Half and half layouts.

Years ago in the Detroit area I saw a combination 3R/2R layout. It was very well done, with exceptionally nice scenery and uncrowded scenes. The man who built it had been in HO scale for years, but he'd always loved his Lionel trains he'd had as a kid so he decided to switch to O scale when Weaver came out with their RS-3 and FA-2 locomotives. Then he got the idea to combine the 3R with the 2R on the same layout.

 

Visiting his layout was the first time I'd ever seen Lionel trains in a "realistic" type of setting, and it made a big impression on me.

 

Jeff C

I haven't built it yet but that is my plan. About 65% high rail and 35% toy train with lots of accessories. I have always been a fan of animation. I envision a mountain or other scenery dividing the two but with trains able to traverse both worlds not unlike characters moving in and out of Toonville in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit".

 

Pete

The Christmas season model railroad at the Brandywine River Museum (primarily dedicated to Wyeth paintings) in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, (outside Philadelphia) incorporates both 2- and 3-rail.  There is a large platform that is mainly 3-rail which the 2-rail loops through but otherwise it is a traditional 3-rail layout.

That sure would be a solution if you like both and can't decide.  You could divide the sides with a center backdrop and it could look really good.

 

Art

Mine is primarily standoff scale but my toy train roots just can't be extinguished completely. I satisfied them by putting 2 operating accessories at the far corners for eye candy. Lionel Aquarium and Nuclear reactor (just for the Lighting) The Hindenburger Cafe  and an oil Derrick are pretty much front and center above tunnels. These were just recently added and I am glad I did.

Half and half layouts

I thought this might mean half finished, and the other half not.

Or maybe the whole thing half finished........

Either way, mine qualifies.

 

Rod

This is a very interesting idea.  It would be a lot of fun.  I haven't been into tinplate, tubular, but instead hi-rail realism I suppose would be the term, but the other as a lot of appeal.  It is something I would think of seriously if I had a new layout to build, but alas, I didn't when I set up my current one. 

 

 

That is what I have done with my layout, such as it is.  One half is more realistic, not necessarily hi rail, because I am not really a scale guy.  The other half has all of the operating accessories etc.  It's not finished, but I am looking to dismantle it and go all tinplate in the near future.

 

Jeff Davis

On my 4x9, I have a inner loop of O-27, center loop of O, and Super O on the outside. An elevated O-27 line over top it all, will be replaced with an elevated On30 line in time. When it comes to accessories, being close to scale is the only rule I really have. And that can easily be vetoed by "cool". Some items on mine are "junk" saved from a can. Others, hand made gems, and some store bought. I have a beat up postwar paper pulp curved tunnel on one end, but am building a detailed hilltop with a depot for the elevated line to pick up from. I don't have any tin buildings yet, but I run my Marx tin plates right along side the others, so I am looking! 

I got the need for everything to be ultra detailed out of my system modeling autos. I "run" my trains of all types, details are just a bonus for when they aren't moving. I think my more mixed, than matched, variety layout, reflects that well. 

I do different themes on separate layouts. Some of them are small temporary layouts and I may want to change the theme after a while. That's what I like about O-gauge "toy trains", the ability to easily change track plans and buildings and scenic elements around for variety.

 

Or you can periodically change the trains that you run on the layout. I prefer not to run "classic" Lionel alongside Marx tin, for example.

I don't ever see myself doing that but the few layouts I have seen which did were really well done.

-Greg

Hmm, my layout plan if for an around the room with 2 liftouts for doors.  Perhaps I can do this with the bridges being a natural dividers.  One corner hi rail while the rest is toy like.

Ah.........Yes! That can be classified as a, Excellent Choice!! .

I have been planning the scale/toy layout with mountain divide for some time now.  I love the look of both and this way I can have them.   Some loops will be going from one side to the other with smaller inner loops that are one side only.  I also plan on a peninsula with a yard and turntable for engine storage and staging trains ready to be switched out.  Think of the letter "E" with the middle being the yard.

My layout is a hybrid - a loop of STD-84, surrounding an 0 gauge layout. The 0 gauge  main lines are 0-72 and 0-63, used mainly for scale size equipment, and an 0-42 inner loop set up to operate postwar style accessories and postwar, tinplate, and semi-scale equipment. The area outside the Standard Gauge track is being landscaped with prewar and repro buildings, including a 124 station, a 155 platform, a 436 power station, and an Ives water tower. I thought of doing the two main lines in hi-rail and the Standard and 0-42 lines in tinplate track, but I finally decided it would look better with all tubular track.