Getting Real Column - 13
After thoughts
Continued
...
Lower deck lighting
The lighting on the lower deck, visible in some of the “before”
pictures, actually worked out very well. I used linkable under-
cabinet fixtures. I ended up with two different brands – Lights
of America (Wally World) and GE (Home Depot). They are not
interchangeable. But both brands worked fine, didn’t intrude
on the “sky space” of the lower level, and I plan to re-use
these lights to illuminate some of the dark pockets on the
single-deck layout.
Layout height
I planned to use step stools or some raised platforms to make it
easier for operators to reach the upper level. But I had some real
concerns about this as well. I had someone take a header off a
one-step step stool years ago (not a modeler, a plumber install-
ing some pipes). Luckily I was home, heard his step ladder fall
over and came downstairs to find blood on the wall and floor
and this poor fellow wondering where, and who, he was. I called
911 and he ended up in the hospital for more than a month – if I
hadn't been around he likely would have passed out and I would
have found him in a coma – or worse. That experience has really
stuck with me and I was always hesitant about using step stools,
etc ... to build and operate the upper deck.
Let's face it, a lot of model railroaders I know could ben-
efit from some time in a step class, but I didn't want to risk
someone taking a header. More likely one of the more – uh –
"robust" members of the crew would need to give themselves
a boost up the step and might take a large chunk of the layout
down as they hoisted themselves up.
MRH-Mar 2013
