@Mark Boyce - Thanks! Yep saw plenty, although in Melbourne it's almost all commuter rail/metro electrics. I did see some V/Line Diesel Electrics mostly VLocity (which I find boring) - I did see a more interesting consist while training out to some friends' in the eastern suburbs - it was a double headed passenger consist with an A class and the more common N Class. All the trains I saw were broad gauge
@LaramieJoe - G'day! Nice to meet another fellow ex-pat, now returned! Radelaide, eh? You must be an expert in church architecture after living there for a few years :-) I lived in Melbourne for two while working for a previous consulting company and absolutely loved it. Definitely not surprised to hear that the expense delayed your engagement back into the hobby until you returned stateside - everything is expensive in Oz! Interesting to hear that O gauge was big in Adelaide/SA - is it all Lionel/MTH/Williams/etc or do they have local manufacturers? I'd love to have one or two prototypes on my layout!
@Moonman - yep, you hit the nail on the head- I was getting confused regarding the length of the arc vs the straight section in SCARM. Definitely user error. I appreciate the tips regarding the add-on 1-3/8" pieces and how to modify existing track if it's removed.
