Thinking about O-Gauge

I'm an N-scaler,and intend to keep doing N,but for whatever reason I also find O-gauge trains intriguing now. I'm tempted to buy a lionel starter set,but I'm not quite sure what I want. I like some of the CSX stuff that's in O,but I'm not sure if it'll work with the Fasttrack I'm probably going to use. If I get started,I think I'll probably end up with the standard 4x8.It sounds awfully small,but I can probably surprise myself with what I can fit onto a table that size. I think another reason O scale is interesting to me is that the engines smoke..N scale of course doesn't do that,but I want to do N for it's small size.

Any advice/suggestions?

 

In addition to Lionel,take a look at the large collection the MTH (Mike's Train house) offers. Their smokers are really nice. The puffs synchronize with the chuffs, its not just a stream of smoke coming out. Their sound is pretty good too. They offer a very large number of locomotives in a variety of paint schemes. They have scale and semi-scale equipment in two rail and three rail. Some of the semi-scale stuff is pretty good looking. The detailing on their scale equipment is as good or better than the O Scale brass of a few years ago.

Attached is a photo of a GN S2 4-8-4 by MTH.

 

I'm an HO scale modeler, and I, too, am drawn like steel to a magnet by the sheer mass of "O". I'm building an around-the-walls shelf-style HO layout, and I've discovered that a simple, short (90' of main line) point-to-point 2-rail O scale "railroad" fits behind the HO stuff. I'm planning to build a view block that will have HO scale building flats on it to hide the O train when it's not being run.

 

If I do FastTrack,I'll probably be looking for three-rail stuff. I kinda like the modern diesels,but I doubt I'll stick to a prototype.

I think the thing that gets me is the standard/traditional gauge stuff(if I said that right) and I do wonder if freight cars are specific to either type.

 

I would like to have an 0 scale layout, but it would have to be very big, and it would cost a lot of money. I would also need top of the line locos and rolling stock, because it's real easy for an o scale model to look un-realistic and like a toy.

Some 0 scale clubs do a very nice job, but sometimes there's nothing they can do to make the train look highly proto-typical.

So if you have a 4x8, a very detailed 0 scale layout probaly wouldn't work.

 

On30 is a great alternative to O because it is O scale but narrow gauge so you can model in a smaller space...check it out and I think you will be tempted to come to the dark side

 

A switching type shelf layout works well in O scale if you don't have a lot of room. 2 walls of a garage or bedroom for instance. I'd suggest 2 rail instead of 3 rail, after looking a 2 rail N scale the 3 rail trains are gonna look very toy like.....dave

 

O Scale, whether it be Fast Track or Atlas Track, Gar Graves or Weavers and Fine Scale is nothing but fun. Oh, don't get my wrong. I'm an N scale loyalist and my layout at home is N scale. I can pack more railroading into a small space and that makes loads of sense to me.

I have a friend that owns an O scale layout, one I and a fellow rail fan built for him and he has the room for it. The layout is a wrap around the wall layout. On one side he has a 100 foot run. We built the layout for him a number of years back and we are currently remodeling a segment of the yard. It's so easy to work with and the rewards are surreal.

Working signals can be loads of fun as three rail lends itself to wiring in a type of CTC signaling.

A run around the table top, 4X8 layout is a good place to start however, you are going to find that gets boring fasyt. Try to find a room where you can build around the wall and keep your curves on the wider side. The passenger trains look so much better as they highball along the main line.

Have fun!

 

I don't have the room in this house(or in the other one where the N scale layout is) to really build a around-the-walls layout,but what I might do is what my uncle once did with his Lionel trains,and that's run it around the entire house. I live in an old farmhouse,and the four main rooms are all connected,which would make for one big circle/oval deal.

It would probably scare my cats to death too. They weren't phased when I tested my N scale on Unitrack on the floor once..but O gauge is another beast.

 

O scale is pretty cool. Remember that the equivalent to an HO scale 18" radius curve is going to be 36". Ho=Half O

An oval has to be 6 feet in diameter. i'm not trying to dissuade you, but you have to be realistic.

The really crazy stuff is the vintage O scale that can run on O-27 curves. 27" diameter. You can build a nutty layout on a door panel with that stuff. Better yet just run the stuff on the floor and arrange it as the mood strikes you.

O scale is also painfully more expensive than N scale. (My prices are just off the top of my head and rounded up, so no one get too picky here )

N scale diesel- 80-90$
O scale diesel- 200-400$

N scale switch- 10$
O scale switch- 50$

N scale steam engine- 80-120$
O scale steam engine- 500-1200$

You aren't the only one who has looked at O scale and had a compulsion to switch scales or add a scale. It's just so darn huge and chunky. I love it too.

 

4x8' is small. I do temporary layouts on a 4x8 table. You can get a nice little O scale layout in that space, but you have to watch the minimum curve radius of the locos you buy. Its usually printed on the box.

I use Fastrack and am happy with it. MTH makes 3-rail trails like Lionel. Lionel acquired woo woo woo, which always produced fine quality trains at lower prices than Lionel and MTH. Fortunately Lionel hasn't inflated the prices on their woo woo woo offerings that much. Atlas offers both 3-rail and 2-rail products, and I believe they dominate the 2-rail market in O scale.

Here is a link to MTH's RealTrax page:

MTH Electric Trains

There are .pdf files for a couple 4x8' layouts. The "Max Action" one is quite good. I'm confident you could build it with FasTrack as well.

 

Actually, the conversion number is 1.8 [1.8125 really], since O is 1:48 and HO is 1:87, so 18" radius in HO =~ 33" in O, & 22" radius in HO is 40" radius in O.

 

I model in all scales and have found that they all cost about the same per square foot of layout. O scale equipment costs more than N scale per piece but you don't need as many to fill up your space. All the scales have their good points. N is great for building long trains and realistic scenery and O is great for details. I just put magnetic airhoses on these O scale hoppers, ( still need to be weathered) the anglecock handles turn so I can shut off the air before uncoupling! Try that in N scale!!...dave

 

I'm an N scaler that went scale hunting , looking for something bigger ...

I tried HO ... bought all of the Fairbanks Morse diesels I could find ... ran them a bit and wanted something larger ...

looked at S briefly ... not quite what I was looking for ...

Dabbled in O , that was ok ....

then , I saw a club layout of Large Scale trains running on modules ... I was HOOKED !!

A N&W Mallet pulling 80 cars was just to much temptation !

I now have a Pacific , GP7 , NW1 about 30 cars and am putting together a shelf switching layout ...

You can even take your toys outside !

 

Hi Greg, Only $29.95 to convert that CF7 to P48! Did you notice that red hopper up above is the "gelems" car converted to p48? I'll have to take a new photo of it one of these days...dave

 

CTXM - More! More! We need details on how you did the magnetic air hoses!

Glad to see another modeling in O-scale 2-rail.

 

At a recent train show here, there was a goodly sized Large Scale setup, including a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g coal train being pulled by two, count 'em, two Big Boys -- and a Big Boy pushing, too!

I have one locomotive right now.



Zero rolling stock.

I want a "greyhound" Challenger next :tb-biggrin:

 

Nice to see the O scale forum active again... Even if two or three of the posts are G scale.