Gary Schrader's layout

Ray

Thanks for sharing. How large is this layout? When was construction started on the layout?

Looks like he has a lot of fantastic locomotives, freight and passenger cars!!!

I have never seen Gary's layout, only some of his modeling work on photo essay's that he does. I do not know how large a layout it is but maybe someone will send this link to him and he will respond.

My guess is about 20'x40'. It is the top floor of his house.

Richard

I enjoy seeing such a grand effort which speaks to Gary's perseverence and dedication to this lifelong project. I'd venture to say he works on his railroad more than most since this much accomplishment doesn't just happen.

Ray, thanks for the link!

Bob

Gents,

Gary's house is on the OSW open house tour. I have seen this many times and I have to admit that it is amazing. The layout is basically a show case for his models. The layout is very basic, but exquisite. All track is hand laid. The timber bridge is beautiful. It now has DCC and sound. He is the only person I know that re-worked a Sofue engine because it was not good enough. I'm envious to say the least.

Tom Mapes

Tom & all, Appreciate the additional background. Looks like an awesome layout and definite showcase for some fabulous O scale equipment.

quote:

Originally posted by docj1a:
Gents,

Gary's house is on the OSW open house tour. I have seen this many times and I have to admit that it is amazing. The layout is basically a show case for his models. The layout is very basic, but exquisite. All track is hand laid. The timber bridge is beautiful. It now has DCC and sound. He is the only person I know that re-worked a Sofue engine because it was not good enough. I'm envious to say the least.

Tom Mapes

Thanks for the URL to YouTube.

This layout is amazing and a fine tribute to the Southern Pacific empire. The amount of work is amazing and the engines and rolling stock are outstanding. It shows a very serious monetary investment and a life long dedication to the O scale passion, not to say addiction.

For an SP lover like myself, it is a feast to watch this video.

Yves

It is a great looking layout.

There are a number of other good looking 0 scale layouts lined up as well on my screen when I linked to Gary's layout. Nice stuff.

I enjoy watching videos of O-scale layouts.
This is a really nice one, Thank you for posting it.

Man I have never been to Disney Land or Disney World but Gary's layout has that kind of look to it! F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!

WOW!

Get a load of that round house! WOW! And the locomotives to fill it!

Thanks for the video link. Gotta love those big sweeping curves.

Wow what a great layout. Not overdone IMHO with the scenery and details. Thanks for the link...love all that Espee power.

Thanks to all who have been so flattering about my layout. That video was obviously done around 4-5 years ago, since there is no sound in the engines. I have since switched over to Tsunami sound, and it really adds a lot of life to the operation of engines. Answers to a couple of questions raised:
1. The layout size is, indeed, about 20 X 40.
2. I've been working on this version of it for about 20 yrs, although the last few years have seen very little progress due to working on other people's models.
3. Yes, I'm totally nuts about O Scale railroading and have a heavy investment in it, although I really like all scales.

Back in Feb, 2010, right after the layout tours for O Scale West, I finally broke down and did what a number of people had been begging me to do. I made a DVD of the whole layout with a complete tour of it, running of the trains I had been running at OSW, and the breakup of the trains, which is something most people never get to see. The complete DVD is 2hrs long (2 full discs). Anyone who wants to see the whole show with sound and narration can contact me at my email (gs-sj@earthlink.net). I have to charge $10 to cover the cost of the discs, shipping, etc. I don't make any money on this, but I really don't want to lose any either. Furthermore, anyone interested can ask to be added to my email list for photo essays I do on most projects. I don't add anyone unless they specifically ask to be on it. I show how I do a lot of the detailing and modifications for better prototype fidelity and excellent operation. The free essays sent out by email are popular enough that I usually get bugged by someone about when the next one is coming out if I skip a week or so in publishing it. I also have done a special DVD on rare brass engines I have worked on running on my layout, a Kohs C&O H-8, a Kohs N&W Y6, and a Key SP GS-1. I have to charge $6 to cover costs on that one. I will do others as time permits.

Again, thanks for the kind comments.
Gary Schrader

Gary, I suspect your email will get very busy! Thanks for the offer and congratulations on achieving what so many of us can only dream about.

Bob

Gary, your SP layout is fantastic! Thanks for sharing. I am a cab forward nut and I am wondering what cab forward models do you have. I have 6, 1 Lionel AC-12, 2 Williams ACs that I had redetailed, 1 Sunset AC-7 (2-rail), 1 sunset AC-5 (3 rail), 1 MTH AC-6, and 1 Lionel AC-9. I model 2 and 3 rail. I have a host of other big steam engines; Big Boys, Yellowstones, 2-8-8-2s, a 4-6-6-4, amd a 2-6-6-6.

Gary, your a legend pal!

An O Scale legend!


Keep up the good work!

Gary, I have seen pictures of your re-detailing work on a Koh's Virginian Allegheny. It looked fantastic. I wish I could afford PSC engines. I almost bought a PSC AC-12, but had to back out. Koh's is also putting out cab forwards. Do you plan to get any of these? How does the construction of the PSC cab forwards compare to KTM's or Sunset's? I plan to buy more cab forwards, and redo them-(Williams) for AC-10s. I have alot of articulateds, but the cab forwards are my favorites. This stems from a 1966 Rivarossi engine I bought while in high school from Madison Hardware on 23rd street, New York. There is something about that little engine that draws me to this day. I need to buy another one and put it in a case. I redid one of my Williams as a tribute to it-renumbered 4272 with added detail and blackened with the old Southern Pacific Lines on the tender (added grabirons, and detail).

Folks;

I just received the 2 DVD set that Gary produced for his layout. I am a 3 rail person but I appreciate talent and art in any scale or configuration. Gary's layout is awesome to say the least.
Allan;
If you're reading this, I believe that Gary's layout is a candidate for a feature article in OGR magazine.
For anyone who has not seen the DVDs, get in touch with Gary and get him to send you a set. Watching it is 2 hours well-spent.

I too just recieved the DVD set plus I ordered his extra DVD on some of the rare locomotives he has worked on.

It is a wonderfully composed and narrated video of superb 2 rail O scale at it finest...no question about that. Everything runs and sounds spectacular, and Gary operates his engines in a very prototypical fashion with all appropriate whistle and bell signals...I especially enjoyed that. The work he has done to get his locomotives super detailed and running/sounding to their maximum potential is a benchmark effort in my view. Awesome!

Bob

Received, and watched, my DVD's today. A thoroughly enjoyable two hours. Just some beautiful equipment rolling through some great scenes. Looking forward to seeing some of the not completed areas. Thanks for sharing, Gary.

Doug

Just got the DVDs this morning. Great composition on the video. You put a lot of work into the layout and the video. Great job, Gary.