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18" "Pinch Point" VS "removable section/duckuner" Dream and design
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Prolific poster 2,857 posts kleaverjr Prolific poster 2,857 posts
kleaverjr

With the context that some of my operators are of an age where the ability to bend is not as good as others, I am debating relocating the stairs for the basement so that the stairs would be "above" the track thereby having the track going behind/below the stairs. The downside with this plan would be it creates an 18" pinchpoint.  There would be a 36" and 33" aisle on either side, and the pinchpoint is only a few inches. (the benchwork is at a 45 degree angle to the one corner of the stiairs that would create the pinchpoint).  The "deadend" side of the aisle that is past the pinchpoint  (the 33" aisle) will only have single track mainline's and hopefully it wouldn't have that much activity all at once.  I really do not like this idea, but the benefit of not having to have removable sections to enter tha layout room (the stairs unfortunately is in an "alcove" so the current plan has the tracks going accross in front of them so you either need to duck under or remove the removable bridge, not something i don't like much either.  This pinch point also is violating one of my GIVENS which is 36" Minimum Aisles.  BUT if the benefits outweigh the negatives, then i'll violate this Given. 

Thanks for any feedback.

Ken L.
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bear creek MRH Editor emeritus 2,335 posts
bear creek

Ken,  you don't say how high

Ken,  you don't say how high the offending benchwork is above the floor?

If the duck under is less than 40" I'd say a duck is a really bad idea.

If the duck under is between 40" and 55" if you install handrails (such as for a stair case on either side of the subterranean space, they might make it usuable. Retain the lift out for extreme cases.  I've found that such handrails make it much, much, much easier for my increasingly creaky back to navigate such places.

55" and up are probably doable, especially with handrails.

With all that said, I'd suggest that having a few feet of 18" aisle with people passing areas on both ends, might be better than a duck or a lift out.  But it sounds like you're dragging yourself, kicking and screaming, in that direction already. Of course I've never seen your layout so I can't really feel your pain making my answers less than completely reliable.

If you do resort to a lift out section, where does it go when lifted out?  Perhaps an elevator section (such as the access hatch I described on page 101 of the April 2009 MRH) using drawer slides would let you lift up a 'tectonic' plate with minimum fuss. But you'll need to answer the questions: Is the lift up in a high traffic aisle space where it will need to be constantly going up and down as people pass?  Are there frequently used tracks running across it? Either of these make a lift up section a pain. Both and once make it a disaster for op sessions (if op sessions are important to you).

Cheers,

Charlie

Superintendent of nearly everything  ayco_hdr.jpg 
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rickwade Prolific poster (deceased) 6,447 posts
rickwade

A little sketch

Ken,

Can you please post a little sketch showing what you propose from the top view and side views?  It would be helpful to evaluate.  Thanks!

Rick

Rick

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wp8thsub MRH Author 3,348 posts
wp8thsub

Go for the Pinch Point

We have a couple local layouts with pinch points about 18" and visitors seem to make it through OK since the narrow spot is very limited in scope like what you're describing.  Building on Charlie's suggestions, if the benchwork is high enough, still add the handrails to assist anybody needing an alternate means of maneuvering past it.

Rob Spangler MRH Blog
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pipopak Frequent poster 894 posts
pipopak

Just remember that people

Just remember that people ALWAYS meet (and stay) at the narrowest possible point of any place. Must be genetic.

_______________________

Long life to Linux The Great!
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kleaverjr Prolific poster 2,857 posts
kleaverjr

Thanks for the Feedback....

....unfortunately, the idea of relocating the stairs isn't practical from a house/home issue.  So it looks like i'm stuck with the lift out or swing out "bridge" option, as a duckunder by the bottom of the stairs is not something i want to have.  On to bigger and more complicated issues! 

Ken L.
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