Skip to main content

I love O-scale and Standard Gauge, my fiance' Tom loves G-scale and a bit of HO (past history). I suggested to him we have a SG choochoo run on a circle of track on the round wedding cake table. We could have the Barclay Bride and Groom figures standing at the open back end of the Observation Car. The edge to edge of the track is 44", perfect for a 60" round table. What do you SG folks think? I showed him a pic of a Bride and Groom repaint, and he said they were cute.

Last edited by Carey TeaRose
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

With being older, (58 and 60) this wedding and reception is for US. The guests are there to celebrate in the joy of our getting married, and share in what we enjoy doing with us. We have rented a large hall as we and most of the attendees are very active social dancers. We'll be dancing to a big band, playing songs of the 1930s-1960s. A toy choo choo would be another fun element unique to us to add to the festivities. 

The (locomotive) wheels are spinning...

I had put a circle of SG tubular track on the front room rug last night, it measures 44" wide, could fit nicely on a 60" round cake table, no problem. 

This morning after seeing pics and reading about the railway theme wedding, I said to Tom about maybe putting a little train car on the center of each guest table (probably 12 tables) , and have the flowers around it for the centerpieces. He said "you're not going o put that (pointing to the SG trains ) on their tables?" when i said no, he said, "O-scale."

I have four little sweet pre-war O-scale tinplate cars. I could probably easily pick up little tinplate cutie freight O-scale cars in decent condition... 

And then I could copy off Blk/wht movie stills of old movies with trains featured that we love to watch and have that next to the flowers and train cars- The Thin Man, The Train, Strangers on a Train, etc. 

Toy trains, Fred & Ginger style dancing, old blk/wht movies.... could be wonderful for incorporating these shared interests of ours at the reception.

Last edited by Carey TeaRose

Sounds like a great idea to me. Your future husband is one lucky guy. 

The two things that would worry me is number one the packing up of the trains as mentioned above and you never know when one of them will grow legs. I know it will be all friends and relatives at your wedding but I once had a relative steal money from my house. I assume some staff will be there besides family and friends? It only takes one person who does something bad to ruin your day. I certainly wouldn't chance with any trains that were expensive. Also someone may think the trains are souvenirs and take something not knowing they are for display only. Just something to consider. I hope you have a great wedding!

Last edited by Hudson J1e

serve cake  via flat cars,   tank car for drinks,  have engineer on hand, in charge of trains,

also on the brides table,  they are long,  so  long straight track ,  with cars ,(trolley) , going back and forth, cake, drinks  not sure if  u tube has videos of buster keatons  train,  I think the sit com cheers did something like that with beer,  I think norm switched the track ,,so it went to him,,,

We have a vintage automobile, a 1938 Pontiac "Straight 6" Touring Sedan (I'm leaning against it in my profile pic) that would be great to use, but unfortunately there is no safe and secure place to park it there. Actually, we have two vintage autos- the other is a 1941 Pontiac Deluxe Torpedo "6" Business Coupe- but it needs a paint job, and that model has no back seat. 

Last edited by Carey TeaRose

Today I showed my O-scale Lionel prewar 657 caboose and 613 Blue Comet Pullman to our vintage clothing dealers-the wife is my lady for flowers, and the husband will be kitting out Tom's wedding attire. They thought the train cars were cute. The flowers could be build around a car on each table.

Yes, we are into vintage clothing and have two vintage automobiles, and I am a vintage vocalist- so Standard Gauge and prewar Lionel is a perfect fit for me.

Last edited by Carey TeaRose

First, congratulations!

Second, for table decorations I'd go really cheap because those ARE going to walk away. Even those cheesy little plastic dollar-store trains might work. You could also do Howard's Marx"tinplate" cars with personalized designs on glossy card stock (or heavy flashing and paint them.) Of course, since he's generous with the pattern, you can always scale them up or standard gauge. You could also make his littleglitterhouses.com stations. That way you'd have exactly what you want at a very reasonable price and not have to worry about not getting every last one back.  You could have a car named for each member of the bridal party, etc.

