O scale Modules.

There is (was?) a On30 modular group in Jacksonville, FL that has set up a very large layout at at hthe Deland, FL train show. It was very impressive; especially the southwest desert module connected to the northeast FL swampy module!  I do not know the group's name but some searching should turn up some info and a reach-out to them should give you some ideas.

Greg,

One of the train clubs I belong to (Florida Citrus Model Train Society) does its O, G, and HO layouts in modules, as we travel around to different locations in the Fort Lauderdale area for temporary displays of all different sizes for a month or more.  In the case of the O modules, they are 48x31 with double tracked Atlas O. The curve ends are O-72 and O-81. The height of the module escapes me at the moment.

Information on that club is in my signature below.

Ton's of O-scale modular clubs around, I personally belong to the North Penn O-Gaugers.

Here's one video of a show we did at the WGH.

Nice video.

What kind of track are you using? And what Mohawk (?) is that pulling that reefer block?

Mark in Oregon

PRRMP54 posted:

There is (was?) a On30 modular group in Jacksonville, FL that has set up a very large layout at at hthe Deland, FL train show. It was very impressive; especially the southwest desert module connected to the northeast FL swampy module!  I do not know the group's name but some searching should turn up some info and a reach-out to them should give you some ideas.

The name of the group is the First Coast Model Railroad Society.  They have both a HO layout and a On30 modular layout.  Their website is:  http://fcmrs.club/ 

Strummer posted:

Nice video.

What kind of track are you using? And what Mohawk (?) is that pulling that reefer block?

Mark in Oregon

We use Atlas track, but I'm not sure what Mohawk that is, it wasn't mine.  I was running the Genesis with the Amtrack Superliners and a PRR Freight headed up with my Legacy H10.  Of course, the hot dog and the clown handcar got a brief run a couple of times as well.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Ton's of O-scale modular clubs around, I personally belong to the North Penn O-Gaugers.

Here's one video of a show we did at the WGH.

 

Very nice club layout, GRJ.  If I'm ever in your area, I will have to come take a look see.

We had a big O scale modular layout here in north Texas at one time. The modules for straight sections were about 30”x 5 or 6’. Can not remember dimensions for the corner sections. We used Roco turnouts and older Atlas track. It is good the we were all young back then, as those modules were heavy. I think we used a space about 20’x60’. We set it up 2 or 3 times/ year. We were called the "Not Ready For Prime Time, O gaugers". Finally sold the layout to a museum group. There is still a club here that has a somewhat smaller layout. Not sure how often they set up.

I was part of the trolley group in Milwaukee and we built a modular layout using East Penn trolley group’s standards. I think they have them on their website if you are interested. www.eastpenn.org

Is each module an individual solo project done entirely by one of the club's members or are modules a group effort with club members working togethet to create all of the modules? If each module is created solely by one member, which module did you build, John?

Also, are the modules assembled together what makes up the NPOGers club layout at Henning's home or are they only used to create the layouts at the various shows you guys do?

Typically, individual members do at least a couple of modules.  For some time, many of the modules were used in Harry's basement when we didn't have a club outing, so we'd get to run and work on them when we met there.  Gradually, most of the club modules are being phased out of the basement and are just used for club outings.

One of my local club members has several T-Trak modules in N scale. The modules are small, highly portable and designed for table-top operation. The majority use Kato track.

There were O Gauge T-Trak module standards for Lionel Fastrack, but I don't think it went anywhere.

http://t-trak.org/modules.html

The Lionel Collectors' group has module standards for Fastrack also: 

https://www.lionelcollectors.o...Manual%20Ver%202.pdf

We used to have a modular layout in TCA Desert Division that belonged to one of our members.  Unfortunately as a smaller division we didn't have the people to keep it going so we built a trailer with fold down sides instead.  It better suits our purposes but the old module was fun.  It was based on "Tin Plate Trackers" standards which you can find on the web.  2x4 modules with three tracks and 4x4 corners with the edges removed.  We had it as large as 32'x12' as I recall for the 2009 TCA National Convention.  That modular layout was a combination of Gargraves and Lionel traditional track.

I also have a 16'x8' modular three rail layout that was my home layout until I had to move into a smaller place.  It is in storage now.   It uses Gargraves track

Photos of each.

TCA Module:

My Personal Modules (Nothing Fancy):

GG1 4877 posted:

We used to have a modular layout in TCA Desert Division that belonged to one of our members.  Unfortunately as a smaller division we didn't have the people to keep it going so we built a trailer with fold down sides instead.  It better suits our purposes but the old module was fun.  It was based on "Tin Plate Trackers" standards which you can find on the web.  2x4 modules with three tracks and 4x4 corners with the edges removed.  We had it as large as 32'x12' as I recall for the 2009 TCA National Convention.  That modular layout was a combination of Gargraves and Lionel traditional track.

I also have a 16'x8' modular three rail layout that was my home layout until I had to move into a smaller place.  It is in storage now.   It uses Gargraves track

Photos of each.

