Some things I have noticed about O, during the past five decades. When viewing personally, or such as a magazine article. Many layouts tend to be essentially a loop. Often mostly, if not all, a double track main line. With a big yard. Seemingly, more of a display area, than an operating railroad. Which is fine. I'm very glad they are happy. But this is not what interests me. Also, when speaking of money, the O layout in Great Model Railroads this year leaves me with an impression. Yes. It's a very nice layout! However, what I see, is single unit modern road power leading trains. No multiple engines. Which has me wondering if that is cost related. I'd almost bet it is... As I have seen the same elsewhere, and have been told up front, that is indeed the case. It's a bit difficult to view similarities and differences, in prices of N, or HO, versus O. But the higher end stuff in N and HO, is definitely much rarer than in O. The items you can get in production run plastics, for the first two scales, are very readily available, by comparison to O. That has been slowly changing in recent years. But still has a long ways to go. Boxcab E50
O scale is apparently alive and well in my area. Every train show I go to has more O than anything else, followed closely by HO, then G, Z and maybe if you're lucky a bit of N. I personally love the look of O and wish I had the space and budget to explore it more. It looks like a common point in this thread, but again, just me, I can't do what I want to do modeling in the space and budget with O scale.
I've said many times that I will probably be in 2-rail O-Scale in my later years, probably some type of freelanced shortline with an MP15 and maybe a Geep for power. I just went out and browsed the Atlas O site to see what was new. Their MP15's of course would be great...the G&W would be perfect as my freelanced road could theoretically be part of the G&W network. Everything is more expensive in O, but you don't really need as much stuff, either. I also noticed they did their syrup cars in O, which I didn't realize...very nice. Are there any ACF grain hoppers available in O? For now, I recently bought a Lionel Polar Express set for my son and he'll get it for Christmas this year so it will be 3-Rail for him for a while, which should be a blast.
I've the same possibility looming. Some problems due to injuries earlier in life, have been slowly catching up. So that N scale is a bit frustrating some days. So, looking at On30 is in the picture. Price and space influencing that choice. I have been dabbling..... I have seen the Atlas myself. Looking at their recent publications, there is some nice stuff. But $$$... Boxcab E50
20 Mar 2008 Almost all of the SCRS' rolling stock is pre-ordered through a dealer that discounts. Sometimes it takes a year for it to come in, however the cost is considerably less. Currently a MTH Alco S-2 Diesel Switcher is on order. Here are the listed features of the MTH built ALCO S-2 in Southern colors. Southern - Alco S-2 Diesel Switch Engine w/Proto-Sound 2.0 20-2795-1 Hi-Rail Wheels $399.95 (MSR PRICE - PRE ORDERED ABOUT $50.00 LESS). Features - Directionally Controlled Headlights - Intricately Detailed ABS Body - Metal Wheels, Axles and Gears - Die-Cast Truck Sides, Pilots and Fuel Tank - (2) Remotely Controlled Proto- Couplers™ - Colorful Paint Scheme - Die-Cast Metal Chassis - Metal Handrails and Decorative Horn - (2) Precision Flywheel Equipped Motors - Locomotive Speed Control - Proto-Scale 3-2™ 3-Rail/2-Rail Conversion Capable - Lighted Cab Interior - Illuminated Number Boards - Separate metal grab irons and handrails - (2) Engineer Cab Figures - Operating Smoke Unit - Proto-Sound® 2.0 With The Digital Command System Featuring: Freight Yard Proto-Effects™ - Unit Measures: 12” x 2 3/4” x 3 3/4” - Operates On O-31 Curves The S-2 was ordered from the MTH 2007 V2 catalog. Knowing what the discounted cost will be (plus adjustment for shipping) provides time to set aside funds for payment. Larry @ SCRS
Yes, see a complete set of layout photos on the On30 Yosemite Short Line at: atsf_arizona_layout_tour4s photos and albums on webshots There are 17 photos in an album there.