The idea is just too much fun

Saw your post on the for sale/trade section and already you are getting hits.
Do not forget a piece of track on each table for the car, someone is selling gauge track on the forum for seven pieces for a dollar. If the Track is rusty, you could always spray paint it silver or gold. Maybe mount the track to a small piece of pine that has it's edges done with a router. Sound like fun and it will look great on a low budget!
Have Fun!

The problem is you want it to look nice for the wedding. Tie wraps go from the RR tie on one piece of track to the RR tie on the other piece of track and back. Ugly but very functional. Tape: black electrical tape from RR tie to RR tie looped around. Duct Tape: Cut a piece the Length of the RR tie, turn it sticky side up, and press the RR ties from the two pieces into the tape. Other Ideas, Anyone?

Überstationmeister posted:

Use O gauge track clips. If they are not aesthetically pleasing, remove the "thumb" pull.  If you really want it indestructible, fill them with hot melt glue after installation.

Can these can fit on Standard Gauge tubular? I'm planning to get USA Track Standard Gauge, 8- 42 curves. They will be placed on a table cloth.

Carey TeaRose posted:

what does that mean?? Not Quite Delusional Yet?

 

Well, what it meant is not important.( A forum handle)  What it means is that you are making friends, like the woman from the Netherlands. She was a friend to many on the forum and had a love of life that came through in her posts. Her posts suddenly stopped. She is missed by many.

Just be you and all will be well. No need for comparisons. It seems you have already shown that you are unique.

Being a Baker while in the Navy ( 17 years) I would think the first layer ( the layer for the train ) would have to be a fake layer made of thin wood or sturdy cardboard type material with supports in the center for the rest of the cake didn't cave it in. but other than that I see no reason why not. You could have the cord to the transformer come out the bottom and and have it preset at a slow speed. It would be a great remembrance for you all and all your guess.

Go for it  

Here's a thought for guest favors, although it might not fit your overall design theme if you are going for some elegance:

Get multicolored RR-style bandanas and have your names and wedding date printed on them. They can be folded into swan shapes or whatever at each place setting if you are going for casual elegance. Or you can fold then in a fan/peacock shape or something colorful inside a gondola on each table with enough for each guest. If you have a wedding color scheme you might be able to get some in a fairly close color match. They come in so many more colors than just red these days.

A place like Oriental Trading Company (online) would probably have them at an inexpensive price and they might do the printing too as they offer various wedding favors.

Tomlinson Run Railroad

Ace posted:

I dunno, it sounds like too much of a possible diversion from the main event. Some kids might get to messing with the train and crash it into the cake.

Wedding cake-02c

There will be NO children at this wedding and reception, except for my 21yo dd and 18yo son. No babies, no little kids. Almost everyone being invited is 55+

The trains are purely a fun extra- and still just an idea. Its not a train theme event!

rtraincollector posted:

Being a Baker while in the Navy ( 17 years) I would think the first layer ( the layer for the train ) would have to be a fake layer made of thin wood or sturdy cardboard type material with supports in the center for the rest of the cake didn't cave it in. but other than that I see no reason why not. You could have the cord to the transformer come out the bottom and and have it preset at a slow speed. It would be a great remembrance for you all and all your guess.

Go for it  

Thank you for all this info!! However, this is not going to be a train cake,

The cake is an italian cream sponge cake. No buttercream or other fancy frosting. Embellished with only fresh roses from my garden. On the 60" round cake table will be just a 8" round with a 6" round on top. The rest of the pieces of cake will be served out to the guests, cut in rectangle pieces from a full sheet or what ever size is needed based on the number of guests in attendance.

The SG train will run around it, purely as a fun accent.

OK, a Standard Gauge train around the cake on a 60" diameter table isn't so crazy if bride and groom are into it. And you don't want to go overboard with a bunch of other train-theme stuff, that sounds sensible to me. The cake could be somewhat elevated above the track level, you don't want it integral with the cake. Don't want sliced cake getting dropped on the train so you want a sober server with a steady hand. An engineer should be appointed to oversee the railroad operations and prevent derailments.

The train could have gondola cars with the cutlery and candy favors, to give it some function. Yeah, go for it.

