LET'S SEE YOUR TRAINS UNDER YOUR CHRISTMAS TREES

Be sure to watch it HD! Not under the tree, but directly in front. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szi514pZqDg 

The like button can't keep up with me here, fyi.everyone deserves two.

 Especially inspired by NYC fans General getting put were it truely belongs , I hunted down Perry for some play time at the.new.station.

On Christmas Eve, the normal trains get a break and the General are in command here.

Oh no, he broke his stack! Don't worry Perry, that's what JB Weld is for, we'll fix you up soon enough.

Maybe give that old dormouse a nose job too .

This year, I built a new 3 track Tinplate Christmas layout.  It's in our family room and can be viewed from outside the window... going for that "department store window" look!

I used the recently posted $22 camera to make the video...

Pictures to follow!

Ed

Great video Ed. I am glad the camera worked as advertised.

The layout looks great. I am glad I got to see it in person. The still shots will be great also. Wonderful job.

Just a simple layout anymore. Getting to old to crawl around under there.

Janitor John posted:

At first I thought your buildings were the collectible plastic toys found in Disneyland.  I had to do a little research to find out you made those out of paper!?!?!?  Being a native Southern Californian, your Disneyland display really warmed me up all sorts of fun from the inside

Thanks!    If you haven't seen it, I started a thread here: https://ogrforum.com/t...ssions-of-disneyland to show how I built most of it.

Becky

Ed!  I could watch that video all day!    Thanks for posting! 

Lionel North Pole Central freight: NPC Dockside with NPC Christmas tree transparent boxcar, Silver Bell Casting Co. ore car and NPC wide-vision caboose. 

eddiem posted:

This year, I built a new 3 track Tinplate Christmas layout.  It's in our family room and can be viewed from outside the window... going for that "department store window" look!

I used the recently posted $22 camera to make the video...

Pictures to follow!

Ed

Great job Ed!  Tinplate trains are a real charmer especially on a Christmas layout. And, I love the idea of being able to see it from the outside!!! Great job and super video.

Skip

Great Northern 17 posted:

 

Be sure to watch it HD! Not under the tree, but directly in front. 

Great video! Love the music

An All Hallmark Tree.

    Theme:

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles!

Laid out ready to hang.

Ron

Our layout this year is Fastrack on the floor with the snow village

Absolutely amazing pictures and videos !!!! 

Thanks to all of you for posting !! 

Alex 

Started a new post since a slight shift in Theme.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

and a 

HAPPY CHANUKAH!

Found my Hallmark "Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel" ornament so had to add it.

Complements the Chanukah Deer with antlers like a Chanukah Menorah.

The tree with tree lights out.

Ron

P.S.  This year Chanukah begins Christmas Eve!

eddiem posted:

This year, I built a new 3 track Tinplate Christmas layout.  It's in our family room and can be viewed from outside the window... going for that "department store window" look!

I used the recently posted $22 camera to make the video...

Pictures to follow!

Ed

Well done!

Peter

Just the simplest loop from a few years ago - no tree yet this year I got the idea for the brick-paper base from an old, old b&w photo that a forum member posted here some years ago, of his childhood tree. Tree stand placed on floor, then plywood with a 5" center hole cut out gets placed on wood blocks, then tree gets banged down onto stand (which is now hidden underneath). 1" holes drilled behind each building to run light cord down under plywood. Tack on brick paper to hide wire mess underneath. With tree stand legs UNDER the plywood, more room for village buildings. I wouldn't have thought of this if someone hadn't posted an old photo  Thank you! Merry Christmas, everyone! 

Miss Cellaneous, like the layout and ideas!  Mine is only 4×5 so I'm always looking for ways to work around the tree! My Dear wife insists on the tree! Lol Where did you get the diner? I have the Luxury Diner but I like yours much better!

play trains posted:

Miss Cellaneous, like the layout and ideas!  Mine is only 4×5 so I'm always looking for ways to work around the tree! My Dear wife insists on the tree! Lol Where did you get the diner? I have the Luxury Diner but I like yours much better!

Thank you! My plywood base is only 4x5 also. I did a loop with a crossover one year, but less room for village. I think I found the diner on eBay 8-9 years ago. It's made by K-Line, and came in several names. I think the Luxury Diner looks great though! This seems to be as fancy as you can get in 4x5

Misc.

Is that a goose in Santa togs scampering away!??!?!? Wow. If so, is it escaping or coming around to say Hi?

FrankM.

Moonson posted:

Misc.

Is that a goose in Santa togs scampering away!??!?!? Wow. If so, is it escaping or coming around to say Hi?

FrankM.

What?  Did you think a Christmas goose was a pinch on the fanny? 

My train under the tree a few years back.

John-

Last year we ran my Dad's very first toy train--an original 1947 Lionel #726 Berkshire freight set--around our Christmas tree...

This year we are running Lionel's 2011 "Coventional Classics" reproduction of that very same set...

I pre-ordered this set when it was first announced with the intention of surprising my Dad with it. Unfortunately, he passed away before it was actually produced/shipped.  We will cherish all of our great memories of his life every time #726 circles the tree.

Joe,

Sorry to hear that your Dad didn't get a chance to see the new rendition of his original set.

