Kudos to your wife and you for a unique idea and build. We've all seen a lot of trolleys go back and forth, but having the elves waiting to board, and the destination at the other end was a neat idea.
The only thing that I would want to add would be a timed stop at each end of the line.
Dave
Mine 4 years ago.
@Dtrainmaster posted:Kudos to your wife and you for a unique idea and build. We've all seen a lot of trolleys go back and forth, but having the elves waiting to board, and the destination at the other end was a neat idea.
The only thing that I would want to add would be a timed stop at each end of the line.
Dave
Thank you Dave. 
That would be a really good look with a timed stop. You are going to have to help me with that one sir.
( I thought it would be fun to have the trolley come back from the Ski Lodge empty and when it hit the bumper at the Ski Lodge Express depot not only would the headlight reverse but the elves would pop up . 
)
@Dallas Joseph posted:Thank you Dave.
That would be a really good look with a timed stop. You are going to have to help me with that one sir.
( I thought it would be fun to have the trolley come back from the Ski Lodge empty and when it hit the bumper at the Ski Lodge Express depot not only would the headlight reverse but the elves would pop up .
To that end Dallas, at the Elizabethtown Masonic Village they have an outstanding train display. In a mountainous region there is a Shay pulling flat cars with logs. It disappears into the tunnel on the other side of the mountain. A few minutes later the same consist returns empty. Behind the scenes, which ever one rotates in, there is an identical engine and cars that emerge from a hidden siding. The entire layout is fascinating.
This is a photo from a few years ago. Typically they are open on the first weekend of each month from October to March or April.
Jay
Impressive display Chip; and excellent camera work too.
Jay
It's nothing special but it's better than nothing. It's the only time of the year that I get to run trains. My dream of a big layout hasn't happened. I have had a great time over the course of my life hunting down all the trains i could only dream of before. I'm starting to understand that the fun was in the hunt. My whole life of looking for those unmistakable orange boxes at garage sales, antique stores and so on. So many decades of fun memories doing that. I believe I'm pretty well done now. I'm going to keep a very good handful, but I believe it's going to be time to let the rest go as I do not believe the layout is going to be realized. But I'm happy with my one month per year of smelling Lionel trains and reflecting on my life from being a little kid in a onesie laying on the floor, my family alive, to this tired body I now live in. Merry Christmas everyone
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:To that end Dallas, In a mountainous region there is a Shay pulling flat cars with logs. It disappears into the tunnel on the other side of the mountain. A few minutes later the same consist returns empty. Behind the scenes, which ever one rotates in, there is an identical engine and cars that emerge from a hidden siding.
So Jay.......to facilitate the illusion for our layout you mean Judy has to get more trolleys * , paint snow and ice on them *, get light modules and leds from GRJ *, find some weights for them * , make lots of elves * and .................
...............* , *, *, * and * Judy would have to sell our two rescue pups ( only after she would stop feeding me and that ain't gonna happen ) to find enough revenue to purchase an infinite number of trolleys given our present Christmas track layout without considering our need for a huge new addition for the trolley storage area.
CHRISTMAS LAYOUT before this year's SKI LODGE EXPRESS.
Have a ball organizing the Christmas layout Jay.
@MattR posted:It's nothing special but it's better than nothing. Merry Christmas everyone
......AND A VERY MERRY AND PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS TO YOU MATT.
Dallas, the overall layout really looks great! Lots of action and scenes!!
I had to calm our rescue dog and tell him Judy will never sell the rescue pups!! 😊
@Chip - is yours a permanent layout? If so, do you make the winter scene just in winter time or is it always there?
thanks - walt
@Dallas Joseph posted:So Jay.......to facilitate the illusion for our layout you mean Judy has to get more trolleys * , paint snow and ice on them *, get light modules and leds from GRJ *, find some weights for them * , make lots of elves * and .................
...............* , *, *, * and * Judy would have to sell our two rescue pups ( only after she would stop feeding me and that ain't gonna happen
CHRISTMAS LAYOUT before this year's SKI LODGE EXPRESS.
Have a ball organizing the Christmas layout Jay.
Very nice Dallas and Judy great looking Christmas Layout!
