2-Rail Home Layouts - How Many Really Exist?

Long ago I came to the realization I was never going to have the space (1200 sq feet, geez) for a large layout of any kind.  That being said I have an eight ft by 2 ft O scale switching layout built on 2 inch pink foam.  Older atlas turnouts, atlas flex track, straight DC, two atlas locomotives, a SW and a plymouth plus a bakers dozen weaver cars.  Easily brought out for some fun and easily stored under the 3 rail layout.  I like shelf layouts because they can be completed quickly and offer some operational opportunities without breaking the bank.  My other shelf layout is a 1 x 7 ft HO version of the Gum Stump. 

Over 20 years ago here in central NJ there was a round robin group of 2 railers, I'm not sure if any of the layouts exist to this day but they provided they inspiration to try something.  There is one club in North Jersey and one in South Jersey. 

If you want to look at some videos, here are some shot on my layout and a couple shot on friend's layouts a couple of years ago.

Layout Video Links

Apr 11, 2021

SP Extra 5472 at Walong

Meet at Walong

Layout Tour Part 1

Layout Tour Part 2

Layout Tour Part 3

Apr 23, 2021

New Arrivals

Visitors from the East

May 18, 2021

Chasing Daylight

July 25, 2021

A Day At Bealville - Part 1

A Day At Bealville - Part 2

Layout Tour - Joe Scales' Southern Rwy - Part 1
Layout Tour - Joe Scales' Southern Rwy - Part 2
Joe Scales' Southern Rwy - Operations

Layout Tour - Jerry Guth's SP - Part 1
Layout Tour - Jerry Guth's SP - Part 2
Jerry Guth's SP Layout - Part 1
Jerry Guth's SP Layout - Part 2

There are at least 5 home layouts in SE Michigan plus a club and a store full.

Thanks again to all that have replied.

After reading some of the earlier replies I tried to find information on the percentage of modellers in a particular scale.  When I subscribed to Model Railroader back in the 1990's they would do surveys' to try to get a handle on the number of people in the hobby.  They would publish the results.  Anyhow trying to find up to date information, had no luck.  As I recall at that time it was about 58% HO, 27% N,  and the remaining 15% O, G, S, Z, TT and whatever else (in decreasing order).  This of course was ONLY 2R.  3R was not considered in those figures.  Kalbach separated those out as Toy Trains.  Yes, now I know about 3R Scale items, but at that point being deep in HO, didn't have a clue!  What I don't remember is the club vs private layout data collected.  That was a asked on the survey, and both was an option.

From these responses there are still 2R personnel layouts out there, if you know where to find them!

@Jerry Davis posted:

If you want to look at some videos, here are some shot on my layout and a couple shot on friend's layouts a couple of years ago.

Layout Video Links

Apr 11, 2021

SP Extra 5472 at Walong

Meet at Walong

Layout Tour Part 1

Layout Tour Part 2

Layout Tour Part 3

Apr 23, 2021

New Arrivals

Visitors from the East

May 18, 2021

Chasing Daylight

July 25, 2021

A Day At Bealville - Part 1

A Day At Bealville - Part 2

Layout Tour - Joe Scales' Southern Rwy - Part 1
Layout Tour - Joe Scales' Southern Rwy - Part 2
Joe Scales' Southern Rwy - Operations

Layout Tour - Jerry Guth's SP - Part 1
Layout Tour - Jerry Guth's SP - Part 2
Jerry Guth's SP Layout - Part 1
Jerry Guth's SP Layout - Part 2

Thanks Jerry I will have a look.  There was a YouTube link listed yesterday and replied, I knew what I would be doing for the next 1/2 hour.  Well that turned into 2 hours.  Don't expect to see me one the Forum for the next week.  LOL

@MainLine Steam posted:

Thanks again to all that have replied.

From these responses there are still 2R personnel layouts out there, if you know where to find them!

I am glad you asked that question and glad you came to that conclusion!   

I also have a 2 rail home layout,  and regularly post on this forum.  (Search  HOW I DID IT...  ). Here are a few photos,. The first two I also put on the currently running GG1 thread:

Faking 2 rail on the Carbondale.

@John Sethian posted:

I am glad you asked that question and glad you came to that conclusion!   

I also have a 2 rail home layout,  and regularly post on this forum.  (Search  HOW I DID IT...  ). Here are a few photos,. The first two I also put on the currently running GG1 thread:

Holy Cow!!!

