I appreciate the beauty of O Gauge More and More

Hi Ted,

It's great to hear from you, Haven't seen you post for a while. Can you post some pictures

of what you've been up to. 

Thanks,

Alex

Ted, I caught your 3-photo post in the vignettes thread.  Thanks for getting it back on topic!

I, too, like trains of all scales/gauges.  That's my problem - never learned to specialize.  I'll bet you're planning mentally for that spare-to-be-bedroom.  A bedroom makes an awesome room for trains.

My personal preference is for O gauge trains for the reasons that you mentioned. You can see every detail and in many cases easily see movement of those details. Dad got me into trains with a 2046 set that he purchased in 1948. He told me that he choose O gauge for the same reasons. HO and N can be nice for situations where space is at a premium but IMO O gauge provides the best wow factor! Good luck on the next O gauge layout. As for O gauge knowledge; this forum is really where its at! Got some of the best people that I have ever met (and have yet to meet) right here.

I have ALL gauges. While I find OO and S appealing, I too - think O is optimal for my layout.

I still have my Revell N scale train set I got in 1968.  The FA-1 is die cast metal and still runs fine. I have kept it for two reasons. Mom gave it to me for Christmas......and I collect  and build models cars.....Revell being a major manufacture.....so it crosses my two hobbies lines!

But yes....building a O layout now!

Dave:

Thanks for sharing the interesting story regarding your N gauge FA. That model was actually built by Arnold and imported to the states by Revell until the early 70s. Here's a nice webpage which you might enjoy reading:

http://www.spookshow.net/loco/arnoldfa2.html

Bob 

I have and have tried just about all gauges from G, Standard, O, On3,S, HO, HOn3 and a little Z for my wife  but right now, considering $$ available, eyesight, space  and reliability, O gauge is the best fit. So run your trains and enjoy !!

I never had O gauge but had run everything else and like a kid I saw a K-Line Rock Island set running at a now closed hobby shop, I immediately became obsessed with it. I think some of this was nostalgia induced. That being said, the practicality of the size is what sold me and this was a time when MTH was introducing some real innovations in O scale while at the same time, reintroduced Standard Gauge.

Protosound knocked the socks off HO and then pre-ballasted track...came along. Its easy to take this stuff for granted now, but back then it was an exciting time in the revival of O.

I never looked back.

Thanks for that link.

I quickly found out the Revell set was a Arnold Rapido train when I went to buy more track. Arnold had a offset track joint with different rail joiners and a blackened rail that looked pretty good.

I asked for a 'Revell' set after I saw a small N layout during my appearance the 'Engineer Bill Show' in Los Angles in 1963.  I had O-27 at the time but our then new house didn't have room for it....thus Mom bought N scale for me!

Alex,

16 days start to finish.  I built the Woodland Scenics Kit Scenic Ridge.  Needed something with a quick turnaround and I really had no time to conceive a plan on my own.  I just installed the layout this evening.  I learned a few things. 

• Track with ballast is easier to deal with.  I laid all flex track and it really did not come out the way I like.
• N Scale is a flea circus.  Too small.  It might work for the space I had, but things are just too small.
• I am really thinking hard about a small 027 PW layout for the same space.  

Last I did not have the time to really do everything I wanted.  The layout had to be in by today.  Another week and I could have tweaked some of the last details I wanted to do.

Ted

TMack,

You may miss the O gauge, but that layout presents very well. The mountain draws the eye to the store, which I assume is what you want to happen.

Really nice work. Toy trains are toy trains.

Really enjoyed the 2011 video. Thanks for posting Ted.

I enjoyed the 2011 video, also. What non-train sound effects did you use? Very cool!

What drew me to O gauge is the action accessories, O-31 curves, and the toy aspect.  Detail is irrelevant to me.

I also have small collections of HO and N.  Fact is, I've not yet met a model train scale that I don't like.

Pete

I also have layouts in multiple gauges:  O is my primary scale, I have a 4X8 finished (but still improving), and an unfinished 6 X 12.   I have a roughed-in Z scale in a very large desk drawer.   And my N scale 3.5 X 8 unfinished.     

I also have the remains of a G scale garden layout that I ran for three years.   Here in Georgia, it is too hot during the summer months.   And I have my HO from my kid years in a trunk.

All trains are great, but I have never had as much fun as I am having with my O trains, my primary focus for the last 14 years.

Ken

A couple of times I've caught myself lamenting about the expansive layout I could have built had I initially chosen a smaller gauge.

Then I pick up my Lionel T1 and those thoughts disappear. 

Thanks everyone.

John, the sound effects were part of iMovie except for the train whistle and horn which I downloaded  the files.

Ted

Ted....I really enjoy it!!  Thanks for posting this...

Alan

I regret spending all the $$ I did on G gauge. I have switches, 500 ft. of track, cars and a few engines left but here in western Pa. the weather only allows several months of outdoor running and the rain etc makes for a lot of maintenance.  With that $$  I could have had  super O gauge layout.

Ted,

Thanks for the video on the 2011 O gauge layout!  Lots of action!  That pedestrian gets out of the way of the Super Streets truck just in time.    I felt that way once about 40 years ago, when I almost got nailed by a PCC car at one of the triangular intersection in downtown Pittsburgh, when I commuted to college.  This country boy was watching the wrong light.  Whoops!  

