Played with some HO scale for a few years but with advanced arthritis in all my fingers, changing to O. A long term project will be a small O2 set for an overhead train around the perimeter of one of my hobby rooms. Lots of space above the doors and windows so it should be relatively easy to do.
The big project will be O3 in the basement. Decided on Lionel Legacy and MTH Scale Trax to get started. Pre-ordered six Legacy locomotives from the new 2018 Lionel catalogue this week including TH&B GP-9 #s 401 and 403, CN SD70ACe #'s 8101 and 8103, as well as IC U33C #'s 5052 and 5054. Also ordered Great Northern Ore Car 6-pack for my real gypsum loads, and the Thomas Christmas Set for my grandson.
Finally, ordered MTH ScaleTrax 072 curves and switches, lots of straights and some terminal tracks. Love the low-profile, blackened-centre rail and joinerless features of ScaleTrax which I will use exclusively.
Welcome to the O side, DJ. Nice to have a “Bluenoser” join us! [:D]. Nice way to jump in! I have the CN/EMD Demo SD70ACe from the 2016 catalog. It’s a nice locomotive. I looked at the Scaletrax but with the constant supply issues at the time, ended up going with Atlas O.
Thanks Rob. I looked at the Atlas tracks as well. There are still supply problems with Scaletrax - all the curves are on back order for example. However, I’m retired (since 2012) so I’ve got time.
It’s official! My first O layout, thanks to the used equipment in the back room of our Halifax hobby shop. Bought 2 pieces of track (not what I’ll be using) and a 1991 made-in-the-USA Lionel Pennsylvania Wheel Car. Now I can start planning ahead.
I forgot to add in my original post that you should try and meet up with Peter Riddle. He’s been a long time CTT contributor, wrote several books (I have a few) and lives in Wolfville, NS. He would be a great wealth of knowledge for you.
Welcome DJ! I came over from N scale almost 20 years ago now for similar reasons and have never regretted it. I think you’ll find the larger size and heft - and visual ‘impact’ of this scale enjoyable.
I do. They are setting up an O scale layout at our hobby shop an that’s what got me hooked. Diesel exhaust, engineer talking to the tower, the sound of the metal wheels on metal track. They have steam too, but I love the diesels.
Kind of the same with me, I had Lionels as a kid, got away from toy trains, and I suspect most of you have a similar story for similar reasons, was introduced to N scale by my brother-in-law “Big B” around 1989 and played around with them for a while.
It was fun, then one Christmas Lady Firestorm wanted a train around the Christmas tree. N gauge wouldn’t do for that so out came the Lionels after a long hibernation.
She created a monster! The thundering majesty of an O gauge train in “full cry” shaking the house to it’s foundation got me hooked all over again! I still have the N gauge trains but now they’re in hibernation!
Concerning your avatar - is it an indirect way of saying you were born in August 1954 or was the featured article on the cover (scratch building an O gauge caboose) your first attempt at a scratch build project or is it just an image you liked?