Using old Real RR photographs and saying they are from your layout just isn't ethical.  I swear I saw the leaves blowing on the trees.  Wait they are still photos, so I guess not.

@Ron H posted:

Faking 2 rail on the Carbondale.

Please elaborate on the track.  That's what I have been looking for.  Thank you.

@MainLine Steam posted:

Please elaborate on the track.  That's what I have been looking for.  Thank you.

Looks like Atlas or Micro Engineering Code 148 with a Code 100 (or smaller) center rail added.

There are 2 good sized O scale 2 rail home layout in Williamsburg, VA.  I've posted photos of my PRR railroad on the forum quite a few times over the years.  This is my 4th O scale layout since converting to O scale from HO in 1971.  Each layout was larger than its predecessor as career advancement (and kids leaving the nest!) made it possible to purchase homes with better basements.  My pre-retirement layout in Fairfax, VA was featured in the March 2000 issue of MR and was open for visits during NMRA and O Scale conventions.  Look for a follow-up article in 2023.

Fairfax layout's Horseshoe Curve - 3 tracks climbing the wrong way.

Williamsburg layout's Horsehoe Curve - this time space allowed for 4 tracks climbing in the right direction.

While not very large or fully completed, my 2 rail Baltimore & New York layout was operational and had some scenery finished as well.

S. Islander

A good way to "find" 2 Rail O Scale layouts is to attend the O Scale National Convention.  I attended the 2018 convention in the DC area (Rockville).  IIRC there were at least a dozen layouts on the tour.

Our 3 Rail club is visiting a 2 Rail O Scale layout in York, PA this evening.

Bob

Thanks for the additional information and suggestions.  You guys have some beautiful Layouts.

2 rail equipment doesn't seem to be that hard to find.  Atlas, MTH, Sunset all offer it new and it pops up on eBay quite often as well.  Thinking about making that switch or maybe having a little of both.  Currently 3 rail.

Southwest suburbs of Chicago

But in reality this is what it is

Thanks again to everyone for the replies and the beautiful photos.  Some truly spectacular layouts.

Since you asked.

Main line and Matt,

My track is code 148 2 rail with an N scale 3rd rail soldered to brads pushed down into the cork road bed. I only did this on the 14 foot straightaways on my pike. The railroad is just a big oval around my third garage. Basically my hobby room . It is airconditioned and heated.

@Purplepapa posted:

Since you asked.

Love the control panel!  No need for fancy electronics in the locos.

BTW when seeing you model ACL, it brought back memories.  I use to live in Janesville WI, Monhart had ACL E3a #501 stored on a track adjacent to the ex-MILW roadhouse there for a few years.  What a beautiful Loco.  He also had a couple of BL-2, not quite so graceful.  The BL-2's actually were being used to pull freight trains in the 1980/90's.  The E3 was only fired up occasionally.

@Ron H posted:

Main line and Matt,

My track is code 148 2 rail with an N scale 3rd rail soldered to brads pushed down into the cork road bed. I only did this on the 14 foot straightaways on my pike. The railroad is just a big oval around my third garage. Basically my hobby room . It is airconditioned and heated.

Thank you Ron for the explanation on how you "made" the track.  So that is what your Thumping comment was based on when I asked about going Deadrail with 3R locomotives and using 2R track.  Now I have to decide whether to do what you did, or go Deadrail.

You center rail "disappears".  A lot of Real RR track has a nice line of oil running down the middle from what the locos and A/C Compressors leave behind.  If anything track was probably a lot dirtier in the steam days.

@RRDOC posted:

A good way to "find" 2 Rail O Scale layouts is to attend the O Scale National Convention.  I attended the 2018 convention in the DC area (Rockville).  IIRC there were at least a dozen layouts on the tour.

Our 3 Rail club is visiting a 2 Rail O Scale layout in York, PA this evening.

Bob

Next summer's O Scale will be in Denver, CO. Should be a great time.

Dick

@MainLine Steam posted:

Thank you Ron for the explanation on how you "made" the track.  So that is what your Thumping comment was based on when I asked about going Deadrail with 3R locomotives and using 2R track.  Now I have to decide whether to do what you did, or go Deadrail.

