Club Planning Portable Modular O Scale Layout

Hi ALGOMAFAN85,

Check the LCCA WEB SITE FOR DETAILS ON OUR O-GAUGE MODULE FASTRAK LAYOUT. We have partnered with LIONEL to bulid and sell module units.

WWW.LIONELCOLLECTORS.ORG

GG1GUYY

SAL GAMBINO DIRECTOR LCCA

The most popular of scale sized operators would be the Independent Highrailer Standard (IHRS). 

http://www.hirailers.org/technical.htm

Another concept would be Free-mo (www.free-mo.org), however there has not been a set of standards really set up on O scale or O gauge.  Free-mo can be single track or Double track modules, where Free-mo differs from other standards is the Tracks are centered on module and are designed to be reversible while other standards have the tracks to the outside edge.

Another thought would be to build to IHRS and an adapter could be made to go to Free-mo (or we can call it Free-mo 3RS) for a branch line on the inside of the layout to allow switching of industries (ie operations)

If there are people interested in setting up Free-mo 3RS standards I would be happy to help to draft up the standards as I am also involved in HO scale Free-mo

Here is a link to what we use for our specification along with other documents including past layout setups:

http://trainweb.org/ttat/ttatarticles.html

Check out this OGR thread.  Many pictures of the LCCA modules on page two.

https://ogrforum.com/d...6207207112316/page/2

Looks like the quickest and easyest way to get started.

Dan

My suggestion is that you look at the different specs and list the pros and cons of each before jumping into any one way of doing things.  Thinks about things like ease of setup/takedown, transporting and storing modules, cost and difficulty of building a module, how much scenery, how many mainlines, etc.  Then do what works for your club.

Make sure you check out Glancy: http://www.glancytrains.com/index2.html  

You might also want to look at what "RailsOnWheels" did.  They are an HO group but they had a really impressive modular layout and had the module construction down to a science.  I believe their website is: http://www.railsonwheels.com/  I think we can learn a lot from other scales.  N-Trak is worth a look too.

You may want to check out the following video from the LCCA/Lionel FasTrackModular Railroad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88RclGx5My0&sns=em

Al K. 

Thanks everyone for the helpful information. If you are ever in N.E. Ohio you are invited to come visit our club or visit our site on yahoo groups...type in the Massillon O Gauge Model Railroad Club. 

Bob Dupree

President

The Massillon O Gauge Model Railroad Club

Massillon, Ohio

If you want KISS, take a look here. Simple, easy to move around. It's a Fastrack set up similar to the old American Flyer All Aboard style. Panels only way a couple pounds each, are 20" x 20" and can be arranged in a multitude of shapes. When the 31" Fastrack finally hits the street, more possibilities for the inner loops will open up. These have been a big crowd pleaser at shows.

http://www.allaboardfastrackers.com/

Steve

I started building modules about 25 years ago using the standards of the East Penn Traction Club.  I sincerely recommend you look at their web site and add it to your list of opportunities. ontact Charles Long 227 Locust RD, FT Washington, PA 19034 or www.eastpenn.org/standard.html 

While your in the planning phase you might consider using my modular building drawings mounted on Gater bosrd for your backdrops. www.westportmodelworks.com

Les Lewis

I agree! I much prefer these now to most anything else that we as individuals or club members have put together. I just uploaded a "how to video" on building the modules at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkvN49fJvMI&feature=share&list=UUpPK5zpWxBKkatUxXgsDSTA

It is my first video, os it is a bit rough but I wanted to cover the basics.

Thanks!

I concur with using the IHR standards as it is pretty widespread. It supports more trains and operation is easier to manage. The old Tinplate Tracker standard has become somewhat dated, even though I maintain the last manual issued by the late Al Bailey.

I do have a draft proposal of the O Scale Free-Mo standards as proposed by George Losse (plus some free-mo based module designs) but the big problem is turning trains around.

Free-Mo is designed for prototypical operation with two-way traffic along a single mainline (with passing sidings and junctions,) command control (DCC in 2-rail because there are no polarity issues,) meets/holds, and set-outs/pick-ups at industries along the line. The two-way traffic lends itself well to a three-rail context.

Many modules are designed to model real places (which my designs follow.) Operation is Point-to-Point, Point-to-Loop, or Loop-to-Loop. In O scale, the modules could get a bit large, even using the H.O. module specs. There is no front or back to a module (backdrops are prohibited) and what's a bit disorienting is when you follow a train and you start on one side of the modules, then find you're on the other side of the module sets as most of the larger setups tend to twist around. I've been tinkering with a Hybrid Hi-Rail (2-rail capable) version of the standard using O-72/O-81/O-90 for a turn-around/staging module, but there didn't seem to be much interest in the Operation-oriented Free-Mo standard. I have a design mod to the wiring that would still allow the three-rail Free-Mo modules to be reversible and compatible with 2-rail modules if the operator wanted to also run with a 2-rail setup.

A typical Free-Mo Module.

A turn-around

A junction/wye.