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First foray into O scale 2 rail

KE Kyle EvansOGR Forum Member

Well, this is all new to me, so here goes.

i have just recently "discovered" O scale 2 rail, although I've been aware of it for many years. Started out in HO in my teens, back in a previous geological era, and still have a number of brass locos and some rolling stock, mostly acquired from my father's collection after his passing last year. I got into large scale about 20 some years ago, first LGB and then 16mm scale (modeling 2 foot narrow gauge on O gauge track).

While going through my father's extensive collection of trains in all scales, I found a couple of Atlas Trainman SP cabooses and a Sunset brass SP C-30 wood caboose. Holding them I came to appreciate the size and heft of the models. Larger than HO (which now seems really tiny to me, but smaller than the garden scale trains I'd been acquiring. Seemed like a perfect size. So I began reading and researching about O scale, and liked what I saw. While narrow gauge remains my primary interest, I've always liked transition era shortline, branchline, and industrial standard gauge lines.

So after some thought about what I wanted to do, I took the plunge and ordered an Atlas VO-1000 in what appears to be SP "tiger stripe" scheme. (Actually on pre-order status from Atlas.) I also have picked up a few rolling stock items from eBay, mainly Atlas, Weaver, and Intermountain, just to get my feet wet. 

May this point, I don't have room for a layout, but my idea is to build a shelf style switching module which could conceivably be incorporated later into a larger layout. Perhaps 10-12' long by 2' deep to start with. Some parameters for what I hope to do:

1) Transition era, approximately 1945-1955.

2) Setting is Texas and the Southwest.

3) Rolling stock will be primarily 40', with POSSIBLY some 50' stock, mostly from lines that operated in Texas (SP, KCS, T&P, Frisco, Cotton Belt, MKT, FW&D, etc.)

4) No passenger stock will be used, except maybe a drover's coach or caboose for mixed-train service. Blame it on too many readings of Beebe and Clegg's "Mixed Train Daily"...still a classic in my opinion.

5) Motive power will be the VO-1000 and hopefully an SW if one can be made available in SP's "tiger stripe" scheme. Of course, if a GE 44-tonner or something similar ever appears, it may well join the roster. Unfortunately, unless a "Cuban mogul" or some other similar sized loco appears, I don't think steam will be an option on my line's loco roster.

6) As to industries served by my line, I'm leaning towards a meat packing plant, livestock feedlot or stockyard, and perhaps a cement plant, ice house, and/or some warehouses. Not all of these will appear on the module, as I'm thinking that couldn't fit in a 12' X 2' module, even if some will be represented by nothing more than building flats.

Those are just some initial thoughts, and I'm sure there will be new ideas and developments as this new adventure unfolds. In the meantime, I enjoy and appreciate all of the ideas, information, and inspiration in this forum. Looking forward to seeing what develops.

Kyle Evans

Houston, TX

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P prrjimOGR Forum Member

Labelle Woodworking has a CB&Q drovers caboose as a wooden craftsman kit.    since it is a kit, maybe you can kitbash it for your santa fe one.    I have built a few of their cars and had a few already built up.    they are build up in very nice detailed models of wooden prototypes.   

don't be frightened by the "craftsman" kit idea.    These still look very nice if not assembled perfectly.     the only critical measurements with a  craftsman kit, are getting the couplers and trucks on the centerline and the coupler height right.    Everything else can be "close enough" and the car will still operate well.

KE Kyle EvansOGR Forum Member
Jay C posted:

Atlas made a very nice SW in Tiger Stripes (numbered for T&NO).  They look and run great.

Jay

Saw one on eBay a few days ago. Unfortunately, the operating budget for the 1st and 2nd quarters of FY 2019  has been pretty well shot., or I would have bought it. Will keep my eye out for one, though...it had a nice paint scheme.

KE Kyle EvansOGR Forum Member
prrjim posted:

Labelle Woodworking has a CB&Q drovers caboose as a wooden craftsman kit.    since it is a kit, maybe you can kitbash it for your santa fe one.    I have built a few of their cars and had a few already built up.    they are build up in very nice detailed models of wooden prototypes.   

don't be frightened by the "craftsman" kit idea.    These still look very nice if not assembled perfectly.     the only critical measurements with a  craftsman kit, are getting the couplers and trucks on the centerline and the coupler height right.    Everything else can be "close enough" and the car will still operate well.

