02-27-2010, 01:52 PM
I would recommend setting the layout high enough for good viewing and ease of uncoupling without having your arms or elbows knocking over scenery, details, or cars left on a siding to the front of the layout, but not so low as to give you a constant "helicopter" view of the layout. Then put a folding step stool permanently stashed somewhere in the room for when you need to reach the back of the layout to fix a derailed train or repair scenery or details. Probably set high enough to be just below your sternum would be about right . Unless you are building it low enough for your kids to operate on it, waist high is probably too low. If you are wanting to make allowances for your kids to run the trains, I would build it to the right height for you and then build long platforms that would be pushed against the wall below the layout for storage; and pulled out for the kids to stand on when operating. You can get furniture sliders from Home Depot or Lowes that glue to the bottom of furniture legs to allow sliding across floors without marring or damage to the floor. As the kids grow, cut the legs off and install more sliders, or if you get the sliders with the nail in them, pop them off and nail them to the shortened legs.