Cool Layouts 101: What is the COOLEST Layout Around?

When I lived in the Chicago area, we visited several times. But I do remember the other gauge trains were always being repaired. They went with HO to get enough space to do the Chicago to Seattle theme. However I wished that they kept O-Gauge when they did the renovation project. But I am strictly an O-Gauge guy anyway.

I have not visited the museum since the installation of the HO display. But, I do have great memories of the O gauge layout and was saddened when I learned of it's demise.

 

 

A return visit is long overdue. Thanks for posting.

 

Edit: Not certain what happened to the other two images, but they're gone now. Sorry about that.

Is this a picture of the o gauge layout?

"Coolest" is seriously subjective.

As for the Chicago layout, I'm still ticked that the last time I was there in 2002, the entire lower floor was blocked for the layout construction. I missed my one chance to get a close up view of NYC 999 and I'm still ticked about that.

But as for "Coolest," I don't think Chicago (or any other American layout, to be fair) can hold a candle to the Miniatur Wunderland layout in Hamburg, which features an amazing amount of HO track, highways and roads with self-driving, computer-controlled vehicles, complete towns, a real water port with floating ships, and a full airport with planes which actually taxi out to runways and take off and land:

 

Rand Fredrickson had a unique and one-of-a-kind layout. Small, but about as creative as it got in my book. It doesn't show well in these pictures, but it was a double figure eight.

Yes, Harry, it was marvelous. Here are a few more images.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the collector, I nominate Roadside America.
When I was there with my brother, he pointed out a fair number of desirable toys that were used to scenic the layout when it was built.

I completely agree with Lee, "Coolest" is seriously subjective. His example is testimony to that fact. Another favorite is not unfamiliar to many here, and certainly not within the two-rail community. It's brilliance in design is matched by it's execution. This Hobo never tires of riding the Fresno.

 

 

 

Jon,

 

I honestly had no clue that the Great Train Story started out like that. Thats amazing! now do you think that the current layout could be updated and enlarged in the future?

 

Dan

Nice photos. I had wondered where the Spirit of America I went to after the "5-mile skid" due to the loss of the parachutes.

 

The coolest layout I have ever seen is the beautiful Standard and O gauge tinplate layout in the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento California.The layout can be seen in the first 1:25 of the video.It is an incredible work of art that has to be seen in person.

 

The tinplate train layout in the California State Railroad Museum was the ultimate in seeing model trains run.Nice thread,I haven't seen these photos for a while.Now I want to back to the Golden State.

I have only viewed this on the web, but the Grand Layout in Saint-Petersburg, Russia is over the top in almost every way.

 

I had a documentary video bookmarked, but can't find it now, so here is the museum's website.

There are several videos on youtube showing the work of Bob Jakl in 2 rail scale.  It deserves mention here.

The current MSI layout is spectacular and very popular - featuring Amtrak and BNSF - though I miss hanging around by the big relay cabinet at the end of the previous O gauge Santa Fe layout, hearing the relays and switches buzz and click.

As to 'coolest', I have always been partial to some of the 'original' post war model railroading layouts: John Allen's Gorre and Daphetid RR. and Frank Ellison's Delta Lines. And certainly the big Lionel NYC showroom layouts...

I'll assume home layout rahter than commercial display.

 

My vote is for Brooks Stover"s S-Scale Buffalo Creek and Gauley. 

 

Brooks has done a great job of capturing the flavor of the prototype and its operations.    The scenery and detail is simply very well done.     If you want to see some photos search for the "Buffalo Creek & Gauley" and go to the webstie.    Brooks maintains a site for the prototype history and also has photos of his layout.

If you're not looking for massive layouts: Norm Charboneau. Period.

Any layout with a accurate airfield scene with late-model HIND attack choppers can't be all bad!

And a spur for a submarine dock???

"In Russia, the model trains watch YOU!"

Wow that's cool! A lot of detail on the airfield and the foot soldier formations. Now is that HO-scale or smaller?

 

Roadside America, Shartlesville, PA.

 

Older than my 70+ years, but still the 'coolest', IMHO. 

 

I suspect that the current layout will meet it's end not unlike it's predecessor. From what I understand, it became a bit of a maintenance nightmare in it's latter years. It had worn itself out and suffered a few well intentioned indignities along the way. I imagine there'll be efforts to keep current with modern trains and landmark buildings such as the Sears, now Willis. I guess Ron White's lawsuit fell through.

 

I remember reading the statistics on the German layout and it was obscenely large.  Maybe it should be restricted to O gauge to level the playing field

Misty Mountain Railroad in Blairsville, GA. 3400 sf of phenomenal layout, incredible modeling and extensive train collection. 

I am still surprised that the Fowler Dream Layout doesn't get mentioned or noticed. It is located in Florida.

 

This layout is 48' x 84', is detailed in realistic O scale, has running rivers, a passenger station that is wonderful and on and on.

 

But, the coolest part is that that it is a modular layout that is built of steel frame modules that all fold for transport and roll on wheels.

