My Postwar - Semi-Scale O Gauge Layout

A quick tour of my layout. Plenty of things are still under construction, but is a layout ever finished?

[@musicman8942]

I love this layout

[@JohnETrains]

Thanks! It’s a fun layout to run trains on!

[@donaldlamendola8294]

Stunning! I love the Postwar ERA look. You my friend nailed it. Thank you for sharing!!!

[@JohnETrains]

You’re very welcome! Glad you like it!

[@oldprankster7606]

Love the sound of O gauge rolling stock. Brings back memories.

[@stephenetris1564]

Back to basics many of us remember as kids. I can relate to many of the accessories as I also have them Well done

[@dannyg402012]

That I enjoyed watching. I don't know why everybody runs their postwar at full throttle wide open like it's a race car set. This was very enjoyable to watch it gave me a chance to see everything

[@1940limited]

Maybe it's because the older engines don't creep as well as the new stuff.

[@zelzagati]

@@1940limited doesn’t mean they have to run them at full throttle

[@Shipwright1918]

Should be mentioned these aren't postwar locos, they're modern ones with can motors (no mars lights or sounds beyond a horn in the postwar era). The old-style motors don't do slow crawls very well, even with perfectly clean brushplates/contacts, though it can vary engine to engine. Me personally, I like to run at a moderate pace as my layout has sharp curves and switches, but it is nice to get a bit of a clip going too, the sounds of the wheels clicking over the rail joints gets a nice rythym the faster you go. Fun to watch a lighted passenger train flash by at speed after dimming the lights.

[@genemanno1533]

@@Shipwright1918I’m not a guy with interest in modern trains. That aside. Not so sure the post war can’t pull slow, my dual motor magna traction engines will pull a lot slower than this video. In fact twin dual motor magna traction (powered “A&B”) will pull just barely moving way more consist than shown. I don’t use dummy’s, if it’s an engine it’s powered. Half of them both trucks. Trick is add weight & have uniform power all around tracks. But in all honesty it is more fun to run faster than slower. Magna traction has advantage of sticking to steel tracks that rubber bands don’t.

[@tableseven8133]

@@genemanno1533 I've also noticed that magna traction does add more drag to the motors as well, making them able to run slower.

[@SteveBull-tg8mi]

Very nice classic Lionel layout!

[@campbell166]

Fantastic layout I could watch it all day 👍🚂

[@knitterscheidt]

Great to see old and new Lionel on the same layout, it looks fantastic!

[@JJosephS1]

Great Job! Looks great! Your mountain is impressive. Lots of switches and route options, crossover and reversing loop--awesome.

[@robertmackenzie1775]

Great job John!

[@JohnETrains]

Thanks!

[@JR-es5zl]

Very nice, thanks for sharing it with us.

[@paulbervid1610]

Very nice

[@rcnut5112]

This is kind of layout I like simple enough and for the of trains perfectly perform

[@joemode101]

Extremely awesome layout great job on it. It really amazing 👍🏼

[@JohnETrains]

Thanks Joe! It’s been a labor of love, and many hours under the table lol.

[@joemode101]

Yes i bet fun and lots of work the end results are a blessing

[@MartyE]

That was fun! Nice layout!

[@JohnETrains]

Thanks Marty! Merry Christmas 🎄

[@dennisb-trains23]

Very nice layout! 😁

[@davidlindig]

Beautiful layout. Simple and sweet. Perfect speed.

[@harold1098]

Awesome layout!

[@cpnscarlet]

It's a pure toy train layout. Be proud! Don't need to call it "Semi-Scale."

[@JohnETrains]

Thank you! I agree!

[@1940limited]

Beautiful. The Lionel tinplate track is very nice.

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

Nice.

[@craigjones2162]

Didn’t know they had a smoking cabosse back then.😊

[@ciscotheinkboi]

Looks like Ward Kimball's train room!

[@mikefinley4367]

I'm laughing at myself. No fannof plastic and preferring the metal made trains and cars, tinplate ... I saved two of your vids in my train favorites file, thumbs up.

[@JohnETrains]

Thanks! I have some nice, good-running tin plate, including the pre-war Lionel set my Dad was given in 1939. Probably will add more to the roster after attending the York show next week.

[@mikefinley4367]

@@JohnETrains There was a guy who had a layout on the cover of Classic Toy Trains, Italian in N.Y. He also did a excellent job and think his name is Skip Toli ? The guy has built incredible layouts of multiple themes and styles but this deserves a cover as well.

[@davidkoehler136]

wonderful

[@JohnETrains]

Thanks David!

[@tomamerman9740]

Very cool layout love it

[@JohnETrains]

Thanks!

[@ernestimken6969]

Two rail DC is O scale. Three rail AC is O gauge.

[@larryteresi7193]

Like to see track layout plan.

[@caryhewitt1256]

Impressive!

[@JohnETrains]

Thanks!

[@azslotracer]

Great looking layout. What are your dimensions on the layout?

[@JohnETrains]

You probably can see it’s a simple L confirmation. I originally did this on two 4x8 tables. I updated to two 6x8 tables which gave me room for the accessory siding and larger two track passenger siding. Original layout was modeled after one in CTT mid 1990s.

[@azslotracer]

@@JohnETrains thank you.

[@davidlindig]

@@JohnETrains thanks for the info. Going to seriously consider this one.

[@elleryparsons5766]

If you can Try to use Woodland Scenery Risers on that Layout

[@lionelpostwartrains]

Do you have a diagram of your layout? It's very well planned.

[@JohnETrains]

Thanks Ralph. I based it on a track plan shown in CTT March 1997. CTT do not allow me to show that plan, its intellectual property. They want you to buy the digital archive. I made a 3D rendering using the Scaniverse app. It’s one of my short videos.

[@williammosesmoses7961]

What size is your layout

[@JohnETrains]

You probably can see it’s a simple L confirmation. I originally did this on two 4x8 tables. I updated to two 6x8 tables which gave me room for the accessory siding and larger two track passenger siding. Original layout was modeled after one in CTT mid 1990s.

[@davidsheriff8989]

No ballasting ?

[@JohnETrains]

I’ve given it thought. It’s not quite a hi-rail layout though. It will eventually revert to a almost 100% toy train layout, with the scale buildings moving to a yet to be built close to scale layout that will have Gargraves track and Ross switches.

[@inscoredbz]

Tmcc?

[@JohnETrains]

Just DCS and Conventional at the moment. I have a 990 on back order. So there is TMCC and Legacy in the future.

[@shreditfastdotcom]

Is it possible to het the layout dedign?