This is my first try at O Gauge. Have built two previous HO Scale shelf layouts. Those were nothing more than track and trains. This layout is in our kitchen/dining area. Been at working on the project for about a month. Equipment is MTH. Track is Atlas. Structures from Lemax Collectibles.
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Rick, welcome to O scale. That's a really nice set up you have there. You made really good time to do that in a month. Excellent use of space and awesome details. Enjoy.
looks good Rick! And a wife that will let you put a train in the kitchen? She's a keeper!
That is nicely done Rick! 
I reallly like the 'guard rail'. It adds a nice touch of class for the area that it's in. How far does your line run?
This also gives me another way to present a "layout" idea to my wife. 
Henry J
Rick: you have done a good job for such a short time! just a note though, and I am sure this is carried over from the smaller scales. 3rail is called O Gauge, 2 rail is O Scale, and Proto 48 is prototype modeling. Hope this helps.
Stephen
The layout runs around the circumference of the kitchen/dining area, about 60 in total track length. Two years of thinking before I finally came up with the right approach. With HO I had a few trains leave the tracks. Found out it's not the fall that hurts the trains, but the sudden stop at the bottom. Hope the railings add a scenic touch while keeping 5 lbs locomotives from taking flying lessons.
nice job like the use of the space that no one ever knows wat to do with
Great work Rick. I ran trains on five tracks in a 14x28 kit-dining with twin shelves for 15 years at our mountain cottage[removed in '08]. Wife deeded me the kitchen to save her Den carpet. I really like your "guard rail" which is a major improvement over my plexiglas fence. Enjoy--mighty good job.
I agree I like the guard rail. I have seen many photos of various shelf arrangements with no guard rail, and have been concerned about the remote chance of derailment. I would hate to have my Hudson drop 6 and a half feet to the floor! 
Thank you,
Mark
I used a 3-1/2" high plexiglas "fence" as a safety guard. My two shelves were 7'-6" and 9'-0" above floor level[2 lower and 3 upper tracks-"stairstepped"]. When an engine jumps it loses power and force and stops quickly so it takes little to restrain one in my experience.
My one serious derailment in 15 years was due to "stringlining" in a curve start up of coal hoppers in a 30 car consist behind a Challenger on the highest track. The engine derailed but stayed put, but 12-14 lightweight hoppers tumbled down across two lower tracks to rest against the fence and and others derailed and could have otherwise gone to the floor.
Weighting the first 12 cars with a gradual declining number of pennies solved the problem of "stringlining".
A few additional pictures of my kitchen layout. Made a roster move tonight. Santa Fe NW-2. Since I have 6 cars in the 64" woodside passenger set (New York and New England) I thought I'd add another locomotive. The DCS Commander is my first experience with running two engines at the same time.
I was told that a DCS controlled engine might occasionally take off from a standing start uncommanded, and accelerate toward top speed. I set the NW-2 on the track for the first time and powered it up. When I selected "Add" on the Commander, the engines address came up, and the NW-2 sprang to life, took off down the track, and accelerated briskly. Was glad to see the myth come to life.
Nice setup.
What material did you use for the guard rail? Looks like a metal rod, but could you tell us more about it? Thanks.
The posts for the railing are 3/8" square wooden dowels distressed with a plane. The railings are 5/32" OD brass tubing from K&S. I drilled the holes through the posts 3/16" diameter allowing the tubing to slide through for ease of install. The brass tubing pieces I bought were 12" long. The ends of each piece meet inside the posts. Where necessary I super glued the ends of the rails inside the posts to prevent shifting.
Where the railing goes around the inside radius of a turn, I cut the brass in 6" lengths and installed them one at a time (no attempt to bend the brass). The section where the fake stoves flue pipe comes up to the bottom of the shelf (the future Chimney Peak) is double railed. That will be a tourist destination. Safety first.
That looks great. Like the guard railings and rock trim. Really finishes it off and protects the trains.
That looks great! Welcome to the dark side!
--Greg
Very nicely done, Rick!
Very nicely done Rick, I'm with the rest of the guys, the guard rails and the rock work really do add a touch of class to the layout. You've got a great wife, anywoman that will let you put your trains in the kicthen and dinning area is definitely one you don't want to let get away. Great videos too.
Love the layout and your humor, great work.
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