The smallest O gauge layout

[FJ and G]

My 1st layout bout 10 years ago when I got back into toy trains was a coffee table layout oval 54 inches in diameter, under glass divided by 2 boards (1X8x54 with half-slot carved in center of each so they fit together) in shape of cross atop thin layer plywood.

Train entered each quarter (1/4 space formed by the cross) thru 4 tunnels through the wood.

1/4 was snow scene; 1/4 was desert; 1/4 was fall folliage; and 1/4 was summer scene

There was another layer beneath with a coal mine train.

Below that was hidden wiring.

Atop the coffee table (resting on the upper level cross) was custom-made glass 54 in in diameter.

You could eat your chow or beer and watch the trains go round neath the glass.

Got the idea from MR mag and a guy who did an O scale trolley inside a coffee table--but not double-decked like mine. That single article got me back into trains after 20 yr hiatus traveling round the world in Marine Corps.

[Anonymous]

Check this one out guy's

[Anonymous]

Just got into O! Christmas layout (still up minus the tree) is 5' x 9'. The plans are a 6' x 12.5' in a spare room. Just waiting for my mom to take the free furniture my wife and I offered her...

[palallin]

29" x 29". Hey, a circle is NOT an oval! [:D]

I built an extended, 027 Figure-8 on a 32"x80" hollow -core door for my son; there is one spur with an uncoupling/operating track on it for his log dump cars. On a similar sized piece of plywood, I once built a Figure-8 without the extra straights on one loop but with a siding connecting the two loops.

Currently, I have a two-level, 3-loop layout on a 4'x8': an outside 042 loop, and inside 027 Figure-8, and a simple 027 oval on top of a flat 'tunnel" that covers one end.

It used to go under my Christmas tree (before I built the Standard Gauge layout for that). It will soon be replaced as a semi-permanent setup with a permanent one which will go around the room.

[Anonymous]

I have two loops on a 4x8 and I'm happy.
Started with a 3 by 5 ft layout 18 years ago.
At this pace, I will never get to a "big" layout!
Guess I don't need it that big.....

[Anonymous]

i have a 4by8 layout ogauge. it is relaxing !

[eZAK]

I've seen a 'layout' that this fella had, it was a point to point 10' long by only 10 inches wide with a passing siding in the middle using two right hand switches.

He ran two 3 car trains simultaneously. They would also switch sides.
It was in a study and controled by a wall switch.
He considered them relaxing.

To each his own!

[laz 57]

4x4 is my smallest track set up under the basement steps.
laz57

[Anonymous]

wow! Small layouts are not very fun ito me.


Well what ever the size, one foot of track to 8 miles of track (Norhlandz) We all are inspired by are trains.


Thanx for conttributing to this topic!
Colin

[jimhaleyscomet]

My current layout is on a foam core door (36"x80"). I have two ovals with two blocks each (regularly run 4 trains at the same time) plus a short trolley line on top of a mountain. Even while running 5 trains I still have two open switch sidings (for parking short trains or switching fun) and a reverse loop.

Jim H

[Anonymous]

This is what my smallest looked like.



Heres my second smallest, this proves to show you how much you can cram into a space with 027!

[garyseven]

http://www.thortrains.net/trackplan/027mini1.html

[brianel027]

I've built several layouts on thrown away discarded ordinary hollow core doors that are 32 inches wide. It's amazing what you can do if you are willing to chop down the 027 turnouts to just the bare track minus the foot print base.

I have one for my nephew that has a passing siding, a cut-a-across, and 1 yard siding. Ties are made out of scrap black foam core board gotten for free from an art shop. Plus we have an overhead track in the back for extra cars. There's a girder bridge, an operating barrel loader, a searchlight tower, an operating junction tower, a banjo signal, a custom modified manually operating crane and a scratchbuilt manually operating conveyor belt loader. Plus a slew of buildings like a barn, house, gas station and a little diesel horn shed.

Lots of fun for a kid to play with... even some fun for me.

[pbjwilson]

Colin -
Check out these layouts
http://www.carendt.us/scrapbook/page31/index.html

[Anonymous]

You guys make me laugh ! A 1X3 layout? Impossible!

[pbjwilson]

I'm happy with my oval

[Anonymous]

The fact is, most of us have very small layouts, some none at all. A lot of people run their trains on the floor. There are more 4x8 layouts out there than one may realize. The large custom made layouts you see in CTT and OGR are the exception, not the rule.

[FJ and G]

straightaway for racing trains

[pbjwilson]

Hey, no fair excluding ovals.

Its the only kind of layout I build. It's a Classic!

[Anonymous]

A o27 circle with a VERY small passing siding

[underworld]

I saw one in an English mag...a switching layout. Not sure of the actual dimensions but it was something like 1' x 3' ..............tiny! I've got that mag somewhere, I'll try to find it.
underworld
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[3railguy]

A 32" x 80" 027 layout. It's a figure 8 with one spur.

[Anonymous]

What is the demsions of the smallest O gauge layout you every built?(Not encluding ovals) I

Colin