You center rail "disappears".  A lot of Real RR track has a nice line of oil running down the middle from what the locos and A/C Compressors leave behind.  If anything track was probably a lot dirtier in the steam days.

I should darken the middle of the track a little more.

thanks for the suggestion.

Ron H

I’ve had O scale/Proto48 basement layouts since getting into O scale in 2008, but have had 3 homes/moves since then so have had to start over quite a lot. Most recently I purchased a new home in November. I hope this will be my last move, knock on wood, and planning to build a 40’ x 29’ Proto48 layout. I’ve retained approximately 58’ of modular sections which I’ve had since the beginning and already have them assembled and will permanently install once I get the basement finished. I have the modules on furniture sliders for the interim and will slide into place once the walls are completed.

John

@RRDOC posted:

A good way to "find" 2 Rail O Scale layouts is to attend the O Scale National Convention.  I attended the 2018 convention in the DC area (Rockville).  IIRC there were at least a dozen layouts on the tour.

Our 3 Rail club is visiting a 2 Rail O Scale layout in York, PA this evening.

Bob

In addition, there's NMRA's O-scale SIG:  https://oscalecentral.com/

I have a 13x30 layout that fills the upstairs of my house.  I run 3-rail engines and rolling stock, having converted the engines to BPRC using Deltang-based transmitters and receivers and 9.6 to 12v battery packs, on Code 148 2-rail track now for several years (need to look up when I 1st started it! Oops, it's in my signature line, 2015).  Also used Mianne benchwork to support it all.

I recently started adding scenery, now that I'm sure that the trackwork plan is what I wanted and runs flawlessly, but it's been a slow process, having taking up target shooting and other hobbies.

No recent photos, but here's a couple of the layout once the trackwork (Atlas, Micro-Engineering, and Signature Switch turnouts) was in place and some basic ground cover put down:

The yard above has been graveled over.

And the layout plan, although it's been slightly re-engineered a couple of times where the sidings are located:

My only regrets are:

1) Not doing this sooner and saving some $$$ (originally had DCS and TMCC and 3-rail track, which was basically junked)

2) Not redoing the knee walls and ceiling BEFORE installing the layout.  I despise sheetrock/drywall and want it gone, but the thought of dismantling the layout now does not sit well with me...not sure I could put it back together without having parts left over!!!  If I ever get froggy I may pull it down and install wood planking.

I have been building a "small" 2 rail layout in a 20' x 21' space.  As I wanted a decent mainline run, I made it an over under with a reverse loop for out and back to the yard.  I really wasn’t doing myself any favors with this design.  I like steam so I needed a turntable in the yard.  Then you have the changes in elevation needed to "go over"!  The small size necessitated pretty much all curves and 3 % grades. (do you know how hard it is to get uniform grades on curves). My yard area is straight and level as is my passenger station area.  Did I mention all track and turnouts and crossings are hand laid.

All my locomotives (like most of us I have about 3 times what I need!!!) are brass, many of the older models painted by me.  They are all equipped with sound decoders and many have been remotored. Loggers: 2 2-6-2T, 1 2-6-6-2T 1 2-4-4-2 Little River, a Willamette, a 3 Truck Climax and a Whitcomb Switcher as well as 2 Lee Snover Boxcabs. Mainline steam 1 2-8-0, 2 2-6-0 and 2 4-6-0.

Not going to go into structure construction and unbuilt kits!!!

I have got a few areas of scenery done to give me the motivation to go on.

I really wished I had 2 rail club in my area!  The layout is taking me forever and I’ve now calculated I will be 125 by the time it’s done!

Plugging away,

Peter

I know you got your answers, but I just moved to the Syracuse, NY area and I don't know anyone here with a 2 rail layout.  I went to the one hobbyshop and he looked at me funny when I said I did O scale 2 rail.  When I lived in Savannah, GA I knew one other person that had O scale 2 rail, but he had an HO layout not O scale.

I am planning to start a small 2 rail (switching) layout  in January or February of 2023.  I think I have room for 3-4' x 16'...small but manageable.  Rather have something than keep my trains in the boxes.

Here is a rare one - my friend Larry's TT gauge 2 rail layout: "Friends Layouts" Installment # 8 - a TT Gauge Layout and a Fantastic Pre-War Collection (warrenvillerailroad.com)

Even more interesting, is how many O scale layouts are designed and used for operation?   