Now on to the N scale layout for the store window.  It is great!  I am impressed you did so well in such a short time.  I too have modeled in N, HO, HOn3, and On30.  I never thought I would be interested in post war O gauge and Hi Rail, but here I am for 3 years running.  I still have one HO bachman 0-4-0 and a half dozen cars.  All the N is gone, either sold, or given to a coworker's son who was interested.  I do have an On30 Climax and 5 cars I may incorporate into a future O gauge hi rail layout,

It has been a slow go as we bought my mother-in-law's house over 3 years ago, and were cramped for space.  I just started this weekend to setup a temporary O gauge Christmas layout in our recently married daughter's old room.  After Christmas, we will see what comes next.  Once our older daughter moves out, I will have a 12 x 12 space for a layout exclusively.

Your O gauge layout was one of the inspirations for my taking up O gauge trains. I love the less than scale size of O27 toy trains.  But I still have my N gauge, but it will have to take a non-detailed back seat for temporary layouts.

Thanks Mark.  That is the first time I worked on a deadline like that and the first time I have worked with anything in N Scale.  So far the customers have all been enjoying the trains.  Old Time Candy and Coffee store with Trains - who can't have fun here.  We are getting a reputation for the trains form last year and now this year.  A goal for down the line is a Tin Plate ceiling layout, but even better my wife wants the trains in the front window all year so I am thinking of making an 027 Toy Train layout so I can change it up and have a couple layouts I can rotate in and out of the front window.

Bill, Wow what a super nice compliment thank you.  I have video from last year's layout I need to edit and put online.  

-Ted

I like O gauge 3 rail for the tradition. The 'toy like' colors, the big, chunky look, the noise, the sight, the smell, & the play factor all apeal to the kid in me & I think of old times when I run them. Then, when I want to have a more prototypical, scale, realistic operating session, then I go to the HO scale layout & have some fun. I like them both, but for different reasons. My dad had both when I was little & I just continued his more "diversified" approach & took it to the next level with my stuff.

This will sound cRaZy, but when we looked at houses, my wife had her short list of things she wanted, & I had mine. One of them was a big enough basement to have everything I wanted downstairs. We bought a ranch & it's from the era when they still dug full basements so it's pretty big. Mine is divided into 4 equal parts. 1/4 office room, 1/4 HO layout, 1/4 O gauge layout, & 1/4 service room for washer, drier, furnace & whatnot. I also have a nice work bench, drill press stand & a large paint booth mixed in between the 2 layouts. The HO layout is 11' x 11', shaped like a horseshoe, where you can walk into the middle of it, the O gauge is traditional 3 rail, styled like a dealer display layout & is 'L'  shaped, 12'x8'x4'. Neither layout is particularly large, but we have both of them jammed with all sorts of action & for their size, they're highly detailed & really nice to look at & operate. I guess you can call them a 'compromise', but that was the most I could squeeze out of what I have to work with. My friends are either into one, or the other, so they always complain that whatever layout they like better isn't big enough, but they just don't understand that I like both, plus model kits, maps, books, photography, die cast cars & whatnot so I've spread out my interests quite nicely in my own way & I'm perfectly happy.

Ive always had O gauge. Messed with the rest, stayed with the best

Ok..On30 will eventually be added to feed a mainline logs, ore, and country folk.

and...Id convert some A.Flyers. 

and... There's a couple G's, and boxes of track waiting.

and...I have about six old ho cars I keep.

Ok...I've got a N scale F-9 too, but I don't have any Z or TT.... Because I might swallow one . 

O gauge is my second best gauge, I really like 1 ft.=1 ft. the best but a little impractical. We do have 160 acres available for a layout, though. Have reconned it for a possible layout but decided to stick with O.  I have a bunch of Standard too but it takes up a lot of space.

Please excuse me, those of you who have seen this shot before, but for other newer members it illustrates my dilemma.

This was posted in the forum a couple years ago, but is funny.  Perfect Sheldon Train quotes from the big bang theory.

What's the dilemma? Whether or not to use a B unit? You forgot to get a blue one of each for freight too? I just don't see anything unusual here. 

Wow! I got Fe-envy now 

I think the dilemma is how did that orange red one get in there?  ;-)

That is quite a nice collection, however!!

Dabbled in N scale for a while during my reckless High School/College Days. Came back to O Gauge back in 1988 and haven't regretted it. It's small enough for indoors, big enough to see, and based on what's been happening recently, suitable for outdoor operation subject to some precautions.

"IT'S O GAUGE OR NO GAUGE!" I don't need to be a physicist to figure that out! LMAO!

Geno

O scale/gage is and always shall be, my favorite to model in. The options available in O are almost limitless. With all the advances being made technologically, O gage is a nice fit for most. Large, but not too large. Realistic and durable. Once I started again with O, I really found my own niche.

If I as a lot younger and had the $$ I would really like 2 rail scale O gauge plus On3 too. I had some brass On3 some years ago. Still have new track in the attic. 3 rail is great though for just turning it on and running trains. the S gaugers would disagree with your assessment of the ideal gauge but numbers speak. I do havea loop of S and freight and passenger cars.

Appreciate this!

Pete

I wouldn't mind having one of those "orange red" ones! Lithographed tin is one of my favorite things about O gauge!