O Gauge Layout

[Anonymous]

I would like to build an O gauge layout in my 23'x10.5' basement room. I would like this 3-rail layout to be more toward the scale or hi-rail side. I definitely want at least two levels. Any layout plans that anyone has would be appreciated.
Thanks

[Anonymous]

well JayC, I am in the same boat as you my friend. I'm working on my 3rd layout now and my advice to you is ....look around.

I've gone back through all of my old CTT and OGR mags. There are a lot of plans there. In all honesty I can't say much for some of the books out there. They are either reproductions of plans from the 50s or are not detailed enough to build directly from the plans.

My advice however is to look at all of them, because there will be things you will want and things you will like.

I also advocate getting the free software from Atlas O. You may not be using Atlas track, but give them a chance since they are nice enough to give out free planning software. It takes a couple times to get the hang of it, and there are a lot of quirks I don't like about it, but hey it's free.

I've posted a couple plans in another thread and I'm debating what to do. Elements of them are in different plans, but in the end my layout will be all mine.

TPL
The Plastic Lizard

[Anonymous]

Good luck on your new layout. Here's some links you may want to check out.
The first link is for books you may find usefull. It has been my experience that guys spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars on their layouts and won't spend a dime on good referrence books:

http://store.yahoo.net/kalmbachcatalog/toy-trains-books-realistic-operation.html

The second link will take you to a great article by the sponsors of this forum. Read it over and digest it because it has some excellent tips on layout building.

http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/000/883whtmq.asp

Third is Thors web site, lots of good content here, but it will take some time to view it all:
www.thortrains.net

You may also want to do a Google search for "O-Gauge Layouts" and see what you come up with.

Hope I've been of some help,
BillFromWayne
www.modeltrainjournal.com

[Frank53]

thorstrains is an excellent site. I would also recommend NOT getting the free atlas software, but rather spring for the $79.00 for RR_Track from R&S Enterprises. Superior product, although it takes some geting used to, but I tried the Atles route route and found it nearly useless for my needs in designing a post war layout.

[Anonymous]

CTT has a new track plan book

http://store.yahoo.com/kalmbachcatalog/10-8350.html

One of the layouts has what appears to be a three track main, but the outside two mains are actually a flipped over figure 8, with a yard that's passed every other time around, every time around you pass over the diamond alternating the outside and middle main. The flipped over figure 8 and inside main oval are connected by switches. I've run trains on a layout that's a variation of this plan (mirrored with the figure 8 in the middle and a reverse loop in the center yard) and it's fun with some good operational possibilties.

Brady

[Frank53]

brady:

I purchased that book over the weekend. It is excellent. YOU can tweak any number of those plans to a variety of applications.

[zwbob]

Try looking at AtlasO track kits. They have quite a few track plans though they are pricey. I used one of thier plans and made a few changes. I also used 027 track with 072 and 054 curves (less expensive) and gargraves switches. I am planning to add to the layout this fall so it will end up not looking like the original plan at all. But the Atlas plan was a good starting point.