I designed mine that way and have held regular operating sessions since about the mid 1990s.     Most of the guys in my round-robin group that operate and have layouts have HO layouts, some quite large.     But the operations are fun regardless of size.    I want 8 people to operate mine, and I very seldom have less that 8 want to come to an op session.

@prrjim posted:

Even more interesting, is how many O scale layouts are designed and used for operation? 

At the time that I built my layout, operations were not a consideration. It's not at all set up for operations.  I'll not be building another layout either.  My interest in operations has come and gone....

David's A&O takes a crew of about 20 for a full operating session. For me that's the best part of the hobby.

Sessions are usually 4+ hours but occasionally one runs for 8, with a lunch break in the middle. Most trains switch freight during their runs.

Dear Fellow OGR 2 Rail O Scalers,

Per the OP request for 2 Rail O Scale layouts I have attached some stills and videos of my 18’x12.5’ layout started in 11/2015.

I utilized mostly commercially made products-Atlas,NCE DCC, Frog juicers ,Woodland Scenics, Mianne benchwork

Trees were hand made as well as most of the buildings .Scenery still a work in progress.

layout was built both genres of model railroading- operations and rail fanning.

Like Marty B stated, mostly rail fanning with my favorite beverage.

a bit of free advise, consider all aspects of the room you put your layout in PRIOR to building it. I am very glad I did, especially the lighting 5K LED!! One of our neighbors thought we were growing medical pot because the garage was so bright !!

Southern New Jersey is the home of the Cherry Valley club just celebrating its 60th year and also at least 4-6 home O Scale 2 rail layouts in the SNJ/ Pa area.

Cherry Valley meets on Tuesday evenings and open for memberships-scale is not important!!

All are welcome to visit my layout, just give me a call or email.

John P Dunn Sr. President

West Hayleyton , Emmaus , and Avery RR

609-432-2871 jdunn8888@comcast.net

I attended the NMRA National Convention in St. Louis.  Two home and one 2-rail club were on the tour schedule.  Here are a few photos.  NH Joe

This is a Missouri Pacific layout that is located in a large attic.  

This is the Big Bend Railroad Club.  It is the oldest model railroad club in the St. Louis area.  The club is located in the old Webster Grove Station.  The club bought the station from the Frisco.

This is a large Rock Island layout that is located in a large basement.  The owner worked for the Rock Island railroad.

@jgtrh62 posted:

I’ve had O scale/Proto48 basement layouts since getting into O scale in 2008, but have had 3 homes/moves since then so have had to start over quite a lot. Most recently I purchased a new home in November. I hope this will be my last move, knock on wood, and planning to build a 40’ x 29’ Proto48 layout. I’ve retained approximately 58’ of modular sections which I’ve had since the beginning and already have them assembled and will permanently install once I get the basement finished. I have the modules on furniture sliders for the interim and will slide into place once the walls are completed.

John

John,

Last time we spoke you were making the move to HO. I'm glad you are back on track, pun intended.

Dave

@luvindemtrains posted:

John,

Last time we spoke you were making the move to HO. I'm glad you are back on track, pun intended.

Dave

Thanks Dave,

you're spot on but just couldn't stay away from O scale/Proto48, although actually never left.

John

I know this much: 2-rail scale home layouts are much more common than 2-rail tinplate O gauge clockwork layouts.  I would be surprised if a half-dozen of those exist in the U.S. 

Back on topic, quite a few years ago I was fortunate to be a guest at a phenomenal 2-rail O gauge home layout in the Kansas City area.  Appalachian coal-hauling railroad with a functional CTC machine and trains operating flawlessly through beautiful scenery.  Very impressive.  Although I concentrate my efforts in a different niche of this hobby, I can certainly appreciate the work that goes into a well-executed layout like that, as well as the other layouts pictured in this thread. 

@Ron H posted:

Main line and Matt,

My track is code 148 2 rail with an N scale 3rd rail soldered to brads pushed down into the cork road bed. I only did this on the 14 foot straightaways on my pike. The railroad is just a big oval around my third garage. Basically my hobby room . It is airconditioned and heated.

Forgot to ask this before.  On the non Straight-aways, what do you have for Track/Switches, and how do you transition to it?

Thank You to everyone that has responded.  I am in awe of the work that has gone into the layouts that you have shown me!

I will be starting a new post soon, looking for advice on moving forward with starting my layout.  I value your opinions!