An O scale layout is BIG!!!

A "pile of junk"? No - it looks just fine. They all start out that way, and in some ways it's

the most exciting time, I have found - all those possibilities.

 

If I ever build another (groan), I am going to attempt to stop just before it is "finished",

so as to preserve a bit of that "possibilities" feeling and simpicity. Not bare wood and

loose wiring, mind you - but a slightly not-too-full feeling. Clarity, abstraction, minimalist

detailing.

 

Easier said than done.

Congratulations! I've started my layout too. Yours looks good so far!

That's how they all look when started. You're definitely off to a good start. Keep us posted.

Remember what they say, bigger is better.

Don't have any, so, call it what you like. 

Well yes, you are right. 

 

The problem I have is - it is never big enough.

Let the fun begin and always keep dreaming/ planing what the layout will look like. That's the fun part and playing with the trains to.
Good luck

Congratulations on starting your layout! This is IMHO the most rewarding part of this hobby. Just remember, Lionel's 1949 main office display layout was 16' by 32'. I forget how many loops it had but it sure was big.

In a couple of months it will look small and you'll starting trying to find ways to expand. 

Real railroads take up extremely long narrow strips of land with typically wide radius curves that make the O72 curves seem tight.

 

Andrew

There is a very nice 12 x 24 room next to my layout room. It was my wife's sewing room.....but when all the kids left home she moved up stairs.  Can you guess what will happen to that room after this 'part' of the layout is done?????

(hint....it will become a western theme area so I can run my SP and ATSF stuff)

 

Then there is a entire case of Gargraves Stainless track in my barn........

So Dave, I see a spur line through the old mining mountains from the Western Room to the Gristmill Barn in the back yard in the future maybe?

Nice job the the layout.  The process of building a layout brought me most of the enjoyment of the hobby.  I guess it has something to do with the "hands-on" experience of constructing your own railroad empire.  I am in the process of changing my curves to 072 for my larger locomotives on order.  With smaller engines, the wider curves just make it that much batter.  Keep us updated on your layout progress.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

DAVE ENJOY THE JOURNEY!!!

WITH THE CRAFTSMANSHIP YOU HAVE DISPLAYED HERE OVER THE YEARS I AM SURE IT WILL TURN OUT A WINNER.

STEVE

Congratulations Dave!  It looks good to me.  I look forward to starting another real layout some day soon.  I too have built them in HO and N.  The most I have done in O was simple loops.  I haven't had one for several years, but anticipate a room being vacated in the next year or so.  I am buying up everything now, because I probably won't be able to afford any after a wedding, possibly 2 in the near future.  I have suggested they just elope and save a pile of money.  

Just for comparison, you could build the same layout in N scale in 9.6 x 4.8 ft.

 

The thing about building in O is that things like bench work, isle ways, sq. ft. of scenery material do not scale linearly. You are going to need a whole lot more space, lumber, scenic materials, etc. to cover that layout. It's one of the funny things about the larger scales. The cost also goes up exponentially ;-) Hopefully the fun does too though.

Dave,

Congrats on getting started. You are right, O-Gauge is Big. My train space is limited to two large closets where I store my trains. I bring them down to my train club to run. That layout is 30 years in the making and still being changed. Looking forward to reading up on your progress.

Dave,

 

Much success on your new layout. 

Just remember that O gauge is not as large as you think. The buildings are larger then H.O. but sometimes the curve sizes are close because I do some H.O. work as well. You almost need the same size layout area for an H.O. as you do for O gauge.

 

Lee Fritz

keep it up, Dave. You're off to a great start. Keep us posted! Tom....

(your decal customer)