (solid brass rail). Looks great in the house.
Oh, and there's a 6' long real truss bridge that spans the entrance to the room.
We had a racecar track that was mounted to a 4x8 sheet of 3/4" plywood that was hinged to the wall. We made drop down 2x4's that were hinged on the corners so the board was secured to the wall. Everything on the track was screwed to the board. The transfomer was mounted and we just plugged it in. Underneath the board there were open 2x4 wall studs where we cut and installed small shelves where we stored the cars and the other gear.
Worked well. Having to reach across 4' of wood to reach the back if one flipped a car. We solved this by just walking across the plywood to the back. This is how sturdy it was.
rogsmart
Well-known member
@KesslerBmw
The meal delivery train is really cool, a very neat gimmick. I like the way they engineered it, especially the drop arm to stop the meal box at the right table.
I worked at a Bar and Restaurant with an elaborate train layout up near the ceiling when I was a teenager. After the bar closed (2am) and we'd had sufficient mind altering substances we'd shoot rubber bands at the Engine while it was in motion. Cheap entertainment.
The meal delivery train is really cool, a very neat gimmick. I like the way they engineered it, especially the drop arm to stop the meal box at the right table.
I worked at a Bar and Restaurant with an elaborate train layout up near the ceiling when I was a teenager. After the bar closed (2am) and we'd had sufficient mind altering substances we'd shoot rubber bands at the Engine while it was in motion. Cheap entertainment.
555
Well-known member
I had a neighbor with a N guage setup suspended from the ceiling in his small one car garage. His tracks were mounted on 6-8" wide plywood that he had salvaged from shipping boxes and he had two tracks side by side. He could run 3-4 trains for no problem. The track was about 6 feet from the ground. High enough to be out of his way but not too high to see the trains running on the outside track.
555
555
HOTFR8
Banned
Mine has been leaning against the wall for many years waiting for me to have room to get it out and use it. Hopefully if and when extensions happen I may be able to put it on the floor.
gsport
Well-known member
cool thread... i'm waiting to see some pictures
bazzateer
Well-known member
My neighbour has a garden train set with sidings in the garage accessed via an arched 'door'.
Drew_flux
Well-known member
I had a ho set growing up. memorys of glueing fake trees and buildings kits together will my late father are some of the best.
countryroad82
Well-known member
I have always wanted to do that when I build a 'showroom' garage, basically a man cave to park my Chevelle when I get it finished. Thought about a pool table in the same garage but the thoughts of an airborn q ball hitting a quarter panel made me think twice, an O gauge train flying off the rails wouldn't do as much damage!!
Jhoff310
Well-known member
I have been a model railroader for 25+ years and due to lack of time I havent been actively involved in trains for about 5 years. I have been thinking about building a small layout in my garage and using a winch with cable on each end to raise and lower it from ceiling height to a workable height 32-40". Lower it when the mood strikes and raise it out of the way in order to perform work on other things...the only thing that is preventing me from doing so is the amount of dust i produce in my garage....short of covering it with a sheet or tarp
Jeff
Jeff
cashishift
Well-known member
This would be cool... though with our stupid weather it might be harder than one might think.
e-tek
Well-known member
Wow - so many players, no pictures.....
If you guys like model railroading, you need to check out this monster layout in Germany...
miniatur-wunderland/
Someday I would love to see it in person.
miniatur-wunderland/
Someday I would love to see it in person.
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Omphaloskeptic
Well-known member
sarge97, years ago I was given a tour of the mansion a former Boeing CEO had built. It was amazing! One wild feature (of many) was a train track (gage?) going through portions of the house with automatic 'tunnel' doors going through walls. As I recall, the 'great room' was a walk down entry so the track ran along the wainscoting ledge, the train's flat cars were loaded with drinks and 'delivered' when entertaining large groups of guests. That place was simply amazing!
Go for the in-house layout if you can, you and your grandson will have a ball designing, building, and running it. BUILD SOME MEMORIES!
Go for the in-house layout if you can, you and your grandson will have a ball designing, building, and running it. BUILD SOME MEMORIES!
wuck
Active member
Ah, none in my garage, but I do belong to a local club. Our layout is over 3000 square feet, based loosely on the Napa Valley. The club has resided at the Napa Town & Country fairgrounds for over 40 years, so there has been plenty of work/additions/tweaking done over the years.
Currently we're capable of running old school DC (Analog) or modern DCC (Digital), and in the process of adding full signaling via Bruce Chubb's CMRI interface products.
A picture or two can't do it justice, there are a couple of videos available from our website here:
http://www.nvmrc.org/
Pat
Currently we're capable of running old school DC (Analog) or modern DCC (Digital), and in the process of adding full signaling via Bruce Chubb's CMRI interface products.
A picture or two can't do it justice, there are a couple of videos available from our website here:
http://www.nvmrc.org/
Pat
Athough I find very little time for it lately, I figure I will get back into model railroading again when I get older. A spot for a layout was on my planning list for the ASYLUM from the beginning, but it has yet to materialize. With the place nearing completion, I have two possible spots left to put it.
