One of the decisions that must be made in conjunction with, if not directly impacting, other decisions is the location of the model railroad. I have three options and started the process by analyzing the pros and cons of each.
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| Our Garage |
Pros:
- One half of the two car garage is available.
Cons:
- Interior is not finished
- Electrical needs to be updated
- No heat or insulation
- Where will the woodshop go if the model railroad is located here?
- Access in winter or other inclement weather is problematic
Current Thinking: Woodshop in the garage, not the model railroad.
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| The Basement |
Pros:
- Stairs into the middle of the basement
- Direct access from outside or from the inside
- Headroom is fine for me, even with steam pipes and ductwork
- Lots of room, including space for workbench and storage
- Cool in the summer, heat from boiler and steam pipes in winter
Cons:
- It is a basement, not really finished
- Not totally dry, "french drain" around walls, with sump
- So, edge will be wet/damp
- Musty; dehumidifier needs to run continuously in summer
- Needs painting/finishing
- Only one exit
- Shares with utilities (well, hot water heater, boiler)
- Will share with laundry in near future
Current Thinking: The basement is the most likely choice, but island rather than around the walls approach to layout design will be necessary.
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| One of the Attic Rooms |
Pros:
- Finished space
- Electrical outlets and lights
- Easy access with wide stairs
- Radiators in two attic rooms, so heat in winter
- Shelves already there for model railroad magazines
Cons:
- Wallpaper torn, stained, and wrinkled; needs work
- Hot in summer
- Smaller rooms and cut up spaces
- Visitors would have to troop through entire house
Current Thinking: I will be storing my collection of model railroad magazines in the attic. If I end up with just a compact layout or a gallery of layouts, the attic may still be in the running as a possible location.
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| Existing Shelves for Magazines |
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