Found some Space! New Shelf Layout? No more 4X8?

[lehrr]

So there is a small attic section adjacent (not above) one of my bedrooms that extends above my garage.

There is a full height 8' wall along one side, 11 feet long. The roof line drops down directly from this wall at about a 30 degree angle, giving me about 7 feet of usable room at 36" (leaving about a foot above the benchwork at the lowest part of the roof).

There is a small access door that can easily be converted to a full size door for access.

So if I finish this space up with a few electrical outlets, a little drywall, and syphon off some hvac from the duct that runs down the wall to the bathroom downstairs, I am left with an 11' X 7' choo choo space.

So I spent some quality time with AnyRail last night and came up with this. It's a 2' all-around shelf layout. The section in the lower right will need to be a lift-out or hinged bridge for access (not doing a duck-under).

So here is my first draft. Open to suggestions and ideas. Thoughts?

Attached a shot of the trackplan, and also a pic of the space (bad pic) but it at least gives you an idea of the roof line.

Thanks!

 

[D&J RailRoad]

I think you need to clean out some stuff before building the layout.
Actually, where ever you can lay some track to at least run trains, it's good.

 

[lehrr]

Yeah we actually cleared it out for a couple hours to get good measurements and just take a look good look at the space. Then 75% of what came out went back in.... lol.

But we have a real attic above the second floor that all that stuff can move to if needed.

 

[Burlington Bob]

By lehrr;

But we have a real attic above the second floor that all that stuff can move to if needed.

Sounds like it's time to start moving some stuff. You're wasting time!!

 

[railfan]

I love secret hidden semi-attic train rooms for sure. What scale will it be? Looks like a good plan.



Mike

 

[lehrr]

It's HO scale, that drawing is 11' wide X 7' high, the bridge section is 30" wide and the open area in the middle is 3' X 7' Benchwork is all 24".

 

[railnut49]

You lucky dog

 

[lehrr]

Well got a little start on the project here. Replaced the tiny little access hatch with a real door. Floor is the next item on the list, so I can walk in there without going through the floor and ending up in the garage. Baby steps.

 

[choops]

Nice job on the door.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Well got a little start on the project here. Replaced the tiny little access hatch with a real door. Floor is the next item on the list, so I can walk in there without going through the floor and ending up in the garage. Baby steps.

You might want to carefully consider the amount of load you will be putting on the floor joists. If they are only 2x4s you're going to end up breaking them over time and collapsing your garage ceiling as well as compromising your roof system. You should consider replacing them with 2x6s at the very least.
To give you an idea of what is going on there, have someone else walk around in the proposed train room and stand watch the ceiling from down in the garage. Now consider what would happen when you have two or more people up there. That adds up to a lot of weight when you have two or more adults. Well over a 1/4 ton at the least. Now consider the liability if someone should fall through the floor while viewing your layout.

 

[Burlington Bob]

Good catch on the possibility of 2x4's for the ceiling over the garage. Often times the space over a garage is not designed for storage and thus has a low load factor. 2x6's or 2x8's can be sistered to 2x4's if that is what is there. There are other things that can be done as well, so all is not lost.

 

[railfan]

The good news is.....looks like mister Lehrr is already handy with tools.

 

[Beachbum]

Wow. 2X4s for joists? Never saw anything like that allowed by code around here, but YMMV...

 

[Burlington Bob]

2x4's are commonly found in roof trusses that are not intended for load bearing uses and generally do not allow unobstructed access. If access is available, then the floor joists will be at least 2x6 as a bare minimum, depending on the span. If the floor is intended for load support it will be open with bridging between the joists, with no lacing dropping down from the rafters thereby giving plenty of room for a layout or other use.