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Bobot's O-Gauge Train Layout
(2001)
After abandoning 2 other layout designs since 1998, I settled on the one you
see below. The 12'x12' basement layout is constructed using 2x4 framing
and 3/4" plywood covered with indoor/outdoor carpeting with 4x4 pressure-treated
legs. The layout has (3) connected mains, a passing siding on main 1,
(6) dog-leg type sidings to park motive power, and a 5-track yard which is not
yet built.
There are about 20 Ross Custom
Switches and 20 blocks. The track is Gargraves Phantom Rail and Ross pre-formed
sectional curves laid on Vinylbed. The minimum radius is O-54, but there will
be (2) O-42 switches in the yard.
The 4x4 hole in the middle provides access for maintenance and track cleaning.
Pardon the mess of tools and wiring you see on the layout, but as any good model
railroad this is a "work-in-progress".
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I run
mostly O-scale motive power and rolling stock, although the occasional
O-27 piece makes it to the layout. I operate mostly Lionel motive
power because I prefer command control, but I also have several MTH
engines. I run Lionel, MTH, and Atlas rolling stock. The Vinylbed is held to the plywood with 3/4" blackened screws from Gargraves, and the track is screwed to the plywood through the Vinylbed with 1" blackened Gargraves track screws. |
| Ross switches
are operated by Tortoise slow-motion switch machines mounted under the
table. There are 4 power drops for each main loop, which provides a power drop every 6-7 track joints throughout the layout. A common 12-gauge ground bus wire was run under the layout to ease the wiring task, with 14-gauge used for the power drops and control panel switches. 18-22 gauge wire was used for the Tortoise switch motors. I recommend the use of crimp connectors and terminal strips, but discourage the use of "tap-in" type insulation displacement connectors. 12 and 14-gauge wire proved too big to consistently crimp successfully. |
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The layout
is currently powered by an MTH Z-4000 and (2) Lionel PowerHouses paralleled
together and running through an IC Control TPC3000. My biggest undertaking was the custom control panel I designed and built. It took a couple months to figure out, design, and build because I could not dedicate a lot of time to it and it was the first time I ever did anything on this scale. I printed the track layout on acid free RC paper and sandwiched it between 2 sheets of thin plexiglass. I then went about drilling and filing the more than 50 1/4" holes using a glass cutting bit. I then mounted the miniature toggle switches and LED holders and LED's for the switches and power. I used pine to make a box and stained and polyurethaned it. I really like the way it came out. |
| At right
you can see some of the tedious soldering and wiring on the underside
of the control panel. I had to hook all those mini toggle switches up
to 14-gauge wiring in a lot of cases! The power blocks use DPDT center off toggles rated for 10 AMPs. I used DPDT switches rated for 6 AMPs for the Tortoise switch motors, and the center lead from each went through a dual-color LED in an LED holder mounted in the plexiglass. I'm sure it doesn't meet UL Listed standards but it did work perfectly without modification since installation. Wiring was routed through the back of the control panel to the terminal blocks under the layout. Wires were numbered using stick-on labels. |
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Houses
and other scenery is next, but I wanted a layout with maximum track
action and operability in my space so concern to scenery was not a top
priority. At this point I am planning on filling part of the 4'x4'
hole in the middle to provide some room for a small town. I'd also like to trim out the edges of the layout to provide a more finished look. I am toying with the idea of putting an elevated section over the top of the current layout to run passenger trains but at this point no real plans are confirmed. |