O scale modular in the Indianapolis area reboot

a friend and i tried to get some interest in modules a few years back, and even displayed a couple unfinished ones at the chicago o scale show. nobody jumped on the bandwagon

so i have several 2 by 4 foot modules needing something to do. i'll have to rip the p48 gauge rails up, but I'm game. how do i sign up?

i'm in michigan, but need an excuse to be more regular in attending indy, chicago, and cleveland.

By Dave D  do you mean Dave Diehl?

I'm over in Lafayette, and while I am strictly a 3 rail guy, there has been a discussion if there is enough interest to form a club here in Central Indiana. The challenge is that there is a VERY LIMITED number of us that are active between the two markets of Indy and Chicago. I think maybe 25-40 TCA / LCCA members in the 50 miles around Lafayette. I think you'll be hard pressed to get a large enough group of two railers without recruiting some new blood to go out and setup at a show for a weekend. 

That all being said, it would be interesting to know if anyone would be willing to build a dual modular setup with both two and three rail O gauge. I know that's like asking oil and water to mix, but it may be a way to get a large enough group in a less dense urban area to make something happen. 

Yes Tom Tee, I didn't know how to spell his last name and did not want to butcher it.   Notch 6, with the advant of modern Atlas O track, the 3 rail track can be set up to run 2 rail or 3 rail thru a switch controling the what power feeds the outside rails.  Doesn't look as good and I am sure many would consider it a huge sin to run 2 rail on 3 rail track.   My hope is to dust off the layout that Dave D has, if he still has it that is.  Who knows, it might be in such bad shape that starting over is a better way.  But the dedicated trailer it is/was kept in would solve storage issues on my end between shows.  My friend and I could set up and run the layout with just the two of us at first.  I would hope others would join or come atleast run some trains.  Right now I have 3 locomotives and a few freight cars, and my friend just bought his first 2 rail engine and he has a MTH ES44 N&W Heritage unit that is 3 rail but I believe those can be converted to 2 rail.  

artfull dodger posted:

...I am sure many would consider it a huge sin to run 2 rail on 3 rail track...

I'm in real trouble, then for what I do at the club.   There is plenty of evidence of my transgressions on YouTube.

I had been tinkering with an O scale Free-Mo concept designs that used MTH ScaleTrax which, like the Atlas, has isolated running rails and can support 2-rail or 3-rail via a toggle switch. If you ran the track to the module ends rather than use bridge tracks, you could just adjust the height of the model to match the railhead of the Atlas 2-rail track, switch to 2-rail mode and you're good to go.

Just have to see what shakes out.  I think more might take the plunge into 2 rail if we had a modular layout to run on.  So many would like to do something in this scale but lack the space at home to run what they like, be it big modern diesels or larger steam, which in 2 rail, need much larger curves than most of thier counterparts in 3 rail.  That is where I think a major failing of the local group has been, letting that layout sit unused for whatever reasons.  The reasons do not really matter, I want to start getting that layout or a layout set up at shows again.  Even if its just some Atlas 2 rail sectional track in a large oval on 4 to 6 folding tables with little to no scenery at first.  Letting others see some of these 40-70yr old classic engines roll with a nice long train in tow.  I remember seeing an ABB or ABA set of AN F units with an incredibly long freight train on that layout many years ago.  

If there are no turnouts, having dual purpose tracks that can switch back & forth from 2 to 3 rail operation isn’t too big of a deal. However switching turnouts to work with either two or three rail operation seems a bit more daunting, because the three rail turnouts look like they are quite a bit more complex. I would like to see the simplest way this could be wired up. Also, wouldn’t there be issues with the two different sized flanges trying to fit through the frogs and guardrails?

Bill in FtL

Good point Bill, I suspect that the Atlas 2 rail turnouts might have closer to scale frogs and guard rails,  Anybody able to look at the two styles side by side and compare?

aghr-MATT has done some creative work on 2/3 rail turnouts.  Real neat.  I am sure he can post some photos of it.

I took my lead from the Brandywine River Museum in PA and am  running three rail and 2 rail unconnected on the same layout.   I  positioned my three rail tracks at eye level so the middle rail in not noticed.  Just wanted to incorporate some nostalgia.  One might say my 3 rail is a true "high rail".

Dave Diehl's modules are a true work of art.  They have complicated turnouts all built with R.O.W. components.  He used to build  custom turnouts.  He built quite a few for me in the 90's.  Fantastic detail.  He was located in the Indy  area. Photos of his work is in an earlier now defunct 1/48 to the foot 0 scale magazine.

I dont remember the layout that the unafiliated O scalers being that fancy on the track work, but its been many years since I saw the layout on display.   If the track work is that nice, its even more of a shame to keep it packed away in a trailer.  Lets all hope that something can be worked out to get this layout back out in public again 

The modules to which I am referring are those of Dave Diehl.  Just plain nice.

OFF TOPIC.  SORRY.  I digress.  I shouldn't say anything because I do NOT know all the particulars.  FYI.  There is a modular 3 rail group in Central Indiana.  I think the name is Eastern & Pacific--something close to that.  These guys traveled to several area train shows--most recently into Danville Illinois a week or so ago.

They just recently got a new "permanent" home at the Putnam County Historical Society Museum located on the north edge of Greencastle, Indiana.

I'm not trying to be a wet blanket, but since O scale is such a limited market and few people have it, why not get with the existing group?  They need more people too!  

One of their MAJOR issues is not enough members especially to move the layout.  I'm certain that had something to do with this other group finding its layout unused sitting collecting dust. 

They plan to have a regular layout at the museum and still a smaller version to travel.  How about getting with them and suggesting the traveling portion be built as 2 rail? Or, combination?

It would be ideal and very wise if ALL the O scalers could work together in the central Indiana market because we would be STRONGER together than split into several factions.  JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

I am a 3 railer, but love the 2 rail stuff!  I know that some people are dead-set on either 3 or 2 rails, but I'm not.  I'm a model railroader.  Instead of feuding about rail numbers or scale, we should all work together to promote this hobby so it can continue into the future.   

Thats the issue, I am not a 3 railer.  Lionel trains and 3 rail belong under the tree at the holidays for me.   But the availablty of scale sized 3 rail locos with all the bells and whistles, for less than the cheapest 2 rail brass model is just a total buzz kill for the 2 rail side of the hobby these days.  Folks want RTR, and could care less to tune a brass model to run like a fine swiss watch.   I am still of the belief that if a small 2 rail modular layout can be aquired or built, that in time, interest will grow.  A few 3 railers might join so they can run 2 rail.  I have no problem taking the layout to shows, it just wont be a massive set up till more help joins the group.   I run my live steam G scale with a local group and have set that layout up basicly by myself at a show, so it can be done.  If I have to lone wolf it with my friend for awhile, so be it.  Got three 2 rail engines myself and he has one of his own now.