Building My Dream Train Layout - Episode 1

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[@georgiasunbelt]

Awesome Train Room you putting together

[@erictrainman]

Thank you very much!

[@chrisricciardi1566]

this is awesome...can't wait to see the progress...

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

You have done a great job on prepping your building. I love how so many modelers are using garages and sheds and other alternatives to the “basement” layout. I look forward to your continued progress. Dave

[@erictrainman]

Thanks Dave!

[@jimmelchin1531]

Eric...major additions and plenty of room. Great job... keep us updated please. 👍👍👍

[@erictrainman]

Will do! Summer progress will be slow but hoping to release a video monthly

[@ArtsModelTrains]

That looks amazing, great progress, I agree with you about lighting you can never have enough. Really looking forward to seeing what the track plan is going to look like.

[@erictrainman]

Thanks so much!

[@RABSTRAINS]

WOW! Awesome Transformation👍👍🔥🔥 Your train building is going to be OUTSTANDING. I can’t wait to see the progress!!🔥🔥🔥👍🙏

[@erictrainman]

Thanks 👍

[@TwistedMacGyversTrains]

Awesome update Eric! I really love the amount of space for your layout. Looking great so far! 💯❤️😎

[@erictrainman]

Thank you!

[@davidliebowitz820]

The black garage doors, the black slotted ceiling, the can lighting and the dark carpeting gives it a very sophisticated, cohesive look. Kudos to you Eric!! Can't wait to see what's next...

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

Just found your channel! Excited to watch the build!

[@erictrainman]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@luvindemtrains]

Congratulations again Eric. This has to be exciting for you young man. You are doing everything the "right way" whatever that is. Look forward to your progress.

[@erictrainman]

Thanks man, much appreciated

[@elleryparsons2433]

Nice Start on The Layout.

[@erictrainman]

Thanks!

[@josefbuckland]

My tip after embarking on this over the past….. years has been whatever you budget it is minimum 4times the cost. MINIMUM lol have fun.

[@erictrainman]

That’s the truth!

[@WIPEOUT_Trains]

Eric this space looks fantastic!! Can’t wait to see the next layout update!

[@erictrainman]

Thank you! Working on backdrops now

[@Tattooedtrains]

Very exciting! Looks great 👍🏻

[@erictrainman]

Thanks!

[@josefbuckland]

12:44 I went the other way. I can tell you now from a 40 degree c day down to a 2 degree winters evening it’s alway perfect. Big cost yes BUT putting a commercial grade 3 phase solar system and what me worry. Most I did not want the failure that a splitty can offer in layouts as I see all the time here in Queensland Australia like blocked condensation lines then a dump of water on a layout etc. Anyway that’s just me know you will have a HOOT HOOT!

[@daivdwalker2374]

Looking awesome so far

[@erictrainman]

Thank you!

[@KandWRailroader]

I'm excited to watch this build develop!

[@erictrainman]

More coming soon!

[@sparky107107]

that might just be better than a train shed.. lol .. looking great. prep work is the worst. you know the end goal but not a train in sight

[@erictrainman]

That’s the truth! Looking forward to running some trains

[@stephenpike3147]

Hi Eric, great plans I see and a great space you have to work in. Some comments I hope may help - Your black surfaces I think are absorbing a significant amount of light, particularly the garage doors. When I painted my steel skin garage door gloss white what a big difference it made to the lighting (reflects light back in) also cooler in summer. On my basement layout I have my mains fed LED ceiling lights on a dimmer thought I had enough, but found, once I got a selection of models and buildings out had to supplement with further LED strip lighting (12 V 16.5’ runs) for which I can adjust colours/ dim to get best effects and remove shadows (made worse by my low false ceiling). Also can change the colours, dim etc to suit the time of day, weather on the layout, or perhaps if recovering from a hang over ha, ha! It’s the humidity swings that can be a big problem with soft wood framing, temperature swings main effect is the track expansion. My basement layout goes down to circa 22% in winter and over 70% in summer, I have used Baltic birch ply and get a length change of 4 to 5mm over a 19 foot run across the seasons. My pine chest of draws I had to plane off some 3mm when first moved to where we are now as got jammed in the first year here. So unless you have control of your humidity swings be prepared for significant expansion contraction in your softwood frames. As you there is a lot of work in getting the railway room prepared if it’s going to last, be reliable and comfortable. Enjoy the build. All the best Stephen

