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Hello All! 

 

I am planning a new layout. A bit about me.....I have had 3 other past layouts. Two in N scale and 1 in HO scale. I have always wanted an O scale layout but have be confined by space issues. Recently I purchased a home with a room for a new layout. I am leaning toward doing an O scale but am not sure I will be able to have the O scale layout I desire in the space I have. Thus I have been considering going back to N scale only because the room I have would allow for a massive N scale empire. I would prefer not to as my eyesight is not what it use to be. Long and short of it is, I love N scale but have always dreamed of building an O scale empire. I would like to make it happen.

 

So I thought I would ask for help. I am not big on the track planning part of layout building. I have used various software programs. I built my HO scale layout based on an Atlas right track plan. Currently I am attempting to use Xtrack Cad software to plan my O scale empire. I do struggle with this software as well as Scarm software also. I do not find it enjoyable and am about to start just using pencil and paper. However there are obvious limitations and difficulties with going that route.

 

I am including an image of the room I am using. It is a challenge for a large scale layout in that one side is 12 ft long and the other is only a bit more than 6 due to a door way. Also the 12 ft side has a door to a closet so realistically it should only be about 10 ft. Also the room is 23 feet long so the length shouldn't be an issue. I am not opposed to an around the room layout or a peninsula style. I would prefer to not have a duck under but a lift up or fold down bridge section would be interesting to me. I am including a list of need/wants....

 

  • Turntable with a roundhouse
  • Decent size yard
  • A few bridges
  • Preferably a double track mainline
  • A variety of industries
  • A town or two
  • A trolley system in one town
  • Minimum O-72 on outside tracks as I would like to run some scale engines (this is negotiable)
  • I would like to run mostly scale engines however I will run some traditional locomotives also. There will be some tinplate also as I find some of it desirable
  • I want to use Gargraves phantom rail track

 

I like to run trains as we all do. However I enjoy the building just as much. I try to stay true to "real" railroads but inevitably it will not be. I like some of the "toy" like aspects that are available in O scale. I do not usually model a certain railroad or area. I prefer to freelance and buy whatever equipment catches my eye. Well I am rambling....I suppose that is enough for now. Any ideas, thoughts or comments would be helpful as I ponder my O scale adventure. 

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original Post

O-scale takes up a LOT of space for things like freight yards and roundhouses.  Since you have experience with N-scale, I suggest translating your space into the N-scale equivalent and seeing whether you would be happy with the resulting N-scale layout.  Just divide the dimensions by 3.33, so your space that is 6 feet wide at one end, 10 feet wide at the other and 23 feet long translates to an N-scale layout that is 1 foot 10 inches at one end, 3 feet at the other end and 6 feet 11 inches long.

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