I have to open about this. . .

Circus clowns have always scared me, any clowns for that matter. Remember IT?! See, I told you they were not to be trusted. I almost forgot Ronald, not Regan, but Macks, although both scared me somewhat.  

How about outside third rail. What is that anyway? 

What about layouts that have have thousands of dollars of fine brass duplicating the Daytona 500? Without even a pit road to switch to. 

Or how about the shoe box factory that is smaller than each of the 10 box cars a day it services. 

Or even further, the factory that makes the plastic things on the ends of the shoe laces, so as to supply the shoe lace factory to supply the shoe factory. The traffic they generate blows me away!  

Or what about the ......time to let someone else take over.

You started this brothslide!

Steve 

...

<2)  N trak modules.  I just have a hard time with the 3 main line tracks each separated by about 200 scale feet.>

And what is wrong with N-Trak modules? Many people use them and they make great displays. Of course many could be improved by havn them match. But the idea is to create huge layouts where near prototype leangth trains could be run. Most people haven't seen those so a train with 100+ cars is something to see.

Of course, that is possible in HO but you would need a professional football field to do it in.

Irv

3 rail is an aquried taste be it Lionel O gauge or Standerd(wide gauge if prewar American Flyer). Then there is the outside 3rd rail that requires some mods to the locos to make the track look more realistick but if you go to that much trouble It would be more easy to go with 2 rail O gauge, and then there are proto 48 people who take every detail to the extreme.

Now the secret advantage to a 3 rail system is no shorts on a reverse loop because the two outside rails are the same electrical point and the inner(3rd rail) is the oposing electrical point. Marklin has/had a 3 rail system in Ho.

Got to agree with you on Clowns(IT was a great movie by the way) but circus trains are cool, I do have issues with other "collectable" subcatagories of trains such as Nascar, M&M and Sponge Bob trains.

I do think it is kinda funny that Hi-railers use large flanged wheels and tall rails but try to make super realistic scenerery.

MY opinions are just that and not intended to make anyone upset. Regaurdless of which scale/gauge and style of trains we run remember to have fun and keep them on the rails.

I never cared much for 3 rail either, when I modeled in O scale I did the two rail thing, the advantage that the 3 rail manufacturers have given the 2 railers is now full scale stuff, which can often be easily converted to 2 rail, I did that with a couple of items, a cool Santa Fe caboose from MTH converted real easy with Atlas caboose trucks and Kadee couplers, not much needed to be done to modify the car any, just changed out the trucks and put Kadee's on it, it looked good.

Circus trains are a reality, not something one would  want to run on a model railroad very often, but in real life they traveled all over the country.

Ntrak is great, it provides a small layout for those who don't have room even for an N scale railroad, may not be your cup of tea, but works for a lot of guys out there!

 Glad I'm not the only one. I have never been to a circus because of it.

I do like NoJoe the Clown and his friend, Toot. He's different, doesn't get up in your face, and makes you laugh. They are the only clowns I enjoy going to watch at the county fair

Afraid of Clowns?

I like Clowns especially the ones with their teeth sharpened to points while also carrying 18 inch Butcher Knives that they use to hack and slash their way in as they sneak in your back door just so they can get into your Basement to run your 3 Rail "O" Gauge trains at break neck speeds. The best part is when they use their Butcher Knives to chop "N" Gauge trains into Scraps for the scrap yard when they find out your a free Mo builder.

Dan

Scared of clowns?  I don't get it.  The only SCARY clown I know of is named Pennywise...but he lives only between the covers of "IT" by Stephen King.

I think a circus train could have it's place in the right era and area.

3-rail never did it for me either really

Clowns:  I've inspected a few carnivals and circuses:  my personal impression of clowns in not favorable.

3 Rail:  I've got the perfect place for that:  my dad's old Lionel set is on prominent display on a shelf over my modeling desk.

Circus trains:  I've been involved in clubs in N scale, HO scale, and 1½" live steam, and all three had a member building a circus train.  I think I would classify each as an "extreme kit basher".  You really have to be committed to do a circus train.  The live steamer had a half dozen cars done, another half dozen started, but his steamer sits, chassis only, rusting in a corner.

Clowns - depends on the context.  If they are where they are supposed to be [i.e. a circus or kids' TV show], are skilled professionals and enjoy that type of work, more power to 'em.  But I don't like the amateurs in shopping malls who try to sell stuff to my kids.

Circus trains - I know a circus train modeler, have seen his work and I have great respect for his talent.  Having said that, you'll probably never see a circus train on my own layout because it's not the type of train you see on a typical day on the prototype.  Too much out of the ordinary to be 'believable.'

3-rail O scale - I loved it when I was a little kid, some people continue enjoying it even into adulthood.  It does not interest me in the least, but if it brings enjoyment to others - hey that's a good thing!

Ntrak - I'd probably like it better if it were 2-track rather than 3-track main lines.  Unless you're modeling Cajon Pass or Horseshoe Curve, you'll need urban scenery to make a triple main look believable.