Brand new to O scale railroading.

Welcome TIMOTHIAS, Lots of nice people and info here. I've used the "for the  Grand-kids" term a couple of times also...8-)

Jeff

Welcome to a rather fine group of model railroad enthusiasts. Great looking start to the layout you have going. Keep us updated on your progress.

Ask questions and have fun.

Paul

Hey thats nice. Lots of real-estate and long mains! I see your using a covered bridge and have to comment. Growing up in upstate NY and travels to Vermont,and other New England states I saw and walked on a bunch of covered bridges and drove a car on a few. Back in the horse and buggy day's it was discovered that some equines just wouldn't proceed over whatever it was that needed to be bridged. But by covering,they would cross. One covered bridge did have rr tracks with planks flush to the rail tops for vehicular traffic. This bridge had a plaque that informed the tracks were for horse-drawn,then Dewitt Clinton type trains. So I  never got the train covered bridge connection. When lionel first introduced them l assumed their use was and reason for them, as scenery for a New England landscape. Any thoughts anyone? happy holidays 

Agreed to what Paul said above regarding the space.

One comment I would look into now is regarding the surface below the Fastrack. I would not recommend placing the tracking directly on the wood platform due to noise. There are a few different options, carpet, homesote, or carpet insulation are just a few.

Any track directly on wood, will sound better with some sort of barrier.

Good luck and enjoy.

Charlie

Charlie posted:

Agreed to what Paul said above regarding the space.

One comment I would look into now is regarding the surface below the Fastrack. I would not recommend placing the tracking directly on the wood platform due to noise. There are a few different options, carpet, homesote, or carpet insulation are just a few.

Any track directly on wood, will sound better with some sort of barrier.

Good luck and enjoy.

Charlie

Great point on the bare wood with the fastrack, I will be looking into those options you have recommended.  Thank you for the suggestions.

Howdy!  Great thought for utilizing the rack! 

Suggestion.  For the rack yard,  use a ladder of left hand switches instead of right hand.  This will lengthen each storage track and make backing in much more prototypical and easier on the train it's self.

Timothias,

Welcome to the OGR Forum and to O gauge trains!  Your plan looks like you will have a lot of routes for your train to go.  I agree with Charlie, about Fastrak mounted directly on wood, it gets loud. 

What trains do you have or plan to get to run on your layout?

How high are you making your layout?  With a lot of tracks crossing open spaces, it looks like you will have a lot of duckunders or sit down and roll unders.  As long as you have a plan, that's great.  At 62, I'm not so interested in ducking under like I used to.  

Please keep posting what you are doing and any questions you have.  I had HO trains from my youth until 2012, when I decided to go with bigger O gauge trains.  There are certainly a lot of differences.  This has been the best place to get questions answered.

Mark Boyce posted:

Timothias,

Welcome to the OGR Forum and to O gauge trains!  Your plan looks like you will have a lot of routes for your train to go.  I agree with Charlie, about Fastrak mounted directly on wood, it gets loud. 

What trains do you have or plan to get to run on your layout?

How high are you making your layout?  With a lot of tracks crossing open spaces, it looks like you will have a lot of duckunders or sit down and roll unders.  As long as you have a plan, that's great.  At 62, I'm not so interested in ducking under like I used to.  

Please keep posting what you are doing and any questions you have.  I had HO trains from my youth until 2012, when I decided to go with bigger O gauge trains.  There are certainly a lot of differences.  This has been the best place to get questions answered.

The open spaces are all lift out bridges, I have two now and will be adding a third. The first engine and caboose I have purchased is the Lionel Marquette GP38 diesel.  Elevation changes will be up to 8” high in some areas, I do not want it all flat.  I’m sure I will have questions as I finalize the layout and have it all placed and test run.  I know that the wiring phase could be a real treat.

