Interesting thread Max.

I gotta see if I have any real early pics of Warrenville to post along side current pics of the same areas

Nice idea Max. Nice layout BTW!

Here's mine.

1/30/16

8/10/21

Bob

Here’s mine. About three years in between.

From the beginning (fall 2015)....

To now, August 2021..... and still going !

Early 2000s -

Same room with that same floor board, incorporated into this as of 1 Year ago -

And here is some of it as of two weeks ago -

It never ends and it always keeps changing and growing.

October of last year:

Today:

Great thread Max.  I really like how your layout progressed.  For me I have nothing to add other than nice job to all of you who have made progress on layouts.

Moving to a smaller house has forced me to be without a layout for the last nearly 5 years.  Looking forward to a time when I can get my new one started in 2 rail.

Lots of changes, quadrupling of size, 2nd levels, change from O27 curves to O42, O54 & O72, displays, etc.  The pics below compare the "same" areas, 1987 to today and 1994 to today.

1987:

Today:

1987:

TODAY:

1994:

TODAY:

1994:

TODAY:

No layout as of yet, but the train room has come along way in the past two years.

Here's mine.

October 2020

May 2021

November 2018...

December 2018...

June 2019...

July 2019...

Sept 2020...

March 2021...

August 2021... Already expanding...

1995:

2021:

20172019

2020

I never would have dreamed I would get this for in 3 years

This is such a cool thread.......hard to believe that it went quiet so soon.

Does no one else have then and now pics to share?

I'm only gonna show a few shots for now, I had to get train boxes and related items off the floor due to some water finding its way into the trainroom because of the storms, but as of 2016 to the present here are a few.

Greg, two words: HOLY POOP! I have a 185 year old house with a similar basement      . I built a 20 by 30’ room on the garage instead. Kudos to you 🚂🚂

That's a great transformation, I am embarrassed to say that I bought the new house for the express reason that it had a great finished basement that I could start building with minimal improvements.

Greg, that’s incredible !

@marshelangelo posted:

I'm only gonna show a few shots for now, I had to get train boxes and related items off the floor due to some water finding its way into the trainroom because of the storms, but as of 2016 to the present here are a few.

WOW Greg! I've worked in some old houses over the years, but I don't recall ever seeing a basement in that condition. Nice work! Hope your water issues are fixed.

Greg,

Keep us posted on the situation and your continued layout build. Looks like you have a great start.

Dave

I started my first/last!!! layout in September of 2015. I started fairly quickly by using Mianne benchwork...

In November of 2016, I added a small freight yard...

As of today, here is where things stand. Still a ton of work to do if I can just get out of the funk I’ve been in for the last few months!!! On the bright side, when I went down to take the last picture a few minutes ago, I did power up the layout and ran a freight train for a couple of minutes

Thanks Fellas, John H, gunrunnerjohn, all of the accolades go to my family's hardware & construction business, they dropped the floor about a foot, . was responsible for the sheetrocking, plumbing and electricity and when they were finished, I took over for track lights, room decor. Wifi, electronics, etc.  It has been a labor of love.  I have to control myself from getting crazy ideas and then implementing them; that can bring you to your senses quick.  The layout is a 12'x30' creation which I'm about to drop my wiring underneath the table to connect to my Lionel/MTH interface, alot of fun.  For now, all I can say is stay tuned, after the wiring I plan on putting my 1st tunnel in place, installing my TV and stereo system for late nite entertainment and then starting on the second level once I get a warm fuzzy feeling that the first levels power is continuos throughout.

@Apples55 posted:

As of today, here is where things stand. Still a ton of work to do if I can just get out of the funk I’ve been in for the last few months!!! On the bright side, when I went down to take the last picture a few minutes ago, I did power up the layout and ran a freight train for a couple of minutes

Now now Paul- pull those D&H ALCO PA's off the wall and get 'em running. All will be right in the world. Throw in a pair of sharks for desert!

Keith K, RSJB18, luvindemtrains, thanks for the complements, I work on the layout obviously because I love the hobby but I work off of the inspiration provided by all of the members of the forum and anywhere else I can get some knowledge and info

November 2015

December 2015

August 2021

@RSJB18 posted:

Now now Paul- pull those D&H ALCO PA's off the wall and get 'em running. All will be right in the world. Throw in a pair of sharks for desert!

Oh, Bob... if you look a little closer, in the left center of that last pic, you will see a 3rd Rail D&H PA on the track. In addition, the yard track furthest from the camera contains a set of MTH D&H passenger cars (and if the you look at the lower shelf on the back wall, you will see a Lionel set of D&H aluminum passenger cars). Now, when it comes to Sharks, I’m still waiting to see your alleged set

@marshelangelo posted:

I'm only gonna show a few shots for now, I had to get train boxes and related items off the floor due to some water finding its way into the trainroom because of the storms, but as of 2016 to the present here are a few.

WOW, Greg... I grew up in Brooklyn, so I’ve seen and been in basement like your before photos. Amazing transformation!!! I saw the record amount of rain Brooklyn got today - hope everything is OK.

Hey there Paul, yea the amount of rain was unreal, and more due tomorrow, however thanks to the two sump pumps we had installed, nothing really happened, Thank God.  It's quite unbelievable down here, the only thing is I have to continue to work on it because I've grown accustomed to the appearance so I need something to enlighten me constantly.  Keep pushing, keep creating, you'll really start to become engulfed with what you've done, it keeps the juices flowing.  Take care & thanks.