Layout designs of ogaugers ?

Our layout is 3 rail 0 using Gargraves track and Ross switches. It is around the walls and has an upper level as well. We started building it about 12 years ago.

Stick around for a while and look through all the threads of folks building layouts. There's tons of different kinds.

The PER is an around-the-room [mostly] switching Pike implemented using Lionel O Fastrack, MTH [very-near] scale SW1500s and MTH [very-near] scale cars. The track-plan is a simple loop with two industrial areas and an Interchange Fiddle track in the adjoining room:

The East End:

There are four customer car-spots and storage for several more cars:

The West End:

The "Paint Factory" has four car-spots and storage for two more cars. At bottom left is the East End lead.

The loop is closed with that lift-out bridge across the doorway. A track switch hidden under the mountain connects with Interchange (seen through the doorway). The PER is operated as a point-to-point switching pike from Interchange to customers in the East End and West End and return. Sometimes a train makes a circuit around the room and sometimes not.

Interchange in the adjoining room:

The outgoing train has been broken down and the next step is to assemble an incoming train using one of [currently] eleven switch-lists kept in sequence in that tablet. An operating session takes from 20 to 50 minutes depending on incoming consist and customer pick-ups.

I think the choice of centered, partially centered, or around the wall is probably somewhat dictated by the shape of the space available and obstructions along the walls, it was in my case.

My layout under construction is against one wall and is away from the other walls for good reason.  That's simply because that's what work in my space.  Many of the around the wall designs work well in places like an empty room with no windows and few doors, it's much easier to do that if you don't have access issues with things along the walls.

In my basement, the red outlines are what worked for me, I had to leave the window and sump accessible, obviously the stairs and doors needed to be cleared, and the other side has my workshop.  There is a planned yard going down where the table with the blue chairs is represented, that happens as soon as I get the main layout track down and trains running.

Every situation is unique, so you do what works in the space available.

Well, considering that trains under the Christmas tree is hardwired into O gauge's DNA...  ;-D

Mitch

I think the main difference between HO scale modelers and 3-rail O scale modelers is the difference in the backgrounds and mindsets of these two segments of the hobby. There is a philosophical difference in the mindset of the two different groups.

HO scale modelers often try to recreate reality, modeling a particular scene from the real world down to the last detail. Operationally, most HO scale modelers try to operate their railroads prototypically, using single-track mains with passing sidings, establishing producing and consuming industry pairs, setting up some kind of car routing system for switching cars, using prototypical signal systems, a dispatcher, etc. For the HO modeler, running the railroad is a very active thing, where each engineer/operator is deeply involved in running his own train, obeying the signals, and doing whatever switching is required on his switch list.

The history and background of 3-rail O scale is very different. This segment of the hobby grew from the simple loop around the Christmas tree. Noted 3-rail modeler Bill Bramlage coined the term "Loop Runner" to describe the multiple concentric loop type of track plan that dominates in 3-rail O scale. For the 3-rail O scaler, operating his layout is a more passive activity, where they get several trains running on the concentric loops and just sit back and enjoy watching the trains run.

Neither way is "right" or "wrong." It's just two different ways to enjoy a great hobby.

rich you nailed it. I remeber and still have that video you did on dcs. you talked about and filmed part of it on bills layout at the time. I remember him saying he was a loop runner. wow how time flies.

john you make great points too about the obstacles in the room.

@Lionelzwl2012 posted:

HO guys that have around the wall shelf style layouts that only model the railroad and industries?

A shelf style layout allows you to get up to the trains with a magnifying glass.

RickO haha funny you mention that. Two years ago I went to the nmra show in kansas city. I had not been around other scales up close in a long time. When I saw some very great HO layouts that was my first thought. Man these trains seem smaller than I remember😁