I tried it once, about 10 years ago. I had an N gauge layout, in addition to O, and happened to have matching 4-6-4 steam engine in both gauges, and enough rolling stock to create a pretty close match so I got the idea to have the O-gauge steamer go into a tunnel in the foreground and then appear to emerge where I had set up a loop of track in the background, which was supposed to give the effect that the train and tunnel exit were off in the distance. It didn't work out at all. In fact it looked silly.
Maybe it would have been better if the transition would have been from O to HO instead of N. I've also seen layouts where people use different gauge structures to create forced perspective to good effect but I think unless you have the artistic skills of a Disney Imagineer, which I don't (forced perspective is used throughout Disneyworld), it's not going to look right.
Nice idea as you had similar engines and rolling stock. Yeah, I had more of the HO forced-perspective solution in mind but doubt I would have the artistic skills to pull it off. I started sketching an idea that would use a back wall next to the O layout that would simulate a mountain or far off vista. That way the HO train, cars, and odd house or diner I have rumbling around would be both physically higher and a bit further away. The combination may help trick the observer's mind into interpreting distance. Another thought was just to use a built-in shelf that goes under my basement window and lines the wall for an HO vignette. The O layout would be on a bench in front with maybe a foot separating it from the window shelf. So when viewed looking toward the window, the O gauge in the foreground followed by a gap of floor space and then the window with the shelf and HO vignette might just work. I'm thinking an HO trolley would look great but a subway or diesel consist would better match the years of my Matchbox cars.
Tomlinson Run Railroad