I like what you are doing.  As I look at the photos there is discontinuity between several of them but that only tells me you are designing on the fly.   No fancy program to show you how all the pieces have to fit together but instead simple ingenuity.  You appear to be trying things and when you get it just right you will know.  Hats off to you Timothias and keep "designing" away.  It looks fun. 

Tom Tee posted:

Howdy!  Great thought for utilizing the rack! 

Suggestion.  For the rack yard,  use a ladder of left hand switches instead of right hand.  This will lengthen each storage track and make backing in much more prototypical and easier on the train it's self.

Timothias posted:

Tom Tee posted:

Howdy!  Great thought for utilizing the rack! 

Suggestion.  For the rack yard,  use a ladder of left hand switches instead of right hand.  This will lengthen each storage track and make backing in much more prototypical and easier on the train it's self.

I’m trying to envision the switching from the right hand to the left switches for the rail yard.  Any visual layouts would be appreciated.  

Thanks!!

 

I agree with TOM TEE.  Using LH switches for the storage yard would also eliminate "S" curves.

Take a look at this thread.  One yard is described as having wibble wobble.  Then the same person provides a smooth version of the yard (where each switch straight connects end to end).

Fastrack Yard Ideas

Lift out bridges!!  You are speaking my language!!!  Very good!  I like some of the tracks on grades too!

Wiring a rest treat!  I am assuming that is said as sarcasticly as I would.  You know after 42 years of working in various electronics jobs, I still dislike wiring.  My least favorite part of the hobby!  LOL

Steims posted:

Take a look at this thread.  One yard is described as having wibble wobble.  Then the same person provides a smooth version of the yard (where each switch straight connects end to end).

 

Fastrack Yard Ideas

Now I get it, adjustments will be made!

Tom Tee posted:

Howdy!  Great thought for utilizing the rack! 

Suggestion.  For the rack yard,  use a ladder of left hand switches instead of right hand.  This will lengthen each storage track and make backing in much more prototypical and easier on the train it's self.

That was my first thought too when I saw the picture. These are "toy" trains but they work better without the "wiggle". These are known as "S" curves and should be avoided whenever possible.

Almost a month since I have posted, been busy on the layout.  Pretty much flying by the seat of my pants.  I am awaiting for two more switches for the under bridge reverse loop.  Also waiting on the extra rail for the yard.  I will be building natural grades, such as hills, on the two elevated tracks (not the 2 track bridge)will be all natural with benchwork for removing the trusses and creating a small ridge line to the left track and a wall going straight up on the right track.  The reverse loop will be partially in a tunnel.  The part I dread is tear down of all track to prepare the tables for wiring and painting as well.  Part of the process.

Looks like you have a lot of routes for trains to run.  So I take it that the track is just laying on the tables not fastened down yet so you can see ithat it all fits together well before wiring.  Do you have a track plan drawn out that you are following?  Your grades look smooth and even.  

Mark Boyce posted:

Looks like you have a lot of routes for trains to run.  So I take it that the track is just laying on the tables not fastened down yet so you can see ithat it all fits together well before wiring.  Do you have a track plan drawn out that you are following?  Your grades look smooth and even.  

Correct on the track just laying on the table still.  I do use SCRAM, I continued to add to the layout as the basic plan was acceptable,  (which was the two outer loops), then I continued to add the routes one leg at a time.   In the fifth photo you can see the two tracks going up, I will be building a natural hill for both of them instead of the risers.  The track inbetween which also has the reverse loop under one them will go into a tunnel in the hillside.  Then I will do a natural hillside slope coming off the two bridges at the walk in entrance.  This is the seventh picture.  The two bridges are just to the left.  After that work is completed I will then start laying out the wiring.  Painting, detailing and securing the track.  At least that is the tentative plan.  One more thing,...I have test ran everything in both directions to make sure that I had no issues with the layout as well as the many, many different routes you can run on it.

Looks very nice.  Would you share the scarm file by chance?  Would love to use some of your ideas on my upgraded plan I have been working on.