I need help to design my dual gauge On30 layout.
After reading the posts about layout designs and seeing some of the layouts, I realize that there is a wealth of talent in this group.
I’m pleading for some design help and insight.
The layout is a tabletop design 6’ x 13.5’ in size. The layout is designed to be raised up to the ceiling when not in use.
My ideas and desires are as follows:
NOTE: This will NOT be using dual gauge track!
“O” gauge around the perimeter with 2 passing tracks and or spurs, one on each side of the layout.
This "O” mainline would be serviced by the mining/logging industries (located in the inner areas of the layout)
Maybe an ore transfer that would go over the “O” track and dump the ore into the “O” hopper car.
On one side the “O” track could be covered by a show shed type area or landscaping. This would alloy the scenery to cover most of the track (for visual reasons).
Maybe a divider or mountains down the center to make the layout appear larger.
Mountains for logging and mining, possibly with switchbacks.
Some type of industry with area for switching and making up trains.
It would be great to have a “loads in and loads out track” Through the divider.
I now have a Bachmann 0-4-2 Porter, Climax, 2-6-0 and a kit bashed class A climax.
Everything is DCC.
I hope my ramblings make some sense… I can talk and express my ideas better that type them out 
Thanks so much for reading this!
Chuck
Chico, CA
Did you umean HO track vice “O” track? If you are modeling On30, should you not be planning an HO track footprint?
I will be using both “O” and “HO” track.
The outer track will be in “O” and all the rest will be using “HO” track for the On30.
Hope this clears up your question.
Chuck
is there a prototype inspiration for this or are you freelancing ?
i’ll assume you’re doing a table style layout instead of an around-the-walls due to lack of space or lack of approval from other members of the household , because you could fit a lot more layout into an around-the-walls plan in a room big enough to hold a 6x13 table
with 6x13 you could take a 4x8 HO plan and expand it , probably add some industry tracks
i’m curious as to why you’re going dual-guage and not straight On30 .
“is there a prototype inspiration for this or are you freelancing ?”
This is freelance design.
“i’ll assume you’re doing a table style layout instead of an around-the-walls due to lack of space or lack of approval from other members of the household , because you could fit a lot more layout into an around-the-walls plan in a room big enough to hold a 6x13 table”
WRONG, I have lots of floor space but no wall space. This is in my 1200’ shop and I want to raise it up out of my way when I’m not using it… So a table is the only way I can go!
“i’m curious as to why you’re going dual-guage and not straight On30 .”
I have lots of OLD 55yrs+ O gauge rolling stock that I want to put into a small part of the overall layout. (my childhood is calling me )
Chuck
Well, that should work. May I suggest that you cut out and install a lift-out trap-door in the center so that you can easily access that area to fix things. You reach should not exceed 24-28", especially with the mechanism of support that you describe. When (not if) you lean against it for a determined reach, you will find that I am right.
I got my inspiration from an NMRA bulletin article on very small layouts. The article had a continuous run in a small rectangle which had very simple, but detailed scenes on all 4 sides.
Using this concept I designed a 46 in x 60 in layout for HO/HOn3. The HO was a simple oval with a passing siding on one side with a depot. The passing siding could serve as a staging track for a short passenger train when that side was placed against a wall. Era was 1880 to as recent as 1900 to keep trains and locomotives very short.
On the other side, was a single HO spur that serviced a transfer platform to between the HO and an HOn3 spur. Later on I expanded the HOn3 into a 3 track (not full capacity) Inglenook yard, and thought about adding a switchback spur into an enginehouse.
Going around the end curve from the spur, the HOn3 line would climb a steep 15in radius curve, while the HO stayed level on an 18in radius curve. In the middle of the end would be a curved trestle on both tracks crossing in front of/over a waterfall and stream coming down from the center ridge.
The center ridge would create a tunnel over the other end, which would be HO only, no HOn3.
The HOn3 would climb to be inside of and above the HO depot and passing siding, curving to a switchback tail that would cross over the HO into the far corner. The upward end side of the HOn3 switchback would enter a small town with spurs and a runaround for switching. I had originally hoped to put a wye at the top, but there really wasn’t room without over-crowding everything in my space.
I drew this up in the Atlas planning software as a sanity check, using HO 15in radius and track for the HOn3. I figured if the Atlas software would let it fit, it wouldn’t be too over-crowded in handlaid HOn3. If I can find a way to get you a copy of the file, I will.
Then I saw some Bachman On30 at the LHS and got real tempted. I drew it up in O 3rail and On30 to see what might wor
Fred, and others,
Thanks so much for the input.
I like your ideas and would REALLY like to get a copy of the design.
I will be using 3 rail “O” track… most of my “old” stuff is Lionel. So I can use any diameter from 27" and larger.
I have looked at Harold’s layout and, yes it does incorperate many great ideas.
The In’s/Out’s is what I had in mind.
I should have all the benchwork finished by the end of the week and then start laying out my design and then the track.
Keep all the ideas coming… and please send any drawings/pictures if you have any.
Chuck Alldrin
Chico, CA