TCA Module:

My Personal Modules (Nothing Fancy):

Jonathan - Your 16' x 8' layout module above.  I love the beer bottle placement.  How wide was the pit area?  I once thought of doing a 6' x 10' doughnut layout but figured my "girth"  would not let me enjoy being in the center even if it was 3 feet wide.

Greg - I have attached a PDF of a hand drawn sketch of the specs for the modules at my club (Florida Citrus Model Train Society) layout.

UPMav#488 posted:

Greetings all,

So I recently started playing around with the idea of doin an On30 Module for various shows. But now, I am curious.

Has anyone tried to an O scale module? Like FreMos for HO?

If the group agreed on some standards:

For example:

- Atlas 3 Rail for the track

- 3 feet off the ground

- 8” from edge of table

 

Could a group like this work? Or is O scale too big?

What do you all think?

Since you mention free-mo, I guess you are talking about the "interface standards" type of modules that usually form a point-to-point layout than "building block" type of module that forms a loop. The latter seems more popular, give the number of clubs out there.  I think that's because, given the size, it takes a LOT of track distance to feel like you have gone anywhere on a mainline. Loops have a virtually infinite length, point to point does not. It takes a lot more modules to overcome that disadvantage, which in turn means a bigger club. 

all IMHO of course. 

We have had this layout for over 25 years.  We take it to the BootHill Train Show in Dodge City, Kansas each year the weekend before Thanksgiving. Just two of us set up and take down the layout with some help from the Boothill club.  The tables were built from a HO layout design.

Kevin,

The clear space inside the modules is about 3'-4"  The corners are not quite 4' wide.  It's been down for a few years now awaiting a new home to set it up in again.  However, if I had the room I'd put 2x2 modules to pull it out another 2' in the short dimension to put a an 0-80 loop on the outside and and 0-72 on the inside.  Currently it gauges out to about 071 and 054. 

It was given to me and the only way I discovered that the outside loops wasn't quite 072 is some locomotives bounce out of the curves where they do not at my 3 rail operating club. 

I belong to Pittsburgh Independent Hi Railers. We use Gargraves track,Ross switches. Modules clamped together. 4 track main,1 or 2 day shows we do not pin track. Longer shows track gets pinned. 12 gauge (we had 16 ga.) bus wire for each track underneath,plugged into next module. We use  simple polarized lamp plugs. TMCC and DCS work. Sometimes there is building interference. Module lengths are normally 2ft,4ft,6ft or 8ft. What you can haul. Legs clamp underneath module.We use to bolt them,to time consuming at set up rear down. Check our Facebook page.

mowingman posted:

We had a big O scale modular layout here in north Texas at one time. The modules for straight sections were about 30”x 5 or 6’. Can not remember dimensions for the corner sections. We used Roco turnouts and older Atlas track. It is good the we were all young back then, as those modules were heavy. I think we used a space about 20’x60’. We set it up 2 or 3 times/ year. We were called the "Not Ready For Prime Time, O gaugers". Finally sold the layout to a museum group. There is still a club here that has a somewhat smaller layout. Not sure how often they set up.

 

That other group sounds like the DFW O Scalers. They had a permanent layout until a few years ago and had a modular/sectional setup.

UPMav#488 posted:

Greetings all,

So I recently started playing around with the idea of doin an On30 Module for various shows. But now, I am curious.

Has anyone tried to an O scale module? Like FreMos for HO?

If the group agreed on some standards:

For example:

- Atlas 3 Rail for the track

- 3 feet off the ground

- 8” from edge of table

 

Could a group like this work? Or is O scale too big?

What do you all think?

There are several O scale/O Gauge modular groups across the country. They follow different standards for module height, distances from the module ends, front fascia, curves and mainline spacing. There used to be a list of clubs floating around years ago, but the best bet would be to go to the local train shows and talk with the groups regarding location, specs, etc.

Years ago there was a discussion on the old OTrains Yahoo group regarding O scale FreeMo but it didn't pan out. The idea there was to use the H.O. module specs but with Atlas O scale two-rail track. Curve modules would be lengthened to support 60" radius. I had suggested extending the track to the module ends and using alignment pins to ensure track alignment. This would allow the use of three-rail insulated track (Atlas) in a two-rail configuration to potentially expand the number of available modular members (I figured the three-rail players could pop for a two-rail locomotive and a few cars).

We will be at Greenberg Show at Monroeville Expo next weekend.

AGHRMatt posted:

mowingman posted:

We had a big O scale modular layout here in north Texas at one time. The modules for straight sections were about 30”x 5 or 6’. Can not remember dimensions for the corner sections. We used Roco turnouts and older Atlas track. It is good the we were all young back then, as those modules were heavy. I think we used a space about 20’x60’. We set it up 2 or 3 times/ year. We were called the "Not Ready For Prime Time, O gaugers". Finally sold the layout to a museum group. There is still a club here that has a somewhat smaller layout. Not sure how often they set up.

 

That other group sounds like the DFW O Scalers. They had a permanent layout until a few years ago and had a modular/sectional setup.

 

Yes, that is the guys. They still have a sectional layout. It was set up at the big DFW show in Plano this past Jan.

HIGH PLAINS 3 RAILERS module in winter mode at the Boulder Model Railroad Exposition.