Have looked at Labelle's website a number of times recently. The CB&Q drover's caboose is a likely candidate, as is one or two of the combine kits. I've built a number of laser-cut wood kits, although I suspect Labelle's are somewhat different. Definitely on the consideration list.    

KE Kyle EvansOGR Forum Member
SANTIAGOP23 posted:

Check  out 3rdrail.com they'll be producing GP7-9's in within a year or so. Great stuff, and better than Atlas for sure.

I'v seen the ads for them, and the GP7/GP9 is probably my favorite "road engine' or "hood unit", but at this point, I'm trying to keep the locomotive roster to those of a smaller "footprint". (Although to be honest, the VO-1000 was only about 7 feet shorter than the GP7, so not that much difference in size.) Sunset/3rd Rail makes very nice equipment, if the SP caboose I have is anything to go by, and I will be watching out for their offerings.   

KE Kyle EvansOGR Forum Member
Richie C. posted:

These two threads may give you some ideas for a layout.

https://ogrforum.com/...or-a-highschool-club

 https://ogrforum.com/...c/switching-layout-3

Thanks for these links...some very good ideas there and I'll be perusing these in greater detail. I'm also looking at a website by a guy named Lance Mindheim, called shelflayouts.com. (I forgot to mention in my original post that my idea is for a perimeter shelf style layout.) While it appears that most of the layouts and information are geared towards HO and N scale, the design principles and ideas could be adapted and/or incorporated for O scale.  

Correspondence with a long time O scale modeller outside of this group directed me to also look at the old "Gum Stump and Snowshoe" switching module by Chuck Yungkurth from back in the 1960's, so some more good ideas there.  

AGHRMattAGHRMattOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER

Welcome to O scale. When I was looking at moving to the Houston area, there were two areas I was looking at for inspiration when designing a switching area -- the Imperial Sugar Plant in Sugar Land (SP and MP), and the end of the MKT line off I-10 and Katy Fort Bend Road. Google Maps has some good aerial coverage of both. To the west of Imperial Sugar (now a development), there was a car storage/repair facility, but tracks ran right into the plant. The silos were still there as wa the office building (a few years ago). Last time I was in Houston I saw an N-track module set that modeled the area beautifully. It would be massive in O scale. I'm not sure if I'm moving to Texas, but I still think about modeling part of it. Hope this helps a bit.

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CJ CNJ JimOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Welcome! I recently moved to the 2-rail Dark Side myself (except for my Christmas layout).

I also have a narrow, 2' wide shelf ISL (industrial switching layout) ….   It's all the space, time and money I can afford. 1952 New Jersey. I'm very satisfied with it.

Everything looks cool in SP tiger stripe, that's for sure.

If you did get an itching for a GP7 ... the Atlas 2-rail is great for switching, I have an older one … Reading RR with the original QSI system …. and we have it running smoothly at something less than 1 scale mile per hour. Very nice close up viewing on a shelf switching layout. The release this year from Atlas includes Missouri Pacific. Atlas is now using ESU decoders, operation may even be superior.

In the future, you may want to check with "Steve" at MrMuffinTrains for your Atlas preorders. Save a few dollars over Atlas' website. Caboose Stop Hobbies in Iowa, too. I have two undecorated SW's and a GP7 on preorder.

And, I agree, Lance Mindheim's ISL concepts are for all scales. Make your railroad have a purpose (industries with  loads coming in and empties going out), with at least 2 distinctly different areas, and super detail them as you wish.

Have fun.

Jim

 

Last edited by CNJ Jim
jdunnjdunnOGR Forum Member

Dear Kyle,

It is funny your friend  should mention to check out the Gum Stump and Snowshoe RR. The article is in the September 1963 Model Railroader by Chuck Yungkurth.

In 1989 I did my version of the GS&S and called it the Linfield Northern and Southern Railroad adding some additional sidings and run around track to make the switching interesting. It usually took 45-60 minutes to switch the layout with empties out / loads in.

I have included the article and photos  that was in issue 105 of O Scale News  and was also featured in OGR run 115.

I enjoyed it immensely and sold it to my friend Rich Yoder in 2015 with our move to our present home and am presently building the West Hayleyton , Avery and Emmaus Railroad which the building progress is in another thread on this Forum.

You will note my motive power was a Whitcomb and a GE 23 and 44 tonner. 

Welcome aboard to the King of Scales !!!  

John 609-432-2871 or jdunn8888@comcast.net

Strasburg Show 04/06, 08/10 , 10/12/19

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AGHRMattAGHRMattOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER
jdunn posted:

Dear Kyle,

It is funny your friend  should mention to check out the Gum Stump and Snowshoe RR. The article is in the September 1963 Model Railroader by Chuck Yungkurth.

