Okay, kids... I'm going to take the plunge and, hopefully, within the next month or two, begin construction on my next layout. I've decided to build an On30 layout, consisting of three modules, each measuring two feet wide by four feet long (giving me a 2x12' layout). I might add a short extention on one end to make a mini "L" shaped layout, but I need to get the bulk of the layout build first before I make that decision. It will be a craftsman layout, with handlaid track and scratchbuilt structures and rolling stock (along with some super-detailed commercial kits). As of right now, this railroad has no name, or real theme per-se, but it will be set in northern Minnesota (torn as to whether it will be an ore road or a logging road). The trackplan will loosely follow that of Ben King's HO scale Timber City and North Western. Since it will be portable, I hope I can take it to a few train shows in my area. I am also going to join the NMRA, so I'm hoping I can earn a Golden Spike Award with the layout and... hopefully, earn the all-coveted title of "Master Model Railroader." Now, since this is my first foray not only into narrow gauge railroading, but O scale as well, I have a few questions to help me get started... 1.) Rail size? Go with Code 100 or Code 83? 2.) Tie size? Lengths will vary, according to application, but what thickness do you guys reccomend? 5"x7", or 7"x9"? 3.) Nominal minimum curve radius? I don't know what size equipment I'm going to be running... but a 4-6-6-4 Consolidation may make an appearance. (Although, the main motive power may be a 4-6-0 or a 4-8-0.) Freight cars will be 28-30' long (no idea if I'll be adding "varnish" just quite yet). I have two other railroad projects I'm working on right now (a 4x8 HO layout I'm building to donate as an auction item for a local Cancer charity and an O scale diorama I'm going to build for the local historical society as a 3-D interpretation of their ongoing history center project), as well as some remodeling projects for my parents... so, I have my plate full at the moment, but I'll tinker with it whenever I have a lull in the other projects. I'll keep you guys updated as work commences and progresses on said project layout.
Code 100 is good. I've given away all my code 100 rails to 0 gauge friends. You're familiar with the NMRA site? NMRA - StRPs Index I take prototype data and divide by 87. This way I get an idea for the size. I prefer thicker ties. This way it's more easy to get the ballast not over the ties. For radii I've tested a few engines. Blog But this is - of course - for H0n3. :angel: Wolfgang
Micro-Engineering On30 is available in both Code 83 and Code 70. I have c83. If I recall correctly, Maine two foot railroads used a tie which was 5" by 5" by 5 feet long. Boxcab E50
Ya know... I've done a little more thinking on the theme... And I think I'm going to go back to my idea of a traction layout... except instead of an ore road, I think I'm going to do streetcars. And here's why... Trolleys can negotiate sharper curves than standard rolling stock, thus allowing me to have continuous operation on the layout. I can also run a freight operation and switch various industries as well. I think that would also make for an eye-catching display at train shows. Something to mull over anyway. (However, I've wanted to build a traction layout for a long time now, so that may be what I wind up doing.)
Hey Komachi, Streetcars are really cool! Are you going to try using street rail? It's called "easy street" by proto 87. I'm working on an old diecast trolley shell. Put a powered Tyco trolley truck inside... ...still needs the wheel sideplates and catenery installed. Greg
Tooter, Yes, sir, I plan on doing a great deal of street running with this layout. Although, instead of using a product like "easy street," I'm going to go a little more "old skool" with mine... One of my early influences in the traction aspect of the hobby, was the project layout series for 1989 in Model Railroader, which was the O'Dell County Traction Co. layout. The author handlaid the track (which is what I want to do) using a special girder rail setup developed by Richard Orr. Then, I'll just mix up some hydrocal and "pave" my streets around it. At least, that's the plan, right now, anyway...
What time frame are you thinking for the traction layout? The reason I ask, is that earlier times had not only urban street running, but also plenty of suburban and rural as well. A lot of scenic variety is possible... Boxcab E50
Just checked out the Orr rails. They're now imported from Sweden in one meter lengths and sold by a company called Custom Traxx. Nice complete system! They even sell switches and wyes with frogs and straight and curved crossovers of various angles, so you can make anything you want out of it! Greg
Greg, Yup, quick and easy. Why I like the system. Not quite up to fabricating my own girder rail just quite yet. (Give me about 10-20 more years of building craftsman-type layouts and I might be able to do it! :mtongue Although, the real nightmare is going to be in stringing the overhead... Boxcab, I haven't decided if I want to do "the roaring twenties" or the 1930s. I want the line to be more of an Interurban than a local transit company, so there will be a portion of suburban/rural operation on one of the modules.
Komachi- Whatever you do, please share. It seems we see very little of interurban type modeling, in any scale. Boxcab E50
Well, guys, I've recenlty had some inspiration that might change the scope of the layout... I don't know if I'm going to do a trolley layout now. I might keep the traction aspect, except I might go back to doing an ore hauler or logging railroad. But I want to go from urban to rural. As in the north woods of Minnesota. Here's why... I was up at the assisted-living center, where the local Arts Council (of which, I am a member) hosted a talk by some of our local authors. Afterwards, I went to visit one of my old neighbors who lives there, and on my way out the door, I saw this print hanging on the wall... http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium/welcome-to-paradise-terry-redlin.jpg It's a painting by South Dakota artist Terry Redlin entitled "Welcome to Paradise." It features a dirt road leading (I assume) to a boat launch that curves past an old gas station/general store/cafe-kind of building. There are two classic gas pumps in front (the glass kind with the gravity feed), next to which sits a red Jeep (WWII ARMY vintage) pulling a fishing boat on a trailer and an old Ford Model-T truck parked in the weeds next to the building. It's an awesome painting, and I really want to recreate the scene on the layout... but it really wouldn't fit the theme of a trolley layout. It would, however, fit in with a northern Minnesota logging or ore railroad. I suppose I could still do an interurban trolley line, and put this scene out in "the boonies," but I wouldn't be able to really do the scene justice, and... it would be out of place on a layout like that. What do you guys think? (Mind you, I have the HO RF&L project layout to build first and a couple other things to take care of before I can do this On30 layout, so I'm just brain-storming and planning right now. But, any thoughs/ideas/concerns from you guys are appreciated!)
Well, that type of scene wouldn't need to be restricted to a logging or ore operation. It would also fit along side of a branch line or even a busy Class 1 main track for that time frame. It could be an agricultural scene, suburban, or? Possibilities... Boxcab E50
This is very true. And, after more thinking, this kind of scene is plausable for a traction layout as well. The TCRT (Twin Cities Rapid Transit) lines operated in scenes like this in the Twin Cities Metro area, right up to the time streetcar service was abandoned in 1954. So, I suppose I could figure out a way to fit it in... ** Sound of rusty gears turning and grinding **
Well, kids... I've been having some serious discussions with some O scale traction guys regarding my layout. From what they tell me, I'm not going to be saving much by converting from standard to narrow gauge and will still have the same headaches. I also wouldn't be able to run the types of consists and equipment that I want to do with the layout as I originally concieved it. I've decided to add a little more square footage to the layout (not necessarily a bad thing) in order to have broader curves that will accomodate the cars I want to run... not to mention more real estate to build scenery/buildings, a second track to run more trains/cars, etc. So... I'm going to forego the On30 concept and just do a straight O-scale layout instead and save the plunge into narrow gauge for another, future project. I do appreciate all the input you guys have given me as I've hashed this out. Feel free to comment on things as the project evovles over in the O scale forum.
