a picture a day....

Moonlit hobo camp on the Shenandoah Short Line.

#34 on my Christmas Layout count"UP"

- walt

the lower level

The plateau 4'x14'

some night shots

So, Walt how many days, weeks, etc did it take you to put all this together.  It is an incredible layout, with lots of activity'....👍😁

Just a reminder: my idea is/was to show growth from year to year and NOT concentrate on small scenes.

- walt

Walt the expansion of your layout is a true example of Manifest Destiny, trains from wall to wall!

@Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

So, Walt how many days, weeks, etc did it take you to put all this together.  It is an incredible layout, with lots of activity'....👍😁

well, 'put all this together' has components to it.  I spend from Feb. to around late summer planning a track design and accompanying scenes that I want to use, and where.  Of course, that time is off-and-on.

Building the layout itself takes me usually around 7 weeks.  Same for taking it down, cleaning everything, and putting it all in storage.  A labor of love though!!!!

thanks for asking

walt

#35 in my count"UP" series of Christmas layouts.

The inverted 'L' is the upper level position.

- walt

planning the scenery

Something a little different just to show more of the planning that goes into it.  Planning lockons and 'blocks' (I use DCS and it's preferred)

some night images

and 2 of my favorite type of picture

The hazard of having a 2nd level on a floor layout.  In the top of ths picture is a black and white engine sitting on a switch - that switch went bad and I had to find a way to replace it.  Talk about needing all of the patience in the world!!!!!  But it had to be replaced because it was a critical one to have.

@walt rapp posted:

well, 'put all this together' has components to it.  I spend from Feb. to around late summer planning a track design and accompanying scenes that I want to use, and where.  Of course, that time is off-and-on.

Building the layout itself takes me usually around 7 weeks.  Same for taking it down, cleaning everything, and putting it all in storage.  A labor of love though!!!!

thanks for asking

walt

Not a total comparison , but I know what a Dodge Charger Hellcat is capable of doing in a quarter mile but I never saw anything as fast and capable as the work ( play ) that you have accomplished Walt. .

..........and the results are terrific sir.  Nice.      God speed  and thank you for sharing.

Great pictures everyone!

Walt you sure have a passion for your layouts and it shows! I will b e starting on my 3rd layout here I hope this coming winter and I dont think I could put up a layout like your just to turn around and take it down! Lets just say I am a little lazy! LOL

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Not a total comparison , but I know what a Dodge Charger Hellcat is capable of doing in a quarter mile but I never saw anything as fast and capable as the work ( play ) that you have accomplished Walt. .

..........and the results are terrific sir.  Nice.      God speed  and thank you for sharing.

Indeed, Walt is one of the most dedicated O Gauger's on this forum'  True patience of a saint'.. God speed and continued good luck and health'..👍😁

Wow guys, your comments truly humble me

#36 on my count'UP' to current day on my Christmas Layouts

- walt

wanted to have as many of my trains available as possible.  I created multiple staging yards to that end.

some at night

still my favorite type of layout picture!

Wow', that is a tremendous holiday layout' Walt.. Outstanding'...✔

Count"UP" #37 for my Christmas Layouts.

- walt

These were taken during teardown.

@Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

Wow', that is a tremendous holiday layout' Walt.. Outstanding'...✔

Ted, I would say Walt is the king of Christmas layouts!!

Still trying to stay humble

- walt

@walt rapp posted:

Still trying to stay humble

- walt

@walt rapp

Walt:

You don't need to be humble. All of the compliments are well deserved!

@walt rapp posted:

Still trying to stay humble

-

Got ya Walt..........always being TRULY  HUMBLE is accepting the TRUTH........NOT MORE than and NOT LESS than.         Great forum contributions sir.

@Randy Harrison posted:

@walt rapp

Walt:

You don't need to be humble. All of the compliments are well deserved!

You nailed it Randy.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Ted, I would say Walt is the king of Christmas layouts!!

I totally agree!! Walt is the KING of Christmas layouts!

Count"UP" #39 for my Christmas Layouts

- walt

track plan

lower level

upper level

Some at night

For the first time, I set up all 6 models of family members' houses that I built.  It was enjoyable to see the out and grouped to make a scene

this is the front area which isn't seen in any of the above.  At that time I was hosting what we called the 'Train Party' for all 28 local family members.  Lots of kids 10 and under so each year I would create a 'candy train'

@Walt rapp

Another amazing display. With an upper and lower which each could be a stand alone great layout. The family houses are awesome.

FOR TODAY:   Patsburg Ave. this morning was all abuzz!  

#40 in my count"UP" of Christmas layouts.

- walt

This track designs allows for trains running on any of the 3 outer loops to switch tracks that they are running on.

There's the candy trains again

My nephew made this for me.

My sister gave to me this big metal train (lites up too) as a Christmas gift in 2014.  It's really special to me because she unexpectedly passed away a few months later.  I try to find a place for it each year.

