<div>If I may add to Ed's answer, I've had occasion to research and discuss this in some layout planning seminars. I hope this doesn't add more heat than light. </div>
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<div>My basic layout height is 55". The current plan only goes up or down about 6" from that. I'm only 5'10", but I like looking at the trains closer to the same eye level I'd look at the prototype, it's easier to get under for wiring, viewblocks only need to be a few inches high, return loops are less obvious, and I can store more stuff under the layout. But, my wife is 5' 2", she can't see the layout top, but she only comes down to the basement once a year, and I have a good step stool. Children and grandchildren are not regular visitors, and, actually, visitors are rare.</div>
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<div>What you need to do is a)visit a lot of layouts at different heights and see what you are comfortable with, b)think about who else will be working on, operating on, and visiting your layout. You also have to analyze how far you can reach for rerailing, coupling, turnouts, etc. And then look at wiring, other underlayout work, storage, duckunders (please avoid them if at all possible--for most of us duckunders only get worse as we age)(at some layout height a duckunder becomes a nodunder). </div>
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<div>So the answer is the classic "it depends", and I don't find "blanket recommendations" helpful. </div>
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<div>Frank Bongiovanni </div>
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<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 8:46 AM, NW Modeling List <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:nw-modeling-list@nwhs.org">nw-modeling-list@nwhs.org</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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<div><font face="Arial">I built mine higher, to be closer to eye level. I am pleased with the result. The only downside that I feel is that I must stand on a stool to work on parts of it. With a shelf layout, reaching over parts of it to work on an area behind should be less of a problem. An advantage is easier work on the wiring and switch mechanisms under the layout. Rail head is 48 to 53 inches from the floor.</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial">Ed Sproles</font></div>
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<div style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial"><b>From:</b> <a title="nw-modeling-list@nwhs.org" href="mailto:nw-modeling-list@nwhs.org" target="_blank">NW Modeling List</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a title="nw-modeling-list@nwhs.org" href="mailto:nw-modeling-list@nwhs.org" target="_blank">NW Modeling</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Monday, March 09, 2009 7:09 AM</div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> BENCHWORK HEIGHT</div>
<div><br></div>Hello All<br> <br>A topic sure to get a varied response (!); what do y'all feel is the optimal height for benchwork? Kalmbach book says 38". Specific application is a (mostly) shelf layout. Ceiling height is a bit limited, about 6'6" (remodeled basement).<br>
<br>Any thoughts welcome!<br><br><font face="Lucida Handwriting, Cursive" color="#993300" size="3"><strong>Ed Svitil</strong></font><br><br><br></div></div>
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