I have the same CC set and it's one of our favorites for sure. 

graz posted:

Joe,

Sorry to hear that your Dad didn't get a chance to see the new rendition of his original set.

I have the same CC set and it's one of our favorites for sure. 

Thanks, Graz.  It is a really nice set.  We can only hope that it lasts as long as the original!!

CNJ #1601 posted:

Last year we ran my Dad's very first toy train--an original 1947 Lionel #726 Berkshire freight set--around our Christmas tree...

This year we are running Lionel's 2011 "Coventional Classics" reproduction of that very same set...

I pre-ordered this set when it was first announced with the intention of surprising my Dad with it. Unfortunately, he passed away before it was actually produced/shipped.  We will cherish all of our great memories of his life every time #726 circles the tree.

Great memories Joe! These wonderful trains are a common thread tying those memories together for so many fathers  and sons. 

Here are some photos of my Candy Cane train I painted up several years ago. I just upgraded it with a new drive and modern new motor, now just running on DC no reverse unit, will be on a loop around the tree soon. Changed from candy to plastic candy canes. And redid the lettering with glitter silver letters on a gold background.

This is the layout near the tree, a bit more spread out in the front room. Inspired by the colors of the Hallmark Santa toy maker train I painted my own train up; “Santa’s Toy Workshop Express” after the Hallmark train came out similar paint scheme but with glitter lettering. Pulling 2 box cars, 2 flats with Hallmark Tonka Toy ornaments, flat car of presents and flat car with sleighs and wagons.

Awesome paint KJ

I love geese too!

They beat Mandarin Duck on the dinner table hands down.

Fa rah rah rah rah,..rah rah rah rah... fra gee lee!

kj356 posted:

Here are some photos of my Candy Cane train I painted up several years ago. I just upgraded it with a new drive and modern new motor, now just running on DC no reverse unit, will be on a loop around the tree soon. Changed from candy to plastic candy canes. And redid the lettering with glitter silver letters on a gold background.

This is the layout near the tree, a bit more spread out in the front room. Inspired by the colors of the Hallmark Santa toy maker train I painted my own train up; “Santa’s Toy Workshop Express” after the Hallmark train came out similar paint scheme but with glitter lettering. Pulling 2 box cars, 2 flats with Hallmark Tonka Toy ornaments, flat car of presents and flat car with sleighs and wagons.

 

I'm loving the Flat cars with The Tonka trucks!  What a great idea!

Miss Cellaneous posted:

play trains posted:

Miss Cellaneous, like the layout and ideas!  Mine is only 4×5 so I'm always looking for ways to work around the tree! My Dear wife insists on the tree! Lol Where did you get the diner? I have the Luxury Diner but I like yours much better!

Thank you! My plywood base is only 4x5 also. I did a loop with a crossover one year, but less room for village. I think I found the diner on eBay 8-9 years ago. It's made by K-Line, and came in several names. I think the Luxury Diner looks great though! This seems to be as fancy as you can get in 4x5

 

Merry Christmas, My wife seen your Christmas tree layout and fell in love with it. I was wondering if we could build it next year for our grandbabies? I don't want to steal someone else idea, but it would be great for keeping our dog off the tree and give the kids some enjoyment.

No tree this year....so far. 

Here's a pic of last years.

Reason for no tree here in the U.K. this year is we are off to NYC this weekend for the holidays!

Nick

It's only been set up for a month but finally got around to taking some photos.  I let my 8 year old son pick the locomotives and cars.

He likes the passenger cars as that's what runs in front of our house (NJ Transit). He also did the scenery and set up the buildings (with a little guidance from me). 

Zoomed in so far I seem to have lost the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree!

OK. I have to confess. Even though I stated in my earlier reply on this thread that no trains existed on the first floor of our home, that all of them were in the basement train-room, which is true, some models of model trains have made it to the first floor again.

You can see them here. One is on the coffee table in the Family Room (you can see it behind the Nutcracker's head in the top photo and in the second photo.) And a couple other models of model trains made it to the knee-wall (known during parties as the "Dessert Bar") by our breakfast-room and its credenza, upon my wife's initiative and design. Oh well, we both like them there so there they stay, smiling up at guests, I trust.

FrankM, a very happy trainman

Merry Christmas Fellow Train Nuts!

This year I have early prewar Lionel trains under the tree, Standard gauge engine is a Lionel #33 and the O gauge is Lionel #150.  Both train sets are from about 1920.  The unusual transformers are made by Dongan Electric Manufacturing Company (Detroit, Michigan).  Both transformers have their original cloth cords and plugs, are from the 1920's and still work great.  I added internal circuit breakers to both.  FYI, Dongan Electric is still in business building industrial electric components and their world headquarters is in Fraser, Michigan.

I always love your Christmas layouts Dave!

Just a simple oval with a couple of structures.  The Lionel 0-6-0T No. 25 pulls the MTH 2000 Christmas set with an additional 2007 MTH boxcar and Lionel Christmas Aquarium car.  I've got an Angela Trotta Thomas boxcar floating around and a Santa and Snowman handcar that hasn't been under the tree in a few years.

This thread is one of my all-time OGR faves! Thanks to everyone who has posted here. I realize with chagrin that I haven't "liked" all the layouts I should have, but I haven't seen one I didn't like!