Peter’s been in touch with his answer to ‘How big does a model train room need to be?’
Of course, the scale you choose is pretty much going to force the issue, but I think this is the first container room on the blog:
“Hi, Al,
This is Peter from Strathalbyn, South Australia and I would like to give an update on my 20 foot container train room.
Firstly, it is completely solar powered, using a solar panel to charge a 400 Ah deep cycle battery and supplying the 240 volts for trains and lighting through a 600 watt pure sine wave inverter.
Regarding the layout, it is two loops, crossing the opening via a hinged drop down section.
The main loop represents the Mount Barker to Strathalbyn line, with an extension to Semaphore, but heavily truncated.
I am scratch building all my railway buildings from photos and plans and am quite pleased by the Strathalbyn and Mt Barker stations and their associated goods sheds. The Exeter Railway station is from 1929.
The layout is wired for DC and DCC.
Hope your readers find this of interest.
Cheers,
Peter.”
If you’re still curious about how big does a model train room have to be, here are some others you can peep at:
Of course, it’s scale that determines how much room you need for a train layout:
Please do leave a comment below if you have any thoughts on this – it comes up on the blog quite a bit.
Now on to Terry:
“Dear Alastair I have been enjoying reading your posts and seeing the many different layouts from around the country.
They have inspired me to try new and different things. One of them, is a turntable for my siding on the right side of the track.
My photos will show the process has it continued.
I hope you enjoy this rookies efforts.
Terry”
A big thanks to Terry and Peter for sharing.
Please do keep ’em coming because it’s getting a bit thin on the ground this end.
That’s all for today.
And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.
Finally someone is using their brains and the resources the right way b
Peter,
I live in North Carolina. I’m very impressed with you powering your system with Solar… Makes Sense…!
You need to learn creative scenery work, that comes in time… I’ve been in HO since 1954… Im a member of the “Apple Valley Model RR Club, Hendersoville, NC… Keep up your work and Love for Trains..
Tom D
Peter has a great idea with his all self contained – Container Layout room. I am fortunate to been in my home for 55 years now – my train room is 25 ft 10 inches X 10 ft 4 inches. For folks that have to move every once in a while – it seems to that a container – would be an easy move.
Ed – Kent, WA USA
good job. really nice. good use of space. wish i had that much room.
Peter, that’s going to be a very nice layout. I might suggest that you consider installing a back drop or adding some clouds to the walls.
Jay
Wath a layout room !!
Herman from Belgium.
Could some veterans leave some critique on mine so I can improve please. Terry
PETER does it get hot in your train room? If so how do you cool it down.wonderfufl IDEA for a train layout.
Peter, that’s a very nice use of a 20-foot container. Were the interior walls really that smooth or did you install drywall or some other wall covering? My wife had two 40-foot containers that we converted into art studios for her but neither of them had smooth interior walls. One was aluminum and that was fairly easy to modify, but the steel walled container was more of a challenge. Both were provided with electrical power from extension cords I ran up through the floor.
Your layout looks great and scratch-building all the structures is a testament to your commitment to accuracy in modeling the Mount Barker to Strathalbyn line. Please keep us posted as it progresses.
To add to some comments above. Layout size depends on the space available, gauge depends on what you like, the available finance over and above track, locos wagons and coaches e.g. scenics and cameos. If exhibition then added extras relate to packing safely and the means of transport. Ultimately this boils down to the essence of Rule 1!
Most ingenious! Brilliant even . Great start to your layout , eager to see your progress . Obviously a man of determination .
The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
Terry, do you have a track plan you can share? You’re doing well on the scenery. Keep going.
Peter, your power system sounds impressive. Is the container insulated and/or air conditioned/heated? Many of us find expansion/contraction challenges with the seasonal temperature changes. Anything you can do to mitigate this will help.