 

Take the time to view the galleries of photos. You'll like it.

One that hasn't been mentioned is the Choo Choo Barn layout in Strasburg, PA. A mix of humor, fine modeling, and animation that (IMHO) was worth the price of admission and a DVD purchase.

 

Roadside America for really big commercial one.  For an individuals layout that I saw it would have to be our very own PASSENGER TRAIN COLLECTOR, BRIAN VAILL's, very nice large layout!!!

I like the one with the sub being an ex submarainer.

 

Ken M

My wife and I watched RFD TV today, they had an episode of TM "I Love Toy Trains".  This episode was about the HUGE layout of the New Jersey Hi-Railers.  It is verrry nice, and almost 200 ft long, averages 40 ft wide, with several levels, naturally.  Just seeing it on RFD TV was pretty cool.... I believe it does get my vote.  Rex, I agree about Norm's layout, have read and seen many reviews of it....fantastic!!  I have been familiar with all above except for the Fowler Dream Layout.  They all make me wish I had more room for mine, but what I have is enough for me, by myself, to handle and work on towards completion.

WElll this is not a museum layout but it is placed up for public display at the annual Presbetyrian Church Pearl River Show in February. This layout is owned by the BErgen Co Model RR club. Mind you this is only a SECTION of the three layouts built in that show.

IT's simple yet impressive and inspiring on what one might do in a 4'x8' area or a 5' x9' area. IT is multi-level three dimentional and NOT your basic 2 dimentional painted flat board.

The trackwork is a simple dogbone that loops up a mountain 3 times before reaching the return loop. an impressive run on a 5'x9' area. While the layout is sceniced as a logging road, the senic possibilities could be endless.....

 

Behold the BCMRRC "Mountain Division":

 

The New Jersey HI Railers get my vote. here is an early pic

NLOE...one of my all time favorites!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kKEwjh0U4A

 

http://www.oglebay-resort.com/goodzoo/train.htm

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1k-nKU4EkM

 

WElll this is not a museum layout but it is placed up for public display at the annual Presbetyrian Church Pearl River Show in February. This layout is owned by the BErgen Co Model RR club. Mind you this is only a SECTION of the three layouts built in that show.

 

Actually, this show that PRRHorseshoe Curve posted about is held in the Pearl River Methodist Church. Next show is coming in February 2016. Mountain Division has not been used in several years. 

Is that layout in New York? The name Nassau sounds very familiar...

I think i've been there when I was a little kid! Yeah that place definitely deserves some credit!

If only I knew how to post pictures, I would say, Dr. Bill Bramlage in the Cincinnati Ohio area has one of the Best, Hi Rise Original, Long Main Line, Supper Scenicked, Highly Detailed MODEL Railroads in The USA. Next, BoB Bartizek, Modelling Horseshoe Curve In Pennsysvania...A Wonderful, Scale like Operation with winding hills, tunnels, trestles and a Roundhouse/Turntable area to simply ENVY....These layouts are Thrillers...l.WOW. 

Yessir...Levittown, NY. Great layout now, and the one in the Medical Arts building back in the day.

 

i also went to Northlandz a few years after they opened. It was a marvelous undertaking. Don't know what condition it's in now or if it even exists.

 

 

 

 

The La Mesa Model Railroad Club at Balboa Park's San Diego Model Railroad Museum, models the Tehachapi loop Mojave to Bakersfield, they are still working on the layout as long as the museum has be operating. Track is done, scenery is still being worked on. They have operating sessions 4 times a year(50-60, 70-80 and Modern) Today's Operating was set as the day December 21st 1952, the time of day was flipped flop, so 12:00 pm was really 12:00am, and the trains that ran, they modeled they to the exact consist. If th train had a 2 hour layover, guess what the crew sits for 2 hours, if you were late, your late, if. The one difference between the real Mojave to Bakersfield and the LMMRRC model is the track mileage is shorter.

 

Another Layout is privately owned by a All Gauge Toy Train Association Member, Pat Archer. Pat has a nice property with trailers of Canoes and Kayaks for his Boy Scout Troop still being active in his mid 70s, with 143 Eagles he had the privilege to Mentor. Right when you walk in his house, there is shelves of Post war Lionel, proceeding towards his layout, the layout has to be at least 40 by 20(that is the 2nd Level), with most Lionel Accessories, Now the room has shelves everywhere of trains that might not run on his layout or he has no room to put cars on his layout. Special designed Roundhouse and Turn table with 21 2020 S2 Lionel Lines Turbines, 2 Main lines with 2 grades leading to the third level which has 2 lines set up that you might loose your train on level 3. He has a theme park named after him. Going down to the basement he has a layout that he and the team of guys that come and work on the layout are figuring out how to move stuff from level 1 to 2 to 3. Level 1 has a drag strip bunch of Industries, a river, and the layout was built over a pool so he drained the pool to put in the layout and has a storage spot under that layout. He is winding down to finishing the layout in the next 3 years.

Tony Lash's last layout was nifty