When I was in Reno, I went into the local hobby shop and saw this Atlas O scale 2-rail SW9 painted for the WP. That engine really appeals to me and O scale is such a neat size.
I an envisioning a 1930s(steam) or 1950s (diesel) point to point short line interchanging with a class one railroad (WP, UP, SP?). It would have weed covered tracks, poor maintenance, a one stall engine house, and a series of mines and industries to deliver cars from the interchange. The engines would have really good sound systems and the operations would duplicate what a real short line would do including whistle signals, etc. emphasis on slow. Engines woud be small 0-6-0s, 44 tonners, SW9 etc. In O scale, the layout and cars could be detailed to the nth degree. I might even build it in proto48. However, at best, the mainline would be less than 50 feet long.
The problem is that I appear to have aaproximately 12x16 feet for this railroad, so I am only thinking out loud here. Most O scale layouts I have seen have been gigantic and tend to have that 3rd rail in the center. Is such a layout feasible in a small space? Are 2 foot aisles a bad idea? Has anyone seen examples of such a layout? Any on the web? Thoughts? - Nevin
The idea is intriguing. although I’m a N-scaler, I like size and appearence of O scale better than HO. also, you can squeeze sound decoders in and have relatively large speakers.
I think you can fit an O scale layout in 12x16, of course you need to plan very wisely. every single inch in precious! you can have a visible staging which would be the interchange track(s), and 2 or 3 small online customers to serve. point to point is a must
O scale with the 3rd rail is usually the lionel train set (toy train).
proto:48 would be great on such a small layout, since you have to convert few locos and cars.
You could certainly do one - it’s comparable in space to 6x8 in HO. One option would be to make it a traction line so you could have tight curves and short - one car - trains.
Another option for trains larger than N scale or HO is to do S scale.
Good day. In the Oct 03 issue of MRR there is a great trackplan for an O scale layout that fits in a 11X16 room. I have often thought about building it in HO. Best of luck.
Nevin - I’m in the process of building a 2-rail O-scale point to point shelf switching layout in a spare bedroom. The layout runs around three of the four walls. I have a 4’ lift out section for the area where it crosses by the bedroom door and a 4’ hinged drop leaf section by the closet. The width is mostly 16" to 18" with one section that extends 27" out from the wall. Plus it is high enough at 52" that I can use the space underneath it for my home office desk/PC/extra dresser/hobby bench area, etc. And with this setup instead of having tight isles my aisle is the center of the room and is 8’ - 9’ wide. Consider an around the wall shelf layout!