@Dallas Joseph posted:Judy picked out this little MTH ' North Pole ' bump and go trolley at the VFM this year . With GRJs lighting module and elves added we finally found a place for it on our traditional Christmas layout .
I made a little ' SKI LODGE EXPRESS ' station to pick up elves to get to the SKI LODGE that Judy had made some years ago.
Have fun and God Speed all.
Those elves are having a great time heading to the slope. Nice job on the track and your little station.
@Mark Boyce posted:Dallas, the overall layout really looks great! Lots of action and scenes!!
I had to calm our rescue dog and tell him Judy will never sell the rescue pups!! 😊
@Sitka posted:Very nice Dallas and Judy great looking Christmas Layout!
When I get done with my chores I'll have to get a video or photo of this year's Christmas layout. ( don't know what else Judy might find at the VFM next time 
......and the pups are going to stay here....God willing and the creeks don't rise.).
@Dallas Joseph posted:When I get done with my chores I'll have to get a video or photo of this year's Christmas layout. ( don't know what else Judy might find at the VFM next time
I’m glad for you and the pups! 🐶🐶
@Dallas Joseph posted:Thank you Dave.
That would be a really good look with a timed stop. You are going to have to help me with that one sir.
( I thought it would be fun to have the trolley come back from the Ski Lodge empty and when it hit the bumper at the Ski Lodge Express depot not only would the headlight reverse but the elves would pop up .
Dallas, there are circuits out there to accomplish that; however there is a simple solution using a train running on another track. An insulated outside rail (2 feet or 2 sections ) on the other loop connected to insulated outside rails (both outside rails) on the trolley line. When a train is on the control rail it passes the neutral to the trolley line. The trolley otherwise sits there.
Christmas layout 2024.
After seeing many, many Christmas layouts in this thread, I am now going to consider, at least for one year (but not this year), simplifying my Christmas layout build. There's just something I really like about the plain, not highly scenic, layouts. Kind of like returning to my roots.
But... it's hard for me to own all of this stuff that I only get to see for a short time each year and not use it. But for one year MAYBE I can get over that.
Here are 3 shots of my 2023 Christmas layout as an example of how I TRY to make it as nice as I can make a temporary Christmas layout .
- walt
That looks good Walt and it must be fun to operate; nice detail.
Jay
Keeping fingers crossed for at least reliable operations for this VIDEO OP. Finally getting THIS 2024 Christmas layout caught in action and getting the season rolling.
...........now on to getting presents and wrapping them before something else happens.
Have a fun time rolling on rails towards Christmas eveyone.
Very nice layout, Dallas! Everything ran beautifully!
@Mark Boyce posted:Very nice layout, Dallas! Everything ran beautifully!
Thank you Mark. 
Fingers crossed but not too worried since the weather is dicating the extended time available for indoor layout fun sir.
@Dallas Joseph, quite a Christmas layout. Nice smooth operation. I can't quite make out the little critter on the right side that's travelling at the speed of sound, is it a handcar or some other tiny motorized unit?
@coach joe posted:@Dallas Joseph, quite a Christmas layout. Nice smooth operation. I can't quite make out the little critter on the right side that's travelling at the speed of sound, is it a handcar or some other tiny motorized unit?
Thank you Joe . No breakdowns as of this afternoon. 
The " little critter " is a little hand cart with elves operating it.......you know how those elves are. ( too much sugar and hot chocolates ).........or.....( a CW operator with too many cold ones )
Take care , stay warm and have fun sir.
@Mark Boyce posted:Very nice layout, Dallas! Everything ran beautifully!
Seems the camera guy goofed up. 
......did two videos show up Mike ?
Christmas trains in action. 7 car American Flyer orange stripe streamliner. 736/2226W combination pulling 800 and 2800 series cars. Originals and modern reproductions including Cancer Awareness hopper and Bacon on Flat Car.