[@erictrainman]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I agree on the lighting, it’s the black. So I’ll just have to add more LEDs. Your humidity swings are huge! Do you have humidifier or dehumidifier? I haven’t had too much issue keeping mine at 40-55% RH. Otherwise, I agree the humidity is definitely an issue!

[@stephenpike3147]

​@@erictrainman Good to hear about your situation and see you can manage OK. Have a heat recovery and ventilation unit that runs 24/7 and a few air purifiers (great at removing fine dust particles), because of the severe winters (to -40degC ... outside) our house is well sealed and thus gets quite dry. I envy your humidity range!

[@elleryparsons2433]

Good Luck On the Track plan Don’t Rush it think It Carefully.

[@erictrainman]

Great advice!

[@elleryparsons2433]

It’s The Best and Smartest Advice To All Model Railroaders No Matter What Scale You Run.

[@OtterCreek]

Looking forward to future updates!

[@erictrainman]

Should have another soon!

[@N_scale]

Harbour freight makes a magnetic garage door screen

[@erictrainman]

Awesome, I’ll check them out

[@trainchannel1285]

Installing your own mini split is very easy to do

[@erictrainman]

Agreed

[@BobbyKnapp-w9z]

Where are you planning to get the sliding doors for the cabinets or going with plexiglass with so sort of channel system?

[@erictrainman]

I bought some extruded channels I’m going to give a shot

[@brian102256]

Hey Eric! New subscriber here. Not sure about your track plan but will you be able to reach the center of those tables should derailments occur? Anxious to see the layout come to life! - Brian

[@erictrainman]

Thanks Brian! The tables are about 12x12 so I won’t be able to reach the center. But that’s intentional and okay. My goal was to maximize the space and the center won’t have much (if any track). The layout is built to get up on

[@trainchannel1285]

The humidity is the cause for expanding an contraction

[@erictrainman]

Yup

[@harleymemphis9190]

the floor is built on a slope for any potential water drainage snow rain etc can i like my layout at 4 ft with adjustable spindle feet

[@erictrainman]

Correct. The building was originally a workshop so it made sense. Other than benchwork height, it’s not really an issue

[@daivdwalker2374]

What are you gunna do for heat In the winter time? So you can be in there playing with the trains

[@erictrainman]

The mini split unit does AC and heat so I’m all set for winter

[@daivdwalker2374]

Yeah I see it now up on the wall didn't see it at first my mistake

[@genemanno1533]

I just would not consider a garage as living space with any kind of temperature/humidity control. My finished garage for charished cars still has more variation than I think my Lionel trains would like. The over head doors are not the “quality” of a solid wall. Energy consumed to over come outside conditions will be more than I wanna think about.

[@erictrainman]

To each his own but It’s certainly not designed to be living space. You’d surprised about the energy consumption, its minima. It holds temperature better than my 15 year old house.

[@williamkolina3988]

Best of luck I bet the baby is now walking around I miss seeing your collection I just wonder about how you fastened the legs I noticed plywood cleats/ gussets.carpenter terminology Is that temporary? When I built my table I cut legs to the same height as the horizontal lumber and then assembled with nuts and bolts Bolting and screwing is stronger than nailing No criticism intended My mentor was Sicilian and taught me to build things that will outlive me😊 I can't wait to see the finished product

[@erictrainman]

I think there’s probably hundreds of ways you can build benchwork and have it be sufficient for holding trains and myself. I’ve done the screw style as well. I used the cleat method on my last layout, it worked fine. Started doing that here as well but ended up changing to what you mentioned but with screws