Scale or semi-scale - mix and match?

Mike that's why  you call it YOUR layout it's so you can run what you want to.
I don't worry about this scale/ semi scale stuff to much. I've got a semi scale Mikado pulling scale cars I think it looks fine and I'm having a blast with it.
If I worried all the time what others thought I'd never leave the house.

David

Run what you like, its part of the fun with this hobby.

I've mixed scale & semi-scale freight cars, but I've always kept the scale stuff at the front of the line.  Like DPC and Bill T said, do what you want it's your layout.

I just got one of the new scale Mikados - the Great Northern - and it seems an ideal "traditional/semi-scale" compatable engine for smaller layouts, yet is still scale-sized and loaded with the scale detail. It measures just 20 3/4" long. To compare, a Postwar Berk is 21 3/4" long, and a Lionmaster Hudson is 22" long! Traditional-size rolling stock looks very acceptable behind the Mikado, and it will run on 0-36.

My Southern scale 4-6-2 Pacific is 24" long, in comparison (picture below showing the two lined up). The Pacific (which requires 0-54) is not considered a particularly large engine as scale steamers go, but the Mikado is quite a bit shorter (thanks in part to the shorter tender), and also appears more compact (the Southern's boiler is chunkier as well). 

Lionmaster isn't getting much attention from Lionel these days, but there are some scale steam engines (other than switchers) that will work well on smaller layouts.

breezinup,

I like your collection of freight cars.

Breezinup - thats a great picture showing the size difference. I had also thought about purchasing a mikado.

MIKE

Mike, I run Semi Scale traditional Lionel trains. I agree that mixing them with Scale rolling stock and locomotives looks funny to me, but some folks don't mind at all. That's what I love about this hobby, the range of layouts, rolling stock, and motive power varies greatly. As long as you're having fun, that's all that matters.

-bruce