C
I am getting a late start in decorating this year. I am still in process of getting all the stuff down from the attic. But I wanted to share some of the progress I've made since last year. Not as much progress as I'd hoped for, but definitely progress. The first 2 pictures are from last year when I set up for the first time. The second 2 are where I'm at currently. Still have a lot of paving left to do, as well as grass and other scenery, but it's definitely changing. 😊
Been Busy all this week haven’t gotten all the finishing touches done should have by Sunday 
will post evening photos soon with running video
Michael I love the mountain tunnel. Can’t wait to see some of those classics running.
@Dallas Joseph posted:Thank you Mark.
Fingers crossed but not too worried since the weather is dictating the extended time available for indoor layout fun sir.
The weather outside is frightful...
@R2unit posted:A lot of nice layouts! Here is my layout so far. I will update with another video during the night time with all the lights on.
Your layout looks great, with lots of tracks for several trains!
@Squirrel posted:I am getting a late start in decorating this year. I am still in process of getting all the stuff down from the attic. But I wanted to share some of the progress I've made since last year. Not as much progress as I'd hoped for, but definitely progress. The first 2 pictures are from last year when I set up for the first time. The second 2 are where I'm at currently. Still have a lot of paving left to do, as well as grass and other scenery, but it's definitely changing. 😊
Your layout is looking great! The attic gives me chills, both temperature and horror! Our attic has the pull down folding ladder for access and only headroom to be sitting on the floor. This house was my wife's grandmother's. I can recall when our girls were little, Grandma would often send our younger daughter up to the attic. I am thinking we will have to be calling on our daughter, now 31, to help again.
I haven't started the Christmas layout yet. Last week was outside lights and wreaths. I am not using a ladder anymore, I need to keep my feet on the ground! This week has been the Christmas tree and other decorations. Hopefully next week will be the Christmas layout; if I can find room for it. 
Thanks Mark. I had a 10’ x 5’ layout I started during covid. This past spring I took it down and built this one 16’ x 5’6”. The Christmas theme is temporary, I plan on landscaping it with something more permanent. I still have some more wiring to do as well as setting the switches (12 in all) up to be non-derail.
Art, It does look like it will be a really nice permanent layout. I have 13 switches on my layout and forgot to wire them for non-derail. That was a huge oversight!! The dispatcher (me) tends to make many switching errors leading to numerous derailments. I don't know how the railroad hasn't been able to let him go yet!!! 
Keep in mind Mark that Tower operators who are involved in derailments are taken out of service and sent for body fluid tests😄.
Jay
@onetrackmind posted:Just completed our Christmas Tree and train layout today after a month of work and preparation! More photos are on the way soon!
12/02 Update: The Lionel Operating Gateman has been removed due to technical issues with the Polar Express track loop.
@Dallas Joseph posted:Keeping fingers crossed for at least reliable operations for this VIDEO OP.
...........now on to getting presents and wrapping them before something else happens.
Have a fun time rolling on rails towards Christmas eveyone.
Dallas, great job on the layout. The red structure in the middle, I’m guessing, is that from the Polar Express. Who is the manufacturer?
Jay
PS. Those chocolated-up elves need to take the trolley home.
Thanks Jay.
I have to give a huge amount of credit to my Judy for this layout.....JUST ONE of the things she does on the layout....she makes these structures from yarn .
.....our St.Joseph Church that closed awhile back. >
......then a representation of our house >
.......She never had a train growing up.....this has been a labor of love for her........I offered some model railroading help.
Take care Jay and God Speed.
Judy does a great job, Dallas!
The clock is ticking it’s 9 hrs to this years Pancake breakfast with Santa and the club layout. We’ve been working on the layout since 11/4/24. The finishing scenic touches were done today. I test ran the 8 lines. I took some stills, the videos will come later.
@Mark Boyce posted:Judy does a great job, Dallas!
Thank you for your reply Mark . She does. I'm a lucky guy sir.
You should get some rest now........good night and God Bless . 😴 Zzz..zz..zz.....
@Dallas Joseph posted:Thanks Jay.
I have to give a huge amount of credit to my Judy for this layout.....JUST ONE of the things she does on the layout....she makes these structures from yarn .
.....our St.Joseph Church that closed awhile back. >
......then a representation of our house >
.......She never had a train growing up.....this has been a labor of love for her........I offered some model railroading help.
Take care Jay and God Speed.
WOW ! This is beyond fantastic
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