Recall that  mentioned hosting a 'Train Party' for my entire family.  To honor my sister, I set up this scene to accomplish that.  I had made a 30 minute DVD of pictures of her, sometimes like here, just her, but other times with various family members, and played in on a DVD in this drive-in scene to play so that family members could remember too.  They all were touched seeing it.

I made these 3 billboards to show some meaningful pictures.  The Miller drive-in sign is special too because my sister was a well-known Gone With The Wind expert on both the book and the movie and did presentations all over the country on them.

@walt rapp posted:

#40 in my count"UP" of Christmas layouts.

- walt

This track designs allows for trains running on any of the 3 outer loops to switch tracks that they are running on.

My nephew made this for me.

@walt rapp

Walt:

#40 is yet another grand slam home run! If there ever is a Christmas Layout Hall of Fame, you will be in it!!!!!

@Randy Harrison posted:

@walt rapp

Walt:

#40 is yet another grand slam home run! If there ever is a Christmas Layout Hall of Fame, you will be in it!!!!!

What a magnificent way of putting your compliments together Randy . 😎   Walt sure has added creative enterprises to a model train layout.    ( it's almost like the layout has given his heart a place to express his feelings )    What a great hobby and forum this is.

Godspeed all.

Again -  Humbling.

I do enjoy designing a building a new layout each year.  It keeps the creative juices flowing, you know!

- walt

Walt, I have come to appreciate your Christmas layouts so much more these last few weeks!  Thank you for sharing the photographs and your thoughts behind the layouts.  What a great tribute to your sister!

The CN C-liner approaching the South Main Street crossing...with a view of the North Main Street skyline in the distance...

FOR TODAY:  Halbert Pixley rides the rear step of on e of the town garbage trucks.

It is Christmas Eve at the Cathedral of Saint Whatshisface. The choir is singing, and the chamber orchestra is playing with a "guest" tuba player, a gorilla that escaped over the wall of the City of Christopolis Zoo next to the cathedral. Another of the gorilla's friends is also escaping over the wall and down a tree branch behind the orchestra. I hope he can play violin. The orchestra needs more strings.

Lionel #675 arriving with the afternoon mail...

@trumpettrain posted:

FOR TODAY:  Halbert Pixley rides the rear step of on e of the town garbage trucks.

Patrick, that's a great garbage truck! The weathering is perfectly grungy. I think that's the first time I've seen it in one of your photos?!

#41 on my Christmas Layout count"UP"

walt

Upper level

lower/base level

These were taken while the build was still going on, so not the greatest

Some night images

some random scenes

A car that I fashioned up

An finally, as I've shown in previous versions and explained, my (smaller than past years) treat to the nieces and nephews.  And don't fool yourself into believing that - the adults just as much

Walt,

You should make a book of all your different layouts.

@walt rapp- Walt those pictures are just amazing, you and your Holiday layouts are just unbelievable.  Now I will never be satisfied with my simple loop around the tree!

Best wishes

Don

Thanks Don.  I am single, live alone, and love spending "off months" planning the upcoming year's layout.  When I build it I am not in any rush at all since I'm the only one that has to put up with the 7 weeks of mess in the house

I'm 100% sure that if I was married I would never be building these layouts only to rip them down in a short time.

walt

Morning guys, just dropped in to say what great photos everyone!

A different view of the South Main Street area as the CN C-Liner approaches the crossing...some activity in the main tower at the "Charles Street Yard..."

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

Patrick, that's a great garbage truck! The weathering is perfectly grungy. I think that's the first time I've seen it in one of your photos?!

Thanks so much Scott!  "grungy"  is a perfect descriptive word of how this truck appears.  Although I haven't shown this truck much on the forum, especially with this much exposed detail,  I did share several photos of it two weeks ago on the Weathering Wednesday thread.  At that time I shared how this truck came to be in my procession and the weathering process I used to get it looking, as you say "grungy".    

@NJCJOE posted:

Walt,

You should make a book of all your different layouts.

I must concur with @NJCJOE !! I second his motion!  All in favor say " Yo! Walt ! DO IT!  The "Yo! Walt! DO ITs" are unanimous!!!   I hear a slam of the gavel ! Motion is now adopted!  Okay Walt,  on what date can we expect your book?!

@Capetrainman posted:

A different view of the South Main Street area as the CN C-Liner approaches the crossing...some activity in the main tower at the "Charles Street Yard..."

Capetrainman - I love how the rails reflect the light in this scene!!  The entire scene is lit perfectly IMHO giving a semi " Thomas Kincaid " whimsical effect while retaining a realistic effect too.   GREAT PIC!!!

FOR TODAY:  Saturday morning at the Patsburg Computer Station.  Both Army and Navy personnel await their respective trains to take them to their assigned destinations ... leave is officially over.   A N&W Y6b Mallet pokes out of East Tunnel as a Pennsy 44 tonner glides by the station platform.  Meanwhile on the EL a freight train's caboose is about to be swallowed by Big Rock Tunnel. ... just another day on the railroad.