Model railroads can take up a lot of space, but one way to recuperate some of that is to use the area under the benchwork for either modeling or household items. So here are some storage ideas for under your layout.
Shelving
Shelving is a popular strategy for storage under your layout. One of the most straightforward ideas is to use shelving units to support your benchwork. A popular option is Ikea’s Ivar shelving system. The company sells several variations, and it’s already cut and drilled for assembly. Take a tape measure with you the next time you visit an Ikea store or check them out online if there isn’t a store near you.
If you already have your layout built, there are all types of shelving systems available. Metal shelving systems can be found at big-box home centers or hardware stores. These systems aren’t as attractive as the Ikea system, so they’re more appropriate for use behind layout skirts or in areas that are more utilitarian.
Rolling carts
A downside of under layout shelving is that whatever is stored there can get in the way of access to the underside of the layout. While we hope to never crawl back under our benchwork after the wiring is completed, it’s not surprising when we find we need to do some troubleshooting or repair under the layout. Rolling carts are a way of preparing for this possibility. They can be as simple as a plywood rectangle with casters on the bottom, or they can be more complex, such as the rolling plastic storage bins available in department stores. Sometimes, items can be repurposed into useful storage as well.
Layout room redo
René Gourley’s Proto:87 (1:87.1 fine scale) Pembroke layout shows how a model railroad can be incorporated into a family space. The 14’-10” x 18’-2” layout, featured in Model Railroad Planning 2023 [https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/product/special-issue/vt-mrp230101-c], is set at a height of 63”. Every inch of space below the shelf layout is used to its fullest. From left to right is a workbench; shelves and drawers for books, tools, and materials; a home office that can be converted to a photo area; printers and office supplies; a standing desk; and additional shelves for books. In front of the layout is a futon for watching a television mounted on the wall opposite the layout.
Kitchen cabinets
Not all storage needs to be under the layout. Due to having limited space in his apartment, Bryson had to find unconventional ways to store his locomotives and rolling stock. He realized that one of his kitchen cabinets wasn’t being utilized for anything and decided it would be a perfect place for storage. Keep in mind where you store your trains, though. This is on the opposite side of the kitchen from the oven and there is nothing above the cabinet that gets warm or is exposed to moisture.
Another way that he stores trains is within his bed. You may remember in “Easy model train décor” that Bryson uses the headboard of his Ikea Brimnes bed as a programming track. In addition, the bottom of the bedframe, under the mattress, includes four large drawers. These look nice when closed, and allow for a lot of storage space.
