"O" gauge outside

[Bob@LNK]

I'm moving from Nebraska to San Antonio and won't have a room available for "HO" gauge. But I could do a Garden Railway in a small backyard.  "O" gauge would probably be the biggest i could use.  Is "O" gauge compatable with being outside?

[two tone]

Hi    O gauge will fade if out doors to long  the ultra violet light will make a colour change O gauge is an in door set up.

[PJM20]

The O gauge railways I have seen outside are usually railways on a elevated platform like this:

 

but some people do put O gauge in the garden like this:

 

Note: None of these pictures are mine, I found them on the internet.

I hope you have fun in the garden - Peter

[SNOWSHOE]

O gauge can be done outdoors.  Just do a google search.  I have heard you can get UV res ties not sure who makes them.  The only difference with O and G scale is debris will effect O gauge mor then G.  Garden Railroad has a nice book called gorgouse garden railways and has pictures of O guage running in the garden. 

[captain perry]

The British run live steam trains on O-gauge track fairly comonly.  Narrow gauge in Britain (Wales) is two foot gauge and these are the trains modeled.  they are similar scale and size to G-gauge narrow gauge equipment.  their scale is I think something like 1:19 where 3 foot gauge on G track is 1:20.3...similar.  Many if not most of the birtish modelers are running live steam manufactored by http://www.roundhouse-eng.com/ these engines are available gauged either for O or G track.

As to standard gauge models,  certainly you can fit more o-gauge in the same space.  However I do not think Lionel or similar equipment would last outside long without a lot of work.  Much of the G-gauge equipment is more weather resistant by design.  motors are sealed, materials are waterproof and corrosion resistant. 

G-gauge equipment is more reliable than o-gauge.  parts are bigger and less fragile, gears are bigger. Some restaurants have LGB trains running nearly constantly for years as displays in their dining rooms.

Narrow gauge models on G- gauge track can be pretty small and compact as shown by Vsmith http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/98019.aspx  this is a pretty extreme example and most gardens have a little more room to have fun in!

[ttrigg]

"O" and "On(x)" have been done very successfully by many friends on thses pages. On3 (generally US) and On2 (generally Brits) are being done and UV resistant materials are available, just takes a bit more searching. I have seen a few listings for stuff "outside" the range of On3 & On2 so it is out there. Put forth a good search and then get outside and play in the dirt.

[Mt Beenak]

PECO (UK) make 32mm gauge track in a standard gauge version (Code 110 rail) and a narrow gauge version with larger rail, about code 250.  Both are UV stabilised.  They also make 16.5 mm track for On30 scale.  I have tried the On30 and standard gauge outdoors, using raised garden beds with concrete track bed similar to my current F scale timber tramway.  The larger the scale, (and hence the larger the piece of plastic) the better the UV stabilising seems to work. All of the PECO rail lasted several years outdoors.  Some of the molded rail chairs (dog spikes) broke off over time owing to the movement of the rail in the heat, but the railway was abandoned for other reasons before the plastic broke down due to UV.

[ami6]

Atlas 3-rail O-gauge track is UV stable and can be used outdoor. Lionel, MTH, ATLAS and Weaver engines and cars will run great outdoors on Atlas 3-rail track.

[dougdagrump]

The Atlas track holds up quite well outdoors plus it is available in both two and three rail. In "O" gauge both Atlas and MTH have some very nice offerings but as stated earlier they will require a great deal more service than the "G" gauge equipment.

[cacole]

Gargraves makes O scale flex track with wooden crossties and stainless steel rail, which should hold up well in an outdoor environment.

 

[dougdagrump]

Here's a link to an "Outdoor O" layout, http://web.mac.com/railsforfun/wrr/Home.html .