Cassette construction

I too would like to know more about these cassettes. Do they really exist?

Steve

I have heard of this for use in ho, never saw it myself in O gauge.  If I remember the concept right it was basically removable track sections that had trains already on them.  You could store loaded cassettes on a shelving unit or under the layout and change whole train quickly.  I not sure how practical this is in O gauge given the size and weight of the equipment. 

If I have the concept wrong, please correct me.  

Well folks, my thinking about this, is as a rolling table with the cassette tracks on the top.   It fits into a notch in the front, or it just butts up against the end of the layout.   Roll it around and out of the way when not in use.

You would need a plug to carry power to the cassette, if you are planning to move locos under their own power on the cassette tracks.  I think most folks in other scales, do not power their cassettes, the locos can couple onto a cut of cars.   Or they use their "five fingered switchers" to roll cars onto the layout.

One could have storage shelves under the top cassette surface for more cars locos and other stuff.

This would be hard to manage with a carpeted floor, as the vertical alignment would not be precise after rolling the cart around.   I suppose this could be addressed with thumb screws to adjust the height of the top surface by a small amount, but I suspect this solution might not be convenient.

Originally the idea for this layout was a two-track cassette, then I realized that if it was on a rolling table, it could be made reverse-able by rotating the table for a four-track cassette.   Then I realized that by butting up to the end of the layout, a six-track table would be useful.   Build the size you want, if you don't have room at the end of the layout, just build the two-track or four-track cassette table.

Necrails: not sure why you didn't just ask this question in the thread with the layout - you might have gotten more replies.  Thread with the South Park and Silverton.

I suppose I could start a thread for the design of the South Park and Silverton, and discussed the cassette idea there.  Perhaps I will.

BTW: someone proposed this idea in O here on the forum (don't remember where).  I have NOT seen this done in O that I can recall.  That should not stop anyone, this seems pretty easy and straight-forward, unless I am missing something? 

I might build the rolling cart to fit, or probably purchase one (or assemble it) and build the cassette on top.  I like the idea of using a tool caddy and build the cassette table on top, and use all the storage drawers for parts and cars.  Tool caddies are not cheap however, but they are solid and heavy and roll well.  I have three that I use in my garage layout, filled with parts, cars, and locos (well, one is filled with N-gauge equipment.)

I have consolidated my discussion about the SP&S shelf layout here.

Didn't ask there because I thought I would be hijacking the thread.  I tend to try to limit my questions/responses to the specific topic.  The other reason was I am considering this as a potential staging yard hence the size question.  Think in terms of a transfer table on steroids potentially hidden under the layout.  Using it in this manner without turnouts makes the storage tracks longer.  I am contemplating some form of sliding drawer mechanism.  Of course I might just be too far outside the box here.

A browse through carendt.com is worthwhile. It's full of micro layout ideas in all scales, and cassettes are a common feature. Some pics: https://www.carendt.com/articl...ttachment/cassettes/

I have seen (but can't remember where or when) many different types of cassettes discussed.  The most impressive were the rotating cassettes (like you used to see in display cases at old time LHS) that were about 3 track-widths wide with only one track on top that lined up with the layout entrance track.  The number of tracks rotating would depend on quality of hardware, height of layout, and structural strength of the build.

Also, consider looking at layout descriptions that involve docks, wharves and tug boat operations.  Many of them use cassettes with a simulated barge on top that could be removed from the layout to allow for changes in available equipment to run on the layout.  Of course, these don't work very well for large motive power swaps.

Chuck

Cassettes are frequently used in British modeling - a search should yield results.  They commonly use two pieces of L-shaped aluminum with binder clips at the attachment points to conduct electricity.  Unfortunately, that doesn't help for 3-rail, so it will either require a wire connector or going with dead rail and the old 0-5-0 switcher.