Tina's Westfield O layout uses MTH Proto 2 locomotives. Mainly because of the features SCRS has listed. My Chicago Central GP30 cost me about $310.00, but Tina and I think it is worth it, since we can use it like my N scale and switch with it and watch it crawl on the tracks, a trait not found in toy trains until recently. Also I don't want my post to sound like I was bashing O because of price, there are bargans to be had out there. I think the Atlas O cars are one of them.
21 Mar 2008 LOWNEN. The letters SCRS is short for SOUTHERN COASTLINE RAILWAY SYSTEM, the name of my bridge line model railroad. I came up with this name as I wanted to operate trains of the Atlantic Coast Line, Seaboard Air Line and Southern Railway as if they had no other way to reach their destination except to cross over a bridge line via trackage rights (similar to the R.F & P). To have those trackage rights, all their Passenger trains had to stop at the Union Station. Their long freight's can roll on across. The Central of Geogia has applied for trackage rights for their Nancy Hanks II to reach the Union Station. When MTH builds some E-8's in the Primier line with C of G colors, those trackage rights will be granted. Also when MTH builds the SD-35 in ACL colors and the SDP-35 in SAL colors, plans are for these to be added to their engine pools. Time is essence for these as I plan to slide out of LM (retire) in about two years, then purchase funds will decrease. All in fun with a great hobby. Larry @ SCRS
SCRS; Great scenario. I know Wiki isn't 100%, but according to them the Nancy Hanks II started running in 1947. So might an E7 do instead of an E8? That was the same year the Texas Special was streamlined. Lionel offers a Legacy system Texas Special with two E7s and four cars. Its over $1k, but the cars are fully detailed, not those funky silhouette jobs. If you're handy with paints at all you could do a nice Nancy Hanks II from this set. LIONEL 6-31755 TEXAS SPECIAL E7 PASSENGER SET W/LEGACY! - eBay (item 260220881205 end time Apr-15-08 06:26:26 PDT) I'm not the seller, I hope posting this eBay link isn't a problem.
21 Mar 2008 Lownen. E-7’s would be just as good. Since the C of G had some E-8’s and MTH normally produces E-8’s, I would just purchase them when and if they were issued. I believe I will leave the painting to MTH or someone else. I had the fortune to live in the Griffin, Georgia area back in the late 1940’s and early 1050’s. The ‘Nancy’ and the other trains made their way through Griffin South bound and North bound between Macon and Atlanta. A number of times the ‘Nancy’ was used as an extra during its layover in Atlanta for a quick fan or business trip between there and Griffin. They turned the train on the Southern wye, backed into the Griffin Depot and later returned to Atlanta to be preped for the evening trip to Savannah. A number of times I was also able to catch the Southern’s Vulcon (or Cracker) and steam powered passenger trains arriving in Griffin and backing into the depot. Great memories help when modeling railroads. Larry at SCRS
Actually O is alive and doing quite well. Lots of new stuff and new modelers moving from 3 rail to 2 rail. O scale does take more space than HO or N but it is possible to build a nice small O scale layout. I recently had one in a 9 by 16 foot room that was very satisfactory. Around the walls with 46 inch radius two passing sidings and about 10 industrial spurs, it was a good evenings work to switch all the spots and make up a transfer train for the next day. In the same space I could have had more trains in HO and more mainline running in N scale so it's a trade off. Small scenes and detail in O or wide views and more scenery in N. As for cost of O compared to the others? I've found that model railroading costs about the same per square foot of layout built no matter what the scale. One O scale boxcar takes up the same space as about 10 N scale boxcars. Same for all the other details required, so you can spend a lot on one item or a lot on many small items and come out about the same in the end. I would base any scale decision on size preference not cost, there's always a way to model in any scale if that's what you really want, choosing sparse uncluttered scenes and buying on Ebay for instance can greatly reduce the cost of details and rolling stock. I'm planning a new layout in my workshop building now and have been trying to decide between P48 and S scale. I've got enough O scale equipment to do it already and am having a hard time finding enough S scale stuff so I'll probably just change the wheels and go with P48 but I'm also planning a new N scale layout in the old train room too!!....dave
Haha, My TT items are on the fireplace mantle. don't have enough for a layout yet. If I ever get the stuff I'll find a place for it....dave I just put some P48 wheels in a Lionel hopper, whatcha think?