Maybe someone will give you a  Marx honeymoon express    for a wedding gift ...

Marx honeymoon express-01 

Attachments

Images (1)
  • Marx honeymoon express-01
Last edited by Ace
RonH posted:

Wedding reception tickets for the ride of a lifetime.
Make sure everyone has a ticket to get on this reception express, now your husband should put on a conductors hat with a pocket watch and state that we are on a tight schedule and to make the schedule everyone will have to dance/party and have fun, no stopping this party once it starts!

uh, no.

Ace posted:

OK, a Standard Gauge train around the cake on a 60" diameter table isn't so crazy if bride and groom are into it. And you don't want to go overboard with a bunch of other train-theme stuff, that sounds sensible to me. The cake could be somewhat elevated above the track level, you don't want it integral with the cake. Don't want sliced cake getting dropped on the train so you want a sober server with a steady hand. An engineer should be appointed to oversee the railroad operations and prevent derailments.

The train could have gondola cars with the cutlery and candy favors, to give it some function. Yeah, go for it.

Maybe someone will give you a  Marx honeymoon express    for a wedding gift ...

Marx honeymoon express-01 

awww, very sweet. Though I doubt anyone who will be there is into toy trains.

And NO favors, thank you very much.

 

Last edited by Carey TeaRose

WHAT ENGINE, WHAT CARS?? 

Reality sets in.

With having a circle of 42 curves track on the 60" cake table- if I use my MTH Ives 1134 circus loco and tender, its going to loop around itself pretty quick.

Should I consider MTH Ives repro 3236 engine instead?? What do you gents think?

And perhaps I can only run two passenger cars with this idea. I'll definetely want an Observation car to place my Barclay Bride and Groom in the back at the railing. And I have coming to me a single car MTH Ives repro Nat'l Ltd Blue w/h Red Pullman. Maybe that's it, just two passenger cars- hm?

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

Carey, I think for what you are wanting to do, a 318E and two 300 series cars would be great. They won't overpower your theme and will not look bad on a small loop of track.

Steve

I can't find any 300 cars solo, i.e. an obs, and a pullman or coach that match each other. Don't want a set of four. Did locate a grey 318E, the only color of it I care for.

Carey TeaRose posted:

My tinplate church! ... the wedding cake table diorama. In great condition...

Just had a quirky thought, after reading your explanations about your wedding cake table. I mentioned this to my wife and she thought, given what you have indicated as your interests in trains so far, that this was a great idea, so I am emboldened by her approval to mention this to you, in a spirit of celebration. How about having the train go through  the cake, through a kind of tunnel, with the cake being a "mountain" of sorts, a "Mountain of Joy" you have both climbed together?

FrankM.

Last edited by Moonson

The cake is very small on this table, really only for effect and slightly more enough for just the wedding party. Just an 8-9" bottom layer and a 6" top layer, with fresh roses around the bottom layer and on top. It is an Italian creme cake, with no fancy frosting, dusted with cocoa powered on the sides. The rest of the cake will be in sheet size, easily cut into rectangle pieces to be served by the wait staff to our guests. A "Cake Mountain" would be too much for this.

Carey TeaRose posted:

The cake is very small on this table, really only for effect and slightly more than enough for just the wedding party. Just an 8-9" bottom layer and a 6" top layer, with fresh roses around the bottom layer and on top. It is an Italian creme cake, with no fancy frosting, dusted with cocoa powder on the sides. The rest of the cake will be done in sheet size, easily cut into rectangle pieces to be served by the wait staff to our guests. A "Cake Mountain" would be too much for this.

 

Ace posted:

That's an awesome tinplate church, and you can play mood music on it too. The modest-size cake should leave ample room for the various train layout enhancements. Good planning!

 

Ace, and other gents and ladies, also-

what else might be good to add? This board still looks a little bare to me. I'm thinking a Lionel 155 station or the Pride Lines green/red passenger station perhaps, and a 1/24 1930s automobile...??

Carey TeaRose posted:

My tinplate church! Sortof...  Got this little vintage litho darling on the evilBay, to add to the wedding cake table diorama. In great condition. s-l1600

When you crank the handle, it plays a hymn pipe organ sound.

this arrived today. Wow! Bigger than I thought  it would be and it looks and sounds like its brand new, not 80-90 years old. 

