Model Railway Forum

Some may remember I posted about a new house being built for us and an attic space specific for a railway, I now have the correct size of 4.8Mts x 7.5 Mts, I would like to go "O" gauge, but despite countless hours on SCARM, and websites, I cannot find/design one I like, so I need some guidance, The area is insulated and heated with windows,"Velux" the stairs come up into the middle of the space, so around the side layout, I would like a long run time, so have worked on a double loop and a triple, I would like a station with goods yard and sidings to give DW something to do, it will be era 1930/60s, all shop bought rolling stock, but and this is where I am having problems, I need to keep a Min radius of 1830mm (6Ft) so can only use the two wide radius points on the main lines and into the station, for goods shunting its ok as they will 0-6-0s,or similar, am I panicking needlessly? I really feel like employing one of these Pros to design it, I don't like being defeated, so any thoughts or ideas to regenerate my grey matter. Thankyou. Ff

I like the idea I had similar one in mind in oo but I found it hard in the space I had available. If you want to go for the long run by using 2 or three loops crossing them over each other using different levels through tunnels or over bridges and banks. Also you want good size station and goods yard in the plan it sounds as if in O gauge your may need the size of a tennis court. If I were you, I would go for oo gauge and you will have no problems having everything and more in the space you have. The other advantage would be the saving on the cost of buying O gauge, as everything is much more expensive. Also there are a lot more available in 4mm than there is in O gauge ............John

At least 8 ft or wider is preferred for 0 gauge. The wider the better. Having said that, the 0-4-0's and short wheelbase 0-6-0's (File off centre wheel flnges if they don't work for the 0-6-0's but don't expect a warrantee if you file them off... 0-4-0's should be fine) should work round tighter curves BUT one will need to use different couplings OR use double sized enlarged buffers instead. 0 gauge uses 3 link or screw link couplings which don't like tight curves.
The issues can be overcome in 0 gauge though in this scale it may be preferable to head into narrow gauge which with careful design can be made to turn 180 degrees on a 2 ft wide board! It is also possible to model on an extreme budget in narrow gauge.
00 gauge is more ideal for a standard gauge layout if it needs to turn in a width of 6ft. Due to this most modellers go for 00 gauge. Sadly more and more it is moving to wider curves. Why sadly? Because it used to fit on a table (Just about) and now not many models can negotiate first radius curves like they used to and tables getting smaller (So are houses these days!) it can no longer be described as a tabletop railway. (1st radius curves in 00 gauge need around 3 ft or over to turn 180 degrees... You have room for generous curves in 00 gauge).

MG, have you read his post. He has 4.8 m X 7.5 m. Not feet. He has loads of space, but he wants to get ever such a lot into it. I was only saying O gauge takes lots of space and oo gauge would have a wonderful amount of space for what he wants to do...John

All the plans I have drawn up in "O" all look like our old table top ovals, cost is not an issue, as I plan a garden railway as well, so only one set of rolling stock to buy, also in "O" Iam only using about eleven points, in "OO" on the plans I have already done there is thirty four, I really don't know what to do, hence my post, I think to achieve a realistic, and workable layout, I need to go back to the drawing board and do an "OO" with a simpler design, with long runs and more in the way of scenery, perhaps with a branch line going up into the hills, thank for your input. Ff

I think, many of us, if starting again, and given the great steps forward, and choice, would look very seriously, at 0 gauge. I have the space, but not the budget. Would need a massive sale of existing collection. Biggest drawback, is almost nil return for sale of track.

The circuit is called a folded loop for maximum longer run. I designed one like it last year. but the problem I had was looked good on paper but would not fit into my then small 10ft x 8ft small spare room. I know you dont have that problem. I agree with you that it may be better idea to go 00 gauge as to do something similar with 0 gauge would probably require a tennis court sized space. The problem with 0 gauge is the lack of ready made stock which is available even if you have the finance. 4mm to the ft as you probably know has a tremendous assortment of locos and rolling stock which has become very high standard of detail and at much more reasonable prices. There are not many people who have that much space available unless there is a spare barn available to them which is not required.
I know what it is like I spent months trying to fit a long run into my then spare room.
John

footplate1947 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 26, 2018 9:06 pm MG, have you read his post. He has 4.8 m X 7.5 m. Not feet. He has loads of space, but he wants to get ever such a lot into it. I was only saying O gauge takes lots of space and oo gauge would have a wonderful amount of space for what he wants to do...John

Ooh. Now thats a better size... Metres... Somewhere I read six feet wide? Ah. I can see the mistake... Plenty of room for a nice run...

Wow what a lovely space.

Ideal for 0 gauge ?