2-Rail Home Layouts - How Many Really Exist?

@OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

Same here.  I know through private email I have encouraged you to submit to the magazine so I believe your memory is a little faulty here.  We have a very easy set of guidelines and all one has to do is follow those guidelines.  I have never received a submittal from you but I encourage you to do so.  Here is the link:  https://www.ogaugerr.com/faq/get-published/

I apologize Mr Arnold, I recall the nice replies in my content here offering to submit for review. I don’t see any private emails however they could have ended up in my spam folder the same with the other guys. I am sorry about the misunderstanding.

@christopher N&W posted:

Guys,

I'm sad to see the who did what and when over being published or not show up in this thread. We have a pretty good thread going here.

There are thousands of posts per week and so we do not have the staff to be able to look for offerings to submit.  As I said above, we have a process to submit and so Erik or anybody else, if you want to be published, use that process ... I gave the link above.

I agree with Chris and John, lets get back on track here.  The submission of content should be done privately.

Thank you again to ALL that have been posting.  The creativity and artistry displayed in this thread is way more than I could have "imagined".  A lot of truly gifted people showing me what can be done.  Well, not necessarily by me, but others with great talent.  I'm more of a technical guy.  Anyhow, keep it coming.

Thanks Mr Arnold!

‘’back on track’ with some behind the scenes stuff from my sectional 2 rail layout  

I just showed the wife some of this thread... and, she especially liked the one's where  Eric does his cameo appearances.   "WOW!!!!  It's like watching an episode of the Twilight Zone... except, in COLOR!"

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

I just showed the wife some of this thread... and, she especially liked the one's where  Eric does his cameo appearances.   "WOW!!!!  It's like watching an episode of the Twilight Zone... except, in COLOR!"

I need to lay off the Mountain Dew.. 🤣 she sounds like a really cool wife! Like mine. ☺️

Having a good time with the hobby, life is so short , please do enjoy it where you can.

@Erik C Lindgren posted:

I need to lay off the Mountain Dew.. 🤣 she sounds like a really cool wife! Like mine. ☺️
Having a good time with the hobby, life is so short , please do enjoy it where you can.

OH Yeah!  They have to be cool... l(.)(.)k who they married!

I'm just stunned by your (and, all the guys) work in this thread... it's just incredible.  It certainly encourages me to become a better modeler... not too good mind you.

Come to the O Scale National at Denver in June and meet the amazing Erik and view the High Plains Route.

I love seeing everyone’s work here. There’s a lot of great stuff in this thread.

So I think the answer to the original post is that yeah, heaps of us have home layouts in O scale 2-rail.

Some, like mine, are pineboard junctions. Temporary track but running trains.

Others are amazingly realistic!

One day I'll do at least enough scenery to have at least one nice scene on my layout.

I think the real winner is that despite not being mainstream, 2-rail is still a healthy and happy part of the model railroading hobby.

Mick

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RI local

@Grantham posted:

........2-rail is still a healthy and happy part of the model railroading hobby.

Despite claims to the contrary, it very much is just that.

@Erik C Lindgren posted:

I need to lay off the Mountain Dew.. 🤣 she sounds like a really cool wife! Like mine. ☺️

Having a good time with the hobby, life is so short , please do enjoy it where you can.

Photographing under real lighting condition cant be beat

@mwb posted:

Despite claims to the contrary, it very much is just that.

Yes sir! 👍😊

Please keep the fires lit at O Scale Trains it's wonderful and the best its ever been. Thank you sir.

If you search Al Pugliese Trains on You Tube. He does a lot of work with Howard Zane. They recently did a video on a layout I’m guessing in the Virginia, Maryland area that Howard built a lot of the structures on. Very well done.

My guess is 2459 ,2-Rail home layouts.  Let me know the correct answer.

Charlie

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

My guess is 2459 ,2-Rail home layouts.  Let me know the correct answer.

Charlie

Well when I asked the question, thought it was a LOT LESS.

I have been tallying the replies and still not quite to that number, but you may be right.  Should have posted this saying whoever guesses the right amount wins, "something".

So at this point I will say "too high?"  Remember you are only entitled to one guess per 30 day period.

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

My guess is 2459 ,2-Rail home layouts.  Let me know the correct answer.

Charlie

This could be a good competition!

I would guess a few more.

I live in a town of 10,000 and there are three 2-rail O scalers, one layout. That gives a vague percentage to start off. Also Britain has a lot of O scale layouts, mostly 2-rail as they gave up the third rail long ago, and plenty of them are micro shunting layouts. There must be some European O scalers, as there are Euro manufacturers like Fulgurex, and some Aussies of course.

