RateTheFreight Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Evening all, Apologies if the above has been answered before or is a bit generic, repetitive, vague or all of the above. I'm curious as to the smallest O gauge layout that you could build with some limited operating potential (I.e at least one point so some minimal shunting could be done). I don't have much space for a permanent layout (something 4/5ft long by 2ft wide comes to mind) however have a nice collection of vintage/modern 'coarse scale' o gauge which I love the feel, look and size of. Traditionally I've run it on the lounge floor as a temp layout however as fun as it is to run its a pain to set up and put away. I've been tempted by some of Dapols smaller offerings loco wise and have thought of building a very small O gauge layout but can't find anything specific that's convinced me such a small layout could be viable and fun to build and operate. Given time constraints with work, other hobbies (football) etc i tend to just spend a few hours a week modelling/running trains for which a small layout is ideal. Naturally I appreciate that if such a layout is viable using modern (2 rail) track is preferable. Anyhow, if anyone has any thoughts, things they could share that might inspire me or otherwise I'd be very grateful. Thanks in advance. Greg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry1975 Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Hi Greg, Funnily enough I'm doing just the same but in OO gauge. I guess it depends on what you want to operate, freight, passenger or both. In my case I'm going for both, so it will have to be railcars / bubble cars and small freight trains using small wagons. I'm going for a fork layout, the idea being one siding for the station and the other for a provender store/yard. In more modern times you could have a station and a engineers siding. Operation is very limited in a small space but with a fork set up you can use the station as a siding too for forming/shunting trains. You could also go down the pointless route and use a cassette / sector plate or traverser instead of points, I find less is more so try not to cram to much in. I hope that has helped you in some way. I wish you all the best with your project. Jerry. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Hi Greg, I'm doing O Gauge in 6ft x 15 inches with NO POINTS, but 3 Sidings as an Inglenook Shunting Puzzle. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/116976-penybont-sidings-from-page-39/page-39 Goo luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RateTheFreight Posted December 30, 2017 Author Share Posted December 30, 2017 (edited) Hi Jerry, Thanks for taking the time to reply; some useful and thought provoking ideas. Ironically I too had been considering doing a small OO layout (think inglenook) but there's just something about the size of O that appeals. My time spent 'playing' with my coarse scale O gauge trains enhanced this. I'm keen on steam so I'd imagine id be looking to run a terrier/jinty and a couple of wagons or maybe an autocoach. I've always liked being able to run different eras so a bubble car and an 08 could be an interesting combo with some wagons. I'd wondered whether I could create a smaller O gauge inglenook using less wagons but setting it somewhere ie a small station or yard even it the back line or similar was 'static' and used to pose other stock leaving a small siding to do some shunting. Greg Edited December 30, 2017 by RateTheFreight Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RateTheFreight Posted December 30, 2017 Author Share Posted December 30, 2017 Hi Andrew, Thanks for replying, sounds like a really interesting an innovative idea and using similar space constraints to mine! Greg 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 (edited) Depends what you mean by "operating potential" I suppose. This layout of mine is 4'8" long (including hidden track) by 12" wide.... no points; 2 sidings served by a cassette; provides a nice relaxing half-hour to an hour of gentle shunting - jut swapping a few wagons around really, and makes a good backdrop for photos of bigger engines too. "Lyddlow Goods" Edited December 30, 2017 by F-UnitMad 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
81A Oldoak Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Depends what you mean by "operating potential" I suppose. This layout of mine is 4'8" long (including hidden track) by 12" wide.... no points; 2 sidings served by a cassette; provides a nice relaxing half-hour to an hour of gentle shunting - jut swapping a few wagons around really, and makes a good backdrop for photos of bigger engines too. "Lyddlow Goods" Nice job on 3675. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Nice job on 3675. Well, with a nice model as a starting point... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rue_d_etropal Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 (edited) I sometimes think people think too big. I am planning a Gauge One(45mm gauge) layout with one point and a couple of working wagon turntables, all on the lids of 3 boxfiles. I think that works out at just over 3ft long. Not sure when I will actually start, as I have lots of other projects planned, not helped by someone coming up with that cakebox challenge, which has inspired me to see just how compact I can pack a working layout down into. Looking at Bob's old layout there, many of his did not have points, and one Iremember(first time I met him) was just a single length of track, which he could operate for a complete 2 day exhibition. Edited December 30, 2017 by rue_d_etropal 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdseyecircus Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 Hi Greg. I am building an O gauge micro which will go on travels in our caravan! http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/128038-stoneferry-engineering-o-gauge-micro/ Paul 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcm@gwr Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 (edited) I've built an 0 gauge Inglenook (5-3-3) in 6' 6" x 1' 4", which was generous/comfortable. You could go a lot smaller if you choose to do the 3-2-2 version, the full version has approx. 