AIR2 Layout Designs: Aisle Width

 I had grandiose plans for 8 foot aisles…

On AIR1 I built a building for the railroad. The train room was 25’ X 52’. On AIR 2 we planned another building, 50’ x 50’, but after two years of building my current house, BY-MY-SELF, with only my Wife as helper, we were too tired of building ANYTHING. 

I simply can not face another large building project. It was decided that the railroad would occupy the basement of our new house, and to be honest there are a lot of reasons, other than NOT building a building, that I really like like about this decision. 

First, it moves up the schedule for a new railroad by about two years.

Second, proximity. On AIR 1 I literally was a cell phone call away from my wife if she needed something. In the basement all she needs to do is raise her voice! In bad weather, admittedly not that often in Southern California, but common here in Northern Virginia, I had to walk out through the weather, this often discouraged me.

The space is roughly 2000 square feet, but some is devoted to mechanicals: HVAC, Water Heater, Well Pump, water softener and purifier. 

The space I am devoting to the layout is far larger than that of AIR1(AIR1 was 1260 sq. ft., AIR 2 is roughly 1600 sq. ft. ), and I actually like the odd shape of the space. They aren’t terribly odd shaped spaces, but enough to add a little interest.

I have finally come up with a rough draft of a plan that fits the space and accomplishes MOST of what I want, and I promise I’ll post it when I can get one computer to talk to another*. Now armed with that design I will refine it until I have a buildable plan.

The point is the aisles are not as big as I wanted. They range in width from Four feet, where I assume two people will pass easily, to three feet wide, where I see only one person working, down to two feet for access by one operator for working the prep plant.

In specific areas, where the basement geography dictates there are aisle width’s of 5’-6’, but these areas are limited. The aisle width in front of Littlerock yard is four feet or greater, but the operators “pit” for Pettigrew  yard is 3 feet wide.

If you continue around behind the backdrop of Pettigrew Yard that track leads to the Prep Plant and that aisle is 24”. Wide enough for any operator to work the plant and it’s associated Branch, but “intimate”, and not roomy enough for two operators.

I believe I have maintained four foot aisles everywhere it’s “important” however.




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* I like to say I am a technological Luddite 

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