Then if we take the 330 odd million in the US and 60 odd million Britain as the main O scale 2-rail countries, and then a few more from Downunder, France and Germany, add a few more randoms in other countries, I'd put my guess at about six thousand O scale 2-rail layouts in the world.

Say 6,250 as a guess!

Mick

and don't forget, all the Narrow gauge guys and Traction modeler's. All  still O scale on 2 rail track.   Just goes to show, you don't need 3 rails to run on tight curves

This thread got me more curious about 2 rail O and one of the posters here contacted me via email to answer a question I had posted. Turned out he lived near Detroit, which I was going to visit the next week!  He arranged for me to visit three 2 rail and one 3 rail scale layout in less than 24 hours!  It was great!  So this thread has gone way beyond it's original question.

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

My guess is 2459 ,2-Rail home layouts.  Let me know the correct answer.

Charlie

You 2 railers can add one more to the count. Started my conversion from 3 rail last week. New track is on the way. Being that I am deadrail/Battery powered completely I decided to go 2 rail. It will be quite extensive.  Changes to my layout will help me with Changes to scenery , building, and running trains.

Since the OP didn't specify a "landscaped" layout, I guess my around the room loop (sans scenery) might qualify...(?)

Mark in Oregon

@Bill Grafmiller posted:

You 2 railers can add one more to the count. Started my conversion from 3 rail last week. New track is on the way. Being that I am deadrail/Battery powered completely I decided to go 2 rail. It will be quite extensive.  Changes to my layout will help me with Changes to scenery , building, and running trains.

Congratulations! I look forward to seeing your journey.

@Bill Grafmiller posted:

You 2 railers can add one more to the count. Started my conversion from 3 rail last week. New track is on the way. Being that I am deadrail/Battery powered completely I decided to go 2 rail. It will be quite extensive.  Changes to my layout will help me with Changes to scenery , building, and running trains.

Bill please let me know what track you are going to be using.  Are you using "Hi-Rail" wheels, or has the equipment been converted/modified?   Thanks!

Jim. Yes on the  converted/ modified. I use gargraves phantom high rail tinplate track and switches and a few Ross switches. My plan is to replace the 3 rail with  2 rail track. I will still use the same switches.  I plan on doing a small section first  . I want to make sure that this  will work with my existing high rail Rolling stock. Right now I am in the process of stripping out all track connected wires.

@Bill Grafmiller posted:

Jim. Yes on the  converted/ modified. I use gargraves phantom high rail tinplate track and switches and a few Ross switches. My plan is to replace the 3 rail with  2 rail track. I will still use the same switches.  I plan on doing a small section first  . I want to make sure that this  will work with my existing high rail Rolling stock. Right now I am in the process of stripping out all track connected wires.

Thanks for letting me know.  Heading to Amherst tomorrow so will be at Ross booth.

Have a good time at the show. Keep safe.

There are 2-Rail Club layouts in Neenah and Appleton, WI.  A few private home layouts as well.

I have a Santa Fe 2 rail layout that is complete with scenery. I live in Waterloo Iowa so add me to the list

Atsfman,

Please show photos.

Dave

@Brad Kowal posted:

There are 2-Rail Club layouts in Neenah and Appleton, WI.  A few private home layouts as well.

Hi Brad - Thanks for adding to the list.  Wish I was aware when I lived in Wisconsin.  Although thinking really want to make it to AirVenture this year.  Haven't been since 2017, moved to NY in early 2018.  So may try to see the club layouts when I come out.

Here’s some photos of my 2 rail Santa Fe layout

@Atsfman posted:

Here’s some photos of my 2 rail Santa Fe layout

Really Beautiful Layout.  Curious, does it form a complete Loop or do you operate end to end?  Thanks.

@MainLine Steam posted:

Hi Brad - Thanks for adding to the list.  Wish I was aware when I lived in Wisconsin.  Although thinking really want to make it to AirVenture this year.  Haven't been since 2017, moved to NY in early 2018.  So may try to see the club layouts when I come out.

NY, why?

@Atsfman posted:

Here’s some photos of my 2 rail Santa Fe layout

Nice

@Dave Koehler posted:

NY, why?

Funny I get that question all the time when I talked to people out here (questioning my sanity?).  Grandkids!

BTW by the time you get to Poughkeepsie, and even further Upstate, not that different from WI.  Except for the crazy cost of living!  But the winters are milder here in Poughkeepsie, we hit 50 deg today.

The lower trackage is a dog bone and each end is controlled by PSX ARs. The upper trackage is continuous loop so no it is not end to end

@Atsfman posted:

The lower trackage is a dog bone and each end is controlled by PSX ARs. The upper trackage is continuous loop so no it is not end to end

Thanks for letting me know.  Sounds like a great set-up!