Carey TeaRose posted:
what else might be good to add? This board still looks a little bare to me. I'm thinking a Lionel 155 station or the Pride Lines green/red passenger station perhaps, and a 1/24 1930s automobile...??

Suggest you post a photo of the setup so far with your track, train, structures and a scale stand-in for the cake, and I'm sure someone will have a clever suggestion based on the available space.      

Carey TeaRose posted:
what else might be good to add? This board still looks a little bare to me. I'm thinking a Lionel 155 station or the Pride Lines green/red passenger station perhaps, and a 1/24 1930s automobile...??

IMG_1341

It would look good with maybe two or three additional small tinplate houses to create an impression of community. 

You might consider adding a row of trees, or a small curved 'backdrop' with rural scene about 7" x 18", placed in front of the track at the back. That would give the train a way to disappear momentarily, creating some illusion of coming and going to other places, instead of going in circles.

Last edited by Ace
Ace posted:
Carey TeaRose posted:
what else might be good to add? This board still looks a little bare to me. I'm thinking a Lionel 155 station or the Pride Lines green/red passenger station perhaps, and a 1/24 1930s automobile...??

IMG_1341

It would look good with maybe two or three additional small tinplate houses to create an impression of community. 

You might consider adding a row of trees, or a small curved 'backdrop' with rural scene about 7" x 18", placed in front of the track at the back. That would give the train a way to disappear momentarily, creating some illusion of coming and going to other places, instead of going in circles.

Got it! Maybe just one or two of these. Next,s-l1600

I need to find that perfect 1/24 1930s automobile... 

Attachments

Images (1)
  • s-l1600
Carey TeaRose posted:
Ace posted:
Carey TeaRose posted:
what else might be good to add? This board still looks a little bare to me. I'm thinking a Lionel 155 station or the Pride Lines green/red passenger station perhaps, and a 1/24 1930s automobile...??

IMG_1341

It would look good with maybe two or three additional small tinplate houses to create an impression of community. 

You might consider adding a row of trees, or a small curved 'backdrop' with rural scene about 7" x 18", placed in front of the track at the back. That would give the train a way to disappear momentarily, creating some illusion of coming and going to other places, instead of going in circles.

Got it! Maybe just one or two of these. Next,s-l1600

I need to find that perfect 1/24 1930s automobile... 

Nice as the are, these ended up being too small, so back they went.

Since I ended up getting the orange/blue 318E R-T-R set for the engine to use here, I'll get 42 curve circle of MTH Realtrax. And a little transformer. Thinking of swapping it with the regular track I already screwed down to the fabric covered board for this purpose. With a track having a built-in roadbed, I think it will look even better.  

Then I can add the regular track circle on the art deco layout table, sooner rather than later.

Ace posted:
Bandomnjr posted:

imageWhile I absolutely love the idea, you ain't got NUTHIN on this wedding

That is so outrageous !! , what was the story behind it ?!

Let's make up a story! I say its the son's or daughter's wedding of a large midwestern train supplier and his master pastry baker wife. Or a descendant of Mr. Marx or Mr. Lionel.

update: Tom swapped out the USATrack on the diorama board for the MTH/Lionel Realtrax that came with the #318E R-T-R set. With having a ballasted look, its better for the guests to see, and it gets my USATrack circle of track able to be added sooner to the Art Deco layout table.

The other day Tom wired up the diorama for the trains, transformer(s), XXRing light, and the whistle station. Then all was given a test drive. 

Carey TeaRose posted:
Ace posted:
Bandomnjr posted:

imageWhile I absolutely love the idea, you ain't got NUTHIN on this wedding

That is so outrageous !! , what was the story behind it ?!

Let's make up a story! I say its the son's or daughter's wedding of a large midwestern train supplier and his master pastry baker wife. Or a descendant of Mr. Marx or Mr. Lionel.

I'm thinking it's more like a movie spoof, such as Joe McDoakes in "So you want to Marry a Model Railroader".

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×