Toy Train or Scale?

[Anonymous]

What's your preference? I like to mix them both.[;)]

pax[C):-)]

[Roger Bielen]

Hi Joe,
I usually have a mix of O and scale. I might use an O27 or two depending on the car. I've found that by putting the cars in an order that the height differences are not big between cars, or using a flat, gondola, etc. between boxcars that the differences are not that noticable. If you've watched a number of freights it's suprising the differnce in car sizes.

[FJ and G]

If I had to do it over again, I'd like to get all scale, except it's so expensive!

Since I haven't, I feel content to mix them and from what I see on real railroads, a goodly number appear to be scale and nonscale:-)

It does look sort of silly, however, if you juxtapose a scale hopper car next to a semi-scale one. And there are some cars that are just TOO tiny to use: K-Line's Pennsylvania $8 collectible boxcars, for instance. I did buy 3 of those so I could pull off the trucks and I plan to use one as a boxcar shed and I plan to sledgehammer the other two to simulate a train wreck and make an excuse to buy a train crane.

dav

[FJ and G]

Another thing, with trees and structures, I DO use forced perspective and put smaller scale stuff in back to make the layout appear larger than it really is.

[Big_Boy_4005]

I own a lot of both, but for the layout I'm doing now, it's scale all the way.

[Dr. John]

For me it's a mix of traditional size and O-27. No scale equipment with the exception of a couple of buildings and automobiles.

[Anonymous]

It don't matter to me I run both . I have thought about throwing in some On30.
Has anyone considered this idea?

[FJ and G]

Keith,

At some future point in time, I've been mulling the idea of adding an 0n30 industrial or ore or logging road; the price of On30 is enticing and it would add some variety to 3 rails; but that's going to be a long time before I do that. The good part is that it's still O scale. Some industries, actually have very very short narrow gauge lines; esp. in the 1930s, I've seen pictures of warehouses or lumber mills with narrow guagee tracks just for that industry that go nowhere's else. It is a very interesting concept.

dav

[Dr. John]

Keith,

I've also entertained the idea of adding On30, but I have a small layout and really don't have room even for a short On30 line.

[ChiefEagles]

Both. A good mix.[:)]

[Anonymous]

Toy train size. I guess that's because I'm too attached to my post war stuff. I'll take a 6464 size
box car instead of true O-scale box car any day!
Bill
www.modeltrainjournal.com

[Anonymous]

Dave & Dr. John

I hope to add a extention in the future and use a short narrow gauge logging operation
with On30. My question is were logs simple transfered onto the mainline cars or run throught the sawmill and then loaded, or both ways? Still those Bachmann engine's
look small next to some of the other scale stuff, that may take some getting use to on
my part. [%-)] [sigh]

[Roger Bielen]

I constructed a couple of tunnel portals for, I hope, the future installation of an On3 loop under the mountain that'll duck in and out. Right now it looks like an abandoned right-of-way.

[prewardude]

I started out with a mix of both, but now I'm hooked on prewar stuff. I love that tinplate! {:-)

[Anonymous]

I like Tinplate too!

I do have a scale caboose and scale SW1500, and works fine with all my non-scale stuff. As long as non-scale is cheaper, I'm sticking with it. Plus it looks great on a small layout like mine. (Can't even imagine running a scale passenger train on 042 curves on a 4x8 layout!)

[Anonymous]

I started out with O27 rolling stock, but ended up with several scale engines. (most of which cost < $350 btw) and then picked up two beautiful scale cabooses, and the conversion was underway. I searched eBay for deals on scale rolling stock; the best value is Weaver, which can be had for around $25. Those are inevitably plastic truck frames, but they work fine for me. I do add a few ounces of weight inside the carbodies over the trucks.

It's all good. I think what got me hooked on the scale stuff was the superior graphics, but all 'O' gauge delights me.

[Anonymous]

Both... Even has an HO running over the top of an N scale inside of the 027 and O. Face it most of us have THREE RAILS. And if you throw in a 154 Signal all scale is out the window. By the way I have heard some comments on "scale Water" .. Not sure what this is.? Looking for some "scale gravity" for a train wreck scene.Need help finding this..

[cnw1995]

A complete mix of 027 and scale, which probably means more toy train-like than anything else. I came out of a setting up a pretty seriously scale N scale layout, and it's like getting out of prison - of course, one I put myself in... ;)

[Anonymous]

I have a mix of O, O27, and HO. The HO were a gift they are nice but nothing beats the O and the O27 guages for me. The HO go under the tree at Christmas (no one really bothers with them). When the O and O27 go under the tree there is always one that gets broken.

[JFermani]

I run both at the same time. I don't care if its scale or not. As long as its PRR it will see action on my layout.

Joe