Two levels - two gauges

[Dr. John]

As I plan my new O gauge layout, I am wondering what to do with my collection of American Flyer and modern S gauge equipment.

I thought of having an elevated S gauge line over my (approximately) 5x9 O gauge layout, but my plans will involve some dense trackwork and several accesories, making it difficult to place trestle bents.

I am considering two completely separate levels for the layout. O gauge on the bottom and S on the top. I need some feedback on the pros and cons of this idea. Considerations will include access and visibility for both levels, whether to make the area of both the same or have the top level smaller, etc. I envision using 1x4 framework for both levels with 2x4 supports. Have any of you built anything like this or seen a layout like this? I'm open to suggestions!

[dougdagrump]

Dr. John, Welcome Back and congrats on the house. You probably indicated in an earlier post but I couldn't remember, must be gettin old. Is your layout in a room all by itself or are you being allocated some space in a common area ? If in it's own room why not do the "S" on an elevated shelf layout. [:)]

[underworld]

I like the elevated train idea. Maybe you could scratchbuild some trestle supports. Do you have a diagram drawn of your "base' O gauge trackage
.......with dimensions?

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[tjsprague]

If you take a look at some of the great large layouts in CTT over the years, many people do just that. A loop of S gauge higher and farther away works great as he scale difference just helps to "force" the perspective.

Now all you need is standard gauge in the forground and you'll be all set..

Good luck, post pix of progress.

Tim

[Dr. John]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

Doug thanks for the kind words. I'll be building the layout in a 12x16 shop. I will have storage shelves on the walls, a riding mower and a workbench, so the footprint of the layout will be 5x9 or 6x9.

Underworld and Tim, yeah, I've seen pics of elevated S lines on O gauge layouts. A couple of the Lionel showroom layouts did that and it looked great. My problem is that I plan on a LOT of track and accessories on the O gauge line. I am using RR Track software for my design, which is pretty acurate. I have not come up with a satisfactory arangement to have my S and O lines on the same benchwork. I would like to use my Flyer accesories and Plasticville buildings with my S gauge. That is why I really need to separate levels.

One idea I thought of was to have the S gauge 5x9 on sliding risers off of the O gauge layout - I would use bolts, washers and wingnuts to raise the S gauge layout utilizing slotted overlapping wood supports cut from plywood. If I build the upper 5x9 framework solid and rigid enough, I could probably get away with four supports, one at each corner. I would need help raising and lowering that section, however. The biggest challenge is to have the two layouts occupying the same floor space while being to operate one or the other in a comfortable manner. While it would be nice to run both at once, that is not a necessity for me.

Any ideas, critiques, or suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

[Buckeye Riveter]

Dr John, I am thinking about suspending a track from the ceiling to run the G Scale. I haven't gotten everything figured out.

[dougdagrump]

It's easy buckeye, if I can do it anybody can. [D)] [|(]

[underworld]

Dr. John The sliding riser does sound good. You mention raising and lowering......would you be doing this often or would it be fixed and you are trying to figure out how to get it balanced???

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Once while daydreaming track layouts I thought of a suspended layout also, and the means to raise and lower the layout was via a cable / pulley assembly. Using 1/8 stainless braided cable attached at the cornersof the layout, to pulleys on the ceiling to a common bar with a single cable to a winch/pulley to with a pawl. Adjustments in cable slack can be made with turnbuckles. To keep the layout from swaying in the down position, screw in 1/2" pipe cut to length into pipe floor flanges at each corner. A mark or stop on the single cable would tell you when to stop lifting to prevent hitting the ceiling with the tall stuff on the layout. This is what I was going to do before I figured how to tuck a bed under my layout as the agreement I came to with my wife for my TRAINROOM/bedroom. :)

[Dave Farquhar]

I found a very interesting dual-gauge (O/S) layout at http://yourpage.blazenet.net/jprampolla/index.html . Actually he's doing three gauges, because he put down a loop of HO track that he's using to power moving automobiles and other vehicles. He puts 0-4-0 HO mechanisms in dollar store vehicles.

Definitely worth a look. He also controls the layout using an old Timex-Sinclair computer from the early 1980s and has a ton of home-built animations.

[cbq9911a]

My own layout is two gauges. It's around the walls in my 20 x 30 basement; HO on one side and O 3 rail on the other. The tracks drop down to go under the "other" side.

I've got two levels of O scale with 2 loops of O track beneath the main layout.

An elevated loop for the S scale is a neat idea. Custom trestles can be easily made out of basswood.

[palallin]

Mine will be dual gauge, but mono scale: "In the mountains" (i.e. on the shelf) above the two levels of 3-rail O, there will be some On30 trackage more or less like an extended Timesaver. I will probably "connect" the two via an ore chute/dock that the narrow gauge cars dump into and from which the standard gauge (small "s"/small "g") cars are loaded.

[underworld]

I found a few sites that have the suspended systems
http://www.locoboose.com/
http://www.julestoytrains.com/
Maybe some other options.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[3railguy]

If it were me, and had the room, I would try to get the S gauge track in the center of the layout as others have posted to give the illusion of depth. Another idea is to fill the center of the room with O gauge layout and build an around the walls S gauge shelf layout 8 to 12" wide designed for mainline running with a passing siding and spurs here and there. Because it's only 12 inches wide, you can get it at eye level Then you would have room for train shelves below it.

[Anonymous]

Great idea DOC, I have seen what you are talking about on TRACKS AHEAD the gentleman uses On3 in front of you and HO in the back and at least on TV in looked like you were looking miles away to see the trains running in the background.

[Anonymous]

Definitely not a bad idea at all, Dr. John! The dual scales, properly employed, will make your layout seem all that much larger, which is almost always a good thing. This type of forced perspective technique is often employed in all the various scales, and with good effect. Just be sure to keep the larger scale in the foreground and the smaller scale in the background to maintain the illusion of depth.

[Dr. John]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions! I will ponder these ideas and check out the web sites. At least I can play around with some designs before committing to a final plan. I think I can make my idea work, even if I have to scale back some on one level or the other. Keep the ideas coming!

[Anonymous]

There is always ebay for the S gauge. They bring a good price.

Charlie

[yellowducky]

How about a diorama type on one den wall or spare bedroom wall?
Might ye be mostly wanting to display the S? My brother -in-law has a couple of tracks on top of a bookcase in a guest bedroom. They look impressive up there.