ATTENTION NEWBEES AND REBUILDERS

[TinGoat]

This is a great thread!

Sometimes I feel more like a carpenter than a model railroader. I enjoy building benchwork, stringing buswires and framing.

My Wife was crippled and uses a walker and scooter to get around.

The wide isles aren't an issue because the eventual layout will be around the walls so that the rest of the room is open for access and other projects....

In order to close the loop for possible continuous running, I'll have to build a bridge across the doorway.

I saw a suggestion that you keep a small office chair with casters handy. Sit down on the chair and roll under the duck-under and stand back up. Not a bad idea.

Once upon a time I thought that I'd have a duck-under, but not now.

Firstly, the door to the room opens inward, so I'd have to leave enough room for the door to swing. And secondly, my Wife would not be able to get into the room with a duck-under.

So, anything going across the doorway will have to be built as a swing-out or lift-out.

I was thinking that layout height would be somewhere between 40 to 60 inches, but lower end of this range might be better...

I've always thought that it would be best to build the layout in modules or sections so that I can take parts of it out to train shows and meets.

Also, it means that parts can be worked on at a workbench an that the operating height can be adjusted.

One last thought on the subject of accessibility... Mounting hidden staging on drawer glides so that they can be pulled out into the aisle for access and servicing. A big Traverser instead of all those turnouts..