Hello as I have said before I am new to o gauge, so I am starting pretty much from the bottom. In fact I am so new I don't have A layout. In my basement I have about a 6X7 area for A layout so can anyone show pictures of their layout for inspiration it is much appreciated.
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(Click photo to enlarge)
Neat layout hojack. How bout a pic to the right of the controls.
Neat layout hojack. How bout a pic to the right of the controls.
Thanks. To the right of the controls is the Standard Gauge Layout, I didn't think that would be as helpful to the OP given his stated space:
The O Gauge layout I posted earlier is not a layout for emulating real train operations: it's a tinplate display layout, which I offered since the question was asked here on the tinplate forum. It shows what you can cram into a fairly small space - this one is about 5 x 10. There is an outer loop, an inner figure 8 and loop, a couple sidings, two handcar circles, and an elevated trolley line with reversing bumpers at each end.
david
Here's my "big" postwar/tinplate layout. It's 39" x 80" (about half the size you're looking for) with an inner and outer loop. The inner loop can be run as an oval or as a figure eight. If you're running Marx trains then O-27 curves will work for you and you can pack in a lot of action in a small space
Neat layout hojack. How bout a pic to the right of the controls.
Thanks. To the right of the controls is the Standard Gauge Layout, I didn't think that would be as helpful to the OP given his stated space:
The O Gauge layout I posted earlier is not a layout for emulating real train operations: it's a tinplate display layout, which I offered since the question was asked here on the tinplate forum. It shows what you can cram into a fairly small space - this one is about 5 x 10. There is an outer loop, an inner figure 8 and loop, a couple sidings, two handcar circles, and an elevated trolley line with reversing bumpers at each end.
david
Great layout. I realize the reason for posting the first pic. I just wanted to see what was behind the curtin............. as it were. I really like the look and feel of your layout. Although I have, or had, only a few tinplate I really like them. Thanks for posting.
And I am sorry, didn't mean to distract from the purpose of the OP.
I have to say though I am not into standard gauge, but that layout is amazing!
A word of advice:
If your space and budget are limited, don't decide that you "have to have" big locomotives that require large curve radii, then discover that you don't really have the space to build a satisfying layout.
It's possible to build an O-gauge layout in about the same space as an HO railroad, if you stick with O27 or O31 curves and appropriately sized trains.
Andy's layout and my O Gauge layout are similar; a figure-8/oval with another larger oval outside of it. If you have room, add sidings. You can do a lot with that: run a couple of trains at once, have some industries and other accessories.
For my O Gauge layout, I limited myself to prewar tinplate, mostly 4-wheel cars like the very early Ives, Flyer, Hafner, and of course Marx (that's a Marx freight train of 4-wheel cars in the foreground of the O Gauge layout picture.) These take very little room to run, go around tight curves, and you can squeeze in a lot of bridges, tunnels, and other accessories without getting into clearance issues. The fact is, in collecting you have to put some limits on what you collect anyway, or you'll be all over the place. Ace's advice is right on: limit yourself to some of the smaller locos and cars and you can have a lot of fun with them.
In my opinion if you can reverse direction, connect loops, and have a siding you pretty much have it covered. You can have all the fun of a large railroad. Just on a smaller scale. I have a much larger "O" gauge layout with all sorts of routes, sidings etc etc and what I have found is that the simple tinplate layout brings me just as much fun as the larger "O" gauge RR.
MY standard gauge layout is only 13'x8'. I have an elongated 042 loop with a figure 8 so I can reverse direction from either direction of travel or simply let hem roll on the elongated 042 loop. My outer loop uses 087 curves. When Ross gets the tinplate 042 switches I will connect inner to outer loops and I am done. I don't even have a siding but I am a passenger car guy. If your a freight guy add a siding. Good luck and have fun building. Don't be afraid to make changes either. I changed track plans 3 times with my "O " RR.
With a name like "Mercury Marx", I'm assuming that you are interested in running older tinplate... so don't forget that Marx made O34 diameter tubular track that is still relatively easy to find, and Lionel makes O42 diameter tubular, too. Both of those use the smaller O27 profile rail, so those curves give you some options on your track plans.
My layout is roughly 4' x 7-1/2' with an additional section for the engine terminal:
That is a "wye" on the lower left that leads to the engine terminal. With the reverse loop in the center, it gives some options for running trains around the layout. My layout is clockwork - hence the two rail track - but all of those sections are available in 3 rail, too.
If I had 5 by 7 area, I would use 054 Fast Track Oval, add two sidings, and Houses, streets, buildings, cars truck, lights, crossing gates, Small Engines, Atlantic's, GP 7's,
GP35's, Ten Wheelers, small engines, short trains, planned well. This would be Fun.
This is how the Fun and Art of Model Railroading Begins, Dreams Come True.....
Here's a track plan I got from Ace, that I'll be adapting for my permanent layout.
It has a 36" X 68" footprint.
http://www.createaforum.com/ga...46-011014221500.jpeg
Happy Rails!
Dave
Here's one in Lionel FasTrack 6' x 7'
Here's 2 in Lionel O
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