Updated November 9,2015-My 6x9' layout build

Great video, thanks for sharing. I can see hours of setting and making up a train picking up loaded cars and dropping off empties. Nice town area and layed out very good. You did good on the scenery, keep us updated.

Again, great to see these smaller layouts, showing that "O" scale is not limited to warehouse sized layouts and the average person can enjoy "O" scale also.

Thanks Josef. You certainly can enjoy O gauge in a fairly small space. I'm having a lot of fun with my small layout. I would love to have a basement so I could build a big layout, but a small layout is about a million times better than no layout.

Really like your layout:  plenty of detail, scenery, structures, etc.   And thanks for the video!

I just found this thread.  Your layout reminds me of my first 3 rail layout in 1998!  My track plan had similar outside lines as yours on a 5 X 9 table with an MTH PRR Consolidation running small freights. I like the crisp feel of your scenery elements.  Someday I would like to help build another a bit wider and a bit longer for O72 curves for my grandson. Nice layout. 

Joe, thought I recognized the name from somewhere aka n scale forum. Great Fast Trak layout!

Joe,

Thank you for the very nice, informative video.  Congratulations on the LC+ Pennsy Mikado.  It looks just like mine!  After modeling in smaller scales for over 40 years, I agree it is hard to get much O gauge in such a small space.  You asked for suggestions for the corner.  I would suggest the lake instead of more structures.  It would give a bit of countryside effect to your small town layout.  I have been taking some short videos, and now that I have set up a You Tube channel, I hope to make something worth watching like yours!

Nice layout Joe.  Thanks for posting the video.

Thanks Carl.

 

Thanks Pennsy. I would love to have a little more room for my layout. I would run the same semi scale trains I run now but they would look so much better on O72 curves. I hope you get to build a layout with your grandson. Building a Lionel layout with my dad when I was little is one of my fondest memories.

 

Thanks Seacoast. I use the same name whenever I can. 

 

Thanks Mark. I really love the Mikado, and I'm surprised it's so different from the Hudson. It has a different chuff sound, different whistle and even different engineer/dispatcher chatter. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm leaning toward the lake and trees just so there's not buildings on every square inch of the layout. I think a little variety make for more interesting scenery.

Thanks Johnny. Making and posting the video was a lot of fun.

Thanks, Joe. Boy you are making me feel lazy with all your progress. I describe myself as organized others (wife) describe me as procrastinator. Keep us posted.

Thanks Ralph. Actually, I am also a procrastinator, but I'm having so much fun with the layout that I'm getting a lot done, plus, I retired last year so I have a lot more time than I used to.

Memorial Day marks the start of the summer season on the A&JB. The residents are enjoying the warm weather. Happy Memorial Day!

 

I made my semi-annual pilgrimage to Trainland on Long Island last week and bought a DCS system and a Railking Dreyfuss Hudson. I shot a short video featuring the passenger announcements for those that may not be familiar with them. This is my first experience with them and I really like the announcements.

 

Joe,

Thank you for posting.  The Dreyfuss Hudson is really sharp!  I have a question about the PA announcements.  On my Railking PS2 Hudson and Imperial PS3 N&W J 611 I pressed the PA button once and got the "Now arriving..." Announcement, then the bell starts ringing.  I pushed it again to shut off the bell.  Am I not waiting long enough for the other announcements or are you pressing the button again and again for subsequent announcements?  I agree the announcements add to the passenger station stop.  since you like your LionChief Plus locomotives, do you plan on getting a number of RailKings to run on the DCS.  I have one LC+ and 3 MTH DCS locomotives myself.  For a small layout, I don't really need any more.

Nice job on your video. Really nice new engine.

Thanks for the video; very sharp looking train!

Hi Mark,

 

The PA is a little confusing at first. When the train is approaching the station press the PA button. The bell rings and the "Now arriving" announcement starts. When it reaches the station where you want it press the direction button. The train will stop, the bell will stop and the announcements will begin. When it finishes the first group of announcements press the direction button again and it runs through some more announcements. The third or fourth time you press the direction button the bell rings, the whistle blows 2 short blasts and the loco takes off at the speed it was going when you first pressed the direction button. It moves a few feet and the bell stops and it returns to normal running. In the video I had it set at 10 MPH when it arrived at the station. Next time it use the announcements I'll throttle it back to 5 MPH so it takes off slower. The DCS instruction book is not that clear but I was able to figure it out by reading the instructions and playing with the throttle.

 

I have 2 LC+ locos and now the 1 RK. I plan to buy 1 more RK steam loco and 2 diesels. I can only run 2 trains at a time on my small layout so I just want enough locomotives to give some variety. 

Thanks PTC, thanks Pingman. The passenger cars are by Williams. The same cars are now made by Williams by Bachmann.

Joe,

Thank you.  The Direction button!  I never would have guessed.  Of course Barry would be right in saying, "It's in the book."  I never thought to look into it, although I am fairly new to it as well!  I will have to give it a try!

 

Yes, I can only run two trains at a time as well.  Four to six engines give enough variety.  More than that I think would just sit and collect dust.  

 

Thank you again!

Country Joe, You have a nice layout! I like the Hudson!