In 1989 I did my version of the GS&S and called it the Linfield Northern and Southern Railroad adding some additional sidings and run around track to make the switching interesting. It usually took 45-60 minutes to switch the layout with empties out / loads in.

...

I remember that article. I didn't remember the builder. That's one of the most impressive O scale layout designs I've seen. I still occasionally dabble in design variants based on your layout. Well done sir.

KE Kyle EvansOGR Forum Member
jdunn posted:

Dear Kyle,

It is funny your friend  should mention to check out the Gum Stump and Snowshoe RR. The article is in the September 1963 Model Railroader by Chuck Yungkurth.

In 1989 I did my version of the GS&S and called it the Linfield Northern and Southern Railroad adding some additional sidings and run around track to make the switching interesting. It usually took 45-60 minutes to switch the layout with empties out / loads in.

I have included the article and photos  that was in issue 105 of O Scale Trains and was also featured in OGR run 115.

I enjoyed it immensely and sold it to my friend Rich Yoder in 2015 with our move to our present home and am presently building the West Hayleyton , Avery and Emmaus Railroad which the building progress is in another thread on this Forum.

You will note my motive power was a Whitcomb and a GE 23 and 44 tonner. 

Welcome aboard to the King of Scales !!!  

John 609-432-2871 or jdunn8888@comcast.net

Strasburg Show 04/06, 08/10 , 10/12/19

Very nice layout, John. I definitely need to take a look at this article; hopefully it's in the OGR digital library. The pictures are wonderful and show what can be done in 12' x 2'. Works as a stand-alone module or as part of a larger layout. I hope you won't be offended if I end up copying much of the track set up and your ideas when I get my initial module up and running.

Seeing your pictures makes me wish that one of the manufacturers would release some good quality Whitcomb and/or other smaller industrial diesels, as I think they might fit in better on small switching layouts.

Thanks so much for sharing the article and pictures!

Kyle Evans

Houston, TX

PS: If I ever get back to Pennsylvania, I'd love to time it for one of the Strasburg shows.

KE Kyle EvansOGR Forum Member
EBT Jim posted:

Welcome! I recently moved to the 2-rail Dark Side myself (except for my Christmas layout).

I also have a narrow, 2' wide shelf ISL (industrial switching layout) ….   It's all the space, time and money I can afford. 1952 New Jersey. I'm very satisfied with it.

Everything looks cool in SP tiger stripe, that's for sure.

If you did get an itching for a GP7 ... the Atlas 2-rail is great for switching, I have an older one … Reading RR with the original QSI system …. and we have it running smoothly at something less than 1 scale mile per hour. Very nice close up viewing on a shelf switching layout. The release this year from Atlas includes Missouri Pacific. Atlas is now using ESU decoders, operation may even be superior.

In the future, you may want to check with "Steve" at MrMuffinTrains for your Atlas preorders. Save a few dollars over Atlas' website. Caboose Stop Hobbies in Iowa, too. I have two undecorated SW's and a GP7 on preorder.

And, I agree, Lance Mindheim's ISL concepts are for all scales. Make your railroad have a purpose (industries with  loads coming in and empties going out), with at least 2 distinctly different areas, and super detail them as you wish.

Have fun.

Jim

 

Hey Jim, thanks for the information and heads up about Mr Muffin Trains and Caboose Stop Hobbies, will certainly keep them in mind the next time I order Atlas.

Seeing Sunset's new GP7/9's on one of the websites, and all of the possible paint schemes (including SP Black Widow and Texas & Pacific's green & gold scheme) makes me think about rethinking my stated reluctance to acquire one. "Reluctance" not because I don't like the engine (it's my favorite of the high hood units), but only because I tend to gravitate towards the smaller yard switchers (like the SW's and their ilk) and the shortline/branchline/industrial "critters" (i.e., GE 44-tonners and such as that).

Would enjoy seeing pictures of your layout and a track plan sometime...it's always interesting to see how different people approach solving problems associated with limited space and other parameters. All part of a learning process for beginners like myself.

Thanks again for the information.

