3-Rail O-Gauge Switching Layout

[Mixed Freight]

Hello All,

I'd like to start off by introducing my 3-rail O-gauge switching layout that I started building right about a year ago. It's kinda' hard to say just exactly WHICH forum to post this in, because there are several good candidates that it could be posted in, but ultimately I decided on the Tinplate and Hi-Rail forum, since it is probably the summation that this layout represents. Maybe, maybe? Heck, I dunno.

At any rate, the inspiration to build this came about after taking delivery of a brand spanking new Lionel Legacy SW8 3-rail switch engine a few months before that. I have a 6' x 16' O-gauge layout table with a big inner and outer oval set up on it, and after running my new loco on it for a short while, I decided that this new loco was waayyyy too cool to be merely running around in circles on a plywood table. The sound system on that loco is out of this world, amongst other of its features. Therefore, the decision was made to construct a much more palatable layout in order to do this loco some justice.

Without further adieu, here's a few pic's of my layout set up at a local train show in early March............................

It's actually modular construction, consisting of two 2'-wide x 8'-long sections that clamp together for a total of 16' in length. The track and turnouts are all GarGraves, plus there's one Ross Custom Switches crossing. It's kind of designed a little like a switching puzzle, but hopefully not too mind-bending. Obviously, instead of a toy train layout running around the Christmas tree, this one is fairly more adult-oriented. Also seen are my scratch-built structures of Honeggers Feed & Grain, Worn County Standard Public Warehouse, and the Team Track Loading/Unloading Ramp which have been featured in previous posts in the "Buildings and Structures" forum.

 

[Mixed Freight]

The layout is designed to be somewhat of a switching puzzle, although not too (hopefully) mind-bending. Just a layout to have some fun while running that great-sounding switcher on. It features one run-around (and one crossing for the fun of it). The shortest track of the run-around holds two cars plus the loco. One of my next steps will be to come up with a car-card system to introduce the multiple switching scenarios which this layout should be highly capable of.

Not to forget some general construction notes, the modules are made of 8' long 1 x 4 pine side members, 1 x 4 oak plywood ends (for durability), 1 x 2 pine cross members at 16" on center, and 2" thick pink foam inserted into the frame. The track is nailed through the foam to the 1 x 2 cross members, and also secured to the end members. I got extremely lucky when starting to build this layout, as I found some folding tables with extendable legs at our local Sam's Club. The tables were the perfect size for this layout.

What started out as the front splice plate also ended up as the transformer shelf along with smoke fluid storage and Universal Remote holder. The transformer is just an inexpensive little Lionel CW-40, as the locomotive is the only thing it has to power.

 

[Mixed Freight]

A switching puzzle is a lot more fun when you actually have some industries and scenery on the layout, as opposed to just a bare board with some track nailed down to it. Which is what most switching puzzles seem to be at train shows I've attended in the past.

Who could resist switching these cars out, when there's an actual industry there?!?!?

A road crossing adds some interest. Plus helps disguise the seam between the two modules.

The Standard Public Warehouse is good for two cars. Mainly boxcars, but who's to say that a refrigerator car or poultry car or even a flat car couldn't be spotted there for some reason or other?

One scenario has this layout being a dead-end branch line. And After arriving in town with the local, the caboose will need to be re-arranged during the switching moves to the other end in order for the train to return to its point of origin. And on the team track, a variety of car types could be spotted there. We'll have to see what the future brings.

These pictures were taken before the show started. During the show, I let any interested N-scalers, HO-scalers, and O-gaugers run the layout for a little bit, and not a single one of them didn't have fun doing it. As a matter of fact, more than a few of the N-scalers and HO-scalers started thinking that maybe O-gauge might just be a decent alternative as they are getting older and finding that their trains are getting a little harder to see.

That's all for now. Hope you enjoy this, it's been fun building, showing, and running. And it's not done yet by any means. In addition to trying to finish up Honegger's Feed & Grain, I was humping to get something (anything) for a backdrop on the skyboard. Hence the brown "grocery sack" paper and the green "grass mat" tree line. And four dead trees just to take up space and add some interest. If that clues you in to what further work I will try and accomplish between now and the next show I take it to.

 

[Smudge617]

A switching puzzle is a lot more fun when you actually have some industries and scenery on the layout, as opposed to just a bare board with some track nailed down to it. Which is what most switching puzzles seem to be at train shows I've attended in the past.

View attachment 164531
Who could resist switching these cars out, when there's an actual industry there?!?!?

View attachment 164532
A road crossing adds some interest. Plus helps disguise the seam between the two modules.

View attachment 164534
The Standard Public Warehouse is good for two cars. Mainly boxcars, but who's to say that a refrigerator car or poultry car or even a flat car couldn't be spotted there for some reason or other?

View attachment 164533
One scenario has this layout being a dead-end branch line. And After arriving in town with the local, the caboose will need to be re-arranged during the switching moves to the other end in order for the train to return to its point of origin. And on the team track, a variety of car types could be spotted there. We'll have to see what the future brings.

These pictures were taken before the show started. During the show, I let any interested N-scalers, HO-scalers, and O-gaugers run the layout for a little bit, and not a single one of them didn't have fun doing it. As a matter of fact, more than a few of the N-scalers and HO-scalers started thinking that maybe O-gauge might just be a decent alternative as they are getting older and finding that their trains are getting a little harder to see.

That's all for now. Hope you enjoy this, it's been fun building, showing, and running. And it's not done yet by any means. In addition to trying to finish up Honegger's Feed & Grain, I was humping to get something (anything) for a backdrop on the skyboard. Hence the brown "grocery sack" paper and the green "grass mat" tree line. And four dead trees just to take up space and add some interest. If that clues you in to what further work I will try and accomplish between now and the next show I take it to.

Thank's, really enjoyed this and very informative, more please.

 

[Rico]

Very nice Paul, well done!
Ive often thought about doing something similar with GarGraves as well, I have friends in O and it really is fun!