Deciding What is "Available Space" for a Model Railroad Layout

Designing an O Gauge Model Railroad Layout for a Spare Bedroom

What is the "available" space in a room?

Spare Bedroom will be Model Railroad Layout site.

After deliberating between the two O gauge model railroad locations: garage or spare bedroom (discussed on Page 1), I decided to build it in the spare bedroom, which is 14′ 10” by 11′ 6” .

So, now that the location is chosen, how big of an O gauge model railroad layout can we cram into it? 
My first inclination was to completely fill the area with benchwork. The advantages of this would be that I could not only use 72” curves, but even broad 96” or 120” curves on the outer main line.

I finally settled on a more realistic plan. Read more on Page 2 of the O Gauge Model Railroad Layout Project.

Free Plans of a Grain Elevator

A Grain Elevator for Your Model Railroad Layout

Perfect for Almost Any Layout Theme

Armour's Warehouse, circa 1913

A grain elevator is a perfect trackside industry for almost any model railroad, no matter what its theme. While many industries are specific to certain regions of the country, grain elevators can be found almost anywhere crops are grown, or grain is consumed.

The plans for Armour's Warehouse show a typical "county elevator" where farmers bring their grain for shipment by railroad or canal boat. Simple changes, such as wood or metal siding, can date the building anywhere from the steam to diesel railroad eras. And, since grain was shipped in closed rail cars (first in box cars, later in covered hoppers), model railroaders don't need to worry about simulating loads in cars leaving the elevator on their layout.