The first is down in the main shop area. This idea could work for anyone (pardon my quick sketch):
I would have to sell all my HO gauge rolling stock and track if using this other spot, but I think there is just enough room to build an "N" scale layout in my upstairs office nook. The big benefit up there is it's air conditioned and clean.
I hope to someday get around to it.
The first is down in the main shop area. This idea could work for anyone (pardon my quick sketch):
I would have to sell all my HO gauge rolling stock and track if using this other spot, but I think there is just enough room to build an "N" scale layout in my upstairs office nook. The big benefit up there is it's air conditioned and clean.
I hope to someday get around to it.
JCQuick
Well-known member
I saw that its bad *** for sure
I have a train set that I bought my #1 son for his 1st birthday he's 35 now and his son just turned 1 been meaning to drag the thing out and set it up.
There is a steak house in NC that we use to visit when racing there that had a big train running around the ceiling. we use to throw peanuts and try to land them in the open cars. manager was not real pleased with us
I've always told the wife that I would love to have a train running around the top of a basement family room.
I think N is the smallest these aging eyes could deal with.
I'm still partial to HO though.Probably didn't want the nuts derailing the loco and falling on someone - lawsuits, you know.There is a steak house in NC that we use to visit when racing there that had a big train running around the ceiling. we use to throw peanuts and try to land them in the open cars. manager was not real pleased with us
santagary
Well-known member
In the 50's we fastened our Lionel track on the bottom of our ping pong table and just flipped it over and added buildings, accessories and the train set, etc. Anyone wanting to play pingpong, had to wait till spring and put everything away and take the table outside to play. Playing with the trains was pretty much a winter activity in Akron, Ohio.
BWS
Well-known member
Get on top of the dust and rust during the planning stages......or you're gonna spend more time on that later,than enjoying the hobby.BW
superspec
Well-known member
L5wolvesf
Well-known member
The previous owner of our house had a suspended set up in the garage. The track were on a board (probably 4 x 8 IIRC) that hung from the rafters and came down using a pulley system. He lowered it on to a table I believe he used as a work table when not doing the train thing. Pretty neat little system, but I am a car guy so I had to clear it out for car stuff. I still have the table, pulleys and rope.
L
L
HOTFR8
Banned
How come so many car guys are also into model trains ?
Well if mine was not leaning against a wall I would have a photo to show you all.
Well if mine was not leaning against a wall I would have a photo to show you all.
baltimorenative
New member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2011
- Messages
- 1
I think you will get a some responses on this train board:
http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/frm/f/57660482
Here is one thread that I saw. I have seen pictures posted before of garages that used a raised pulley system to raise/lower the layout.
http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/281102314/m/1052992227?r=1052992227#
http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/frm/f/57660482
Here is one thread that I saw. I have seen pictures posted before of garages that used a raised pulley system to raise/lower the layout.
http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/281102314/m/1052992227?r=1052992227#
HotRodChef
Well-known member
rsanter
Well-known member
in my lase house I had installed an O guage train track overhead in my office
people loved it, espicially the kids
I used crown molding to make a shelf that was right above the door height, came out great
bob
people loved it, espicially the kids
I used crown molding to make a shelf that was right above the door height, came out great
bob
ckadams00
Well-known member
I think it's a great idea, we had a 4x8' HO table when I was a kid and tried something similar. A couple of thoughts:
-As someone has already pointed out, it makes sense to "overengineer" the supports and eye bolts, as this is likely to get heavy.
-Test the rigging - you are going to want a pully system that lowers the table uniformly. That might sound obvious, but if you don't deign it that way you will be tempted to think you can lower it level by hand . . .not always as easy as it sounds.
-Putting it up sounds great, but you also need to consider what you are going to store below it. Cars, etc can be easily moved. If you find yourself using the space for storage, powertools, etc, then when the kids want to play you either A) have to move a ton of stuff or B) tell them you don't have time . . .which defeats the whole point.
Please post pictures of the project!
-As someone has already pointed out, it makes sense to "overengineer" the supports and eye bolts, as this is likely to get heavy.
-Test the rigging - you are going to want a pully system that lowers the table uniformly. That might sound obvious, but if you don't deign it that way you will be tempted to think you can lower it level by hand . . .not always as easy as it sounds.
-Putting it up sounds great, but you also need to consider what you are going to store below it. Cars, etc can be easily moved. If you find yourself using the space for storage, powertools, etc, then when the kids want to play you either A) have to move a ton of stuff or B) tell them you don't have time . . .which defeats the whole point.
Please post pictures of the project!
GMCAMARO
Well-known member
I have a G scale around my family/pool table room down stairs, periodically I do dioramas of various car stuff.
I have a short attention span which is why I am restoring a 58 Fleetside, I have my train and various other car projects like a 74 Midget, 99 Camaro, 06 STi.
They all require different positions and because I am in so much pain I move from project to project, never actually completing anything. Although every thing is running and complete except the Fleetside.
Wife puts up with it all.
I have a short attention span which is why I am restoring a 58 Fleetside, I have my train and various other car projects like a 74 Midget, 99 Camaro, 06 STi.
They all require different positions and because I am in so much pain I move from project to project, never actually completing anything. Although every thing is running and complete except the Fleetside.
Wife puts up with it all.