Kyle Evans

Houston, TX

KE Kyle EvansOGR Forum Member
AGHRMatt posted:

Welcome to O scale. When I was looking at moving to the Houston area, there were two areas I was looking at for inspiration when designing a switching area -- the Imperial Sugar Plant in Sugar Land (SP and MP), and the end of the MKT line off I-10 and Katy Fort Bend Road. Google Maps has some good aerial coverage of both. To the west of Imperial Sugar (now a development), there was a car storage/repair facility, but tracks ran right into the plant. The silos were still there as wa the office building (a few years ago). Last time I was in Houston I saw an N-track module set that modeled the area beautifully. It would be massive in O scale. I'm not sure if I'm moving to Texas, but I still think about modeling part of it. Hope this helps a bit.

Hi Matt,

Thanks for your response and the link to the N scale layout. While N has never appealed to me, I have to say that what the builders have achieved is wonderful. They certainly captured the Imperial Sugar plant in all it's glory. It's still there, or at least it was as of a couple of years ago. (Houston is such a huge place there are parts I just don't get to that often, Sugar Land is one of them.)

I thin you're right that an O scale model built to full scale would be massive and require a huge amount of room, but I bet that parts of the operations there could be modelled.

Thanks again for posting this and it may bear further research into the plant railway operations there.   

jdunnjdunnOGR Forum Member

Dear Kyle,

Hope the LN&SO layout gives you some inspiration on your layout design. 

BTW, I know a few O scalers in the Houston area and they would be happy to help you.

There is one recent transplant from New Jersey and he uses his OGR "handle" as " ecd " that is a super O scaler,

He is a frequent contributor to the 2 Rail forum. 

Once again, welcome to 2 rail O Scale.

John

KE Kyle EvansOGR Forum Member
Rusty Traque posted:
Kyle Evans posted:

 

 (including SP Black Widow and Texas & Pacific's green & gold scheme) makes me think about rethinking my stated reluctance to acquire one.

Kyle Evans

Houston, TX

T&P's GP's were delivered in black and orange:

EMD GP7 T&P 1111

and later repainted blue & gray:

EMD GP9 T&P 398

Rusty

Thanks Rusty. In the picture of the different paint schemes the T&P scheme appeared green and gold, but it could be either my eyesight or the way the colors came out in the advertisement.

i'm not that familiar with T&P diesel paint schemes (obviously😉), but didn't remember seeing anything in green and yellow before, so that was new to me. I rather like the black and orange scheme in the pictures you provided. Thanks for sharing those.

HJ Hudson J1eOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER
jdunn posted:

Dear Kyle,

It is funny your friend  should mention to check out the Gum Stump and Snowshoe RR. The article is in the September 1963 Model Railroader by Chuck Yungkurth.

In 1989 I did my version of the GS&S and called it the Linfield Northern and Southern Railroad adding some additional sidings and run around track to make the switching interesting. It usually took 45-60 minutes to switch the layout with empties out / loads in.

I have included the article and photos  that was in issue 105 of O Scale Trains and was also featured in OGR run 115.

I enjoyed it immensely and sold it to my friend Rich Yoder in 2015 with our move to our present home and am presently building the West Hayleyton , Avery and Emmaus Railroad which the building progress is in another thread on this Forum.

You will note my motive power was a Whitcomb and a GE 23 and 44 tonner. 

Welcome aboard to the King of Scales !!!  

John 609-432-2871 or jdunn8888@comcast.net

Strasburg Show 04/06, 08/10 , 10/12/19

John, that is really cool. I definitely want to read your article. Congratulations on getting your RR into a magazine. It looks like a great layout from the pictures on here. Just one small thing. I think you meant to type Issue 105 of 48/ft O Scale News. 

For anyone new to O scale, O Scale News and O Scale Trains are two totally different magazines. 

mwbmwbOGR Forum Member
Hudson J1e posted:

John, that is really cool. I definitely want to read your article. Congratulations on getting your RR into a magazine. It looks like a great layout from the pictures on here. Just one small thing. I think you meant to type Issue 105 of 48/ft O Scale News. 

For anyone new to O scale, O Scale News and O Scale Trains are two totally different magazines. 

Indeed. O Scale News (OSN) dried up and blew away years ago while O Scale Trains (OST) continues on - Issue No. 105 of OST will be out later this year,

Last edited by mwb
KE Kyle EvansOGR Forum Member
Jay C posted:

Kyle,

Still looking for an Atlas SW8/9 in tiger stripes?  I just bought one and there's one left.

Jay

Thanks, Jay...looked on eBay but didn't see another one listed. Unfortunately wouldn't make any difference as the operating budget is shot for the time being. I'll be keeping my eyes open for future offerings, however. Glad you were able to get one.

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