5,000 variations, the smaller still has over 2,000, so you are unlikely to be bored too soon! Edited December 31, 2017 by jcm@gwr 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RateTheFreight Posted December 31, 2017 Author Share Posted December 31, 2017 Hi Greg. I am building an O gauge micro which will go on travels in our caravan! http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/128038-stoneferry-engineering-o-gauge-micro/ Paul Hi Paul, Thanks for replying; love the idea of your layout, looks ideal for my space constraints. Out of interest what width is your layout? Greg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RateTheFreight Posted December 31, 2017 Author Share Posted December 31, 2017 I've built an 0 gauge Inglenook (5-3-3) in 6' 6" x 1' 4", which was generous/comfortable. You could go a lot smaller if you choose to do the 4-2-2 version, the full version has approx. 5,000 variations, the smaller still has over 2,000, so you are unlikely to be bored too soon! Hi JCM, I don’t suppose you know what minimum dimensions you might need for the 4-2-2 version? Greg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdseyecircus Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 Hi Paul, Thanks for replying; love the idea of your layout, looks ideal for my space constraints. Out of interest what width is your layout? Greg It's 12 inches wide Greg. Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcm@gwr Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 Hi JCM, I don’t suppose you know what minimum dimensions you might need for the 4-2-2 version? Greg Ahh! The Million Dollar question! And a correction, I should have said 3-2-2! (I'll edit my previous post) That all depends on the size of your wagons and loco, then the radius and type of pointwork, even the type of couplings (ie automatic, for hands-free operation). The best/easiest way to find out, is to measure out a rake of 3 wagons and then the loco & 2 wagons. Allow for the point-work, and clearance between the sidings, also for the un-coupling area (if using), that should give you the minimum size, but I would 'round it up' a bit, to make life easier. I would also recommend checking www.Carendt.com Good luck, and have fun. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RateTheFreight Posted December 31, 2017 Author Share Posted December 31, 2017 Thanks all for you’re replies over the last 24 hours, all of which have been of great help and, pivotally, convinced me that I can do the kind of micro O gauge layout I had in my mind. I’ll keep following those of you who have active projects on the go in the hope of further inspiration. Likewise I’ll hopefully do my own project blog too. I’m rather excited about the next steps. A happy new year to you all. Greg 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgood Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 Depends what...."Lyddlow Goods" Really nice touch with just the one missing plate on the Pannier - might just have to copycat that! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 Really nice touch with just the one missing plate on the Pannier - might just have to copycat that! It's prototypical, & took some careful research to get right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyWales Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 Hi Greg... I was able to make use of a space of 48 x 16 inches to accomodate a single point / three siding Inglenook microlayout in 0 gauge called Maenol Mine which gave me enormous scope for detailing and was very interesting to operate. I documented it's construction here back in 2012. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/14287-maenol-mine-an-update/page-1?hl=maenol Randall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Holliday Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 This publication from the O Gauge Guild might be inspirational. http://www.gauge0guildarchive.com/gazette_archive/other%20publications/Small-layouts-1/html5/index.html?page=1&server= 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted January 2, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 2, 2018 You can do a lot in 6 square foot or so in Gauge 0. This thread covered my foamboard 'Coxheath Sidings' project back in 2015-16 with one point: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/96750-easy-low-cost-micro-layout-baseboard-ideas/page-1 Dava Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 I always liked "Halstead". decent operating potential is a small space. http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=9634&forum_id=21&highlight=halstead Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Colin French, one of whose earlier layouts is in the GOG book, has an excellent micro-layout based on a back corner of Wolverton Works, which IIRC has no points, but has a working wagon turntable, which provides lots of interest. It's about 18" square. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Northroader Posted January 3, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 3, 2018 There was another thread running on this topic, here:http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/98416-small-layout-plan-help/ Mention of the GOG “small layouts” booklet, there is a second part since published, but I’m not too sure if it’s on the archive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Isambarduk Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 There was another thread running on this topic, here:http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/98416-small-layout-plan-help/ Mention of the GOG “small layouts” booklet, there is a second part since published, but I’m not too sure if it’s on the archive. See here: www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/98416-small-layout-plan-help/?p=1862188 and here: www.gauge0guild.com/images/Sales/Books.jpg David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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