Our layout

Very nice.

I was only able to post the one pic.  The others were too large.  It’s 6x8 layout that I threw together with 2x4s, plywood, and homasote.

It's a classic table-top layout and I'm sure your son is thrilled. You are off to a great start! Fastrack is ideal for young operators, and this forum is a great resource for ideas, how-to advice, and troubleshooting.

My first layout was 7' X 7' and similar to yours.

It's hard to tell from the pic, but you might want to re-adjust the trestles so that the high point is in the middle of the back straight and install a bridge, like the Lionel bridge with flashing beacon for some visual interest.

Other suggestions would be to install a lighted or earthen bumper at the end of the exposed siding; create a street/intersection and add some vehicles; and add some street lights and billboards/signs (lighted or not). These will also add some visual interest.

Having all the trains on sidings is a good idea, so you don't have to constantly subtract and add trains to the layout.

@BruceG posted:

It's a classic table-top layout and I'm sure your son is thrilled. You are off to a great start! Fastrack is ideal for young operators, and this forum is a great resource for ideas, how-to advice, and troubleshooting.

Thanks, Bruce.  Your layout is moving right along.  You just might have it completed by the time the grandkids come to visit for Christmas.  Looking forward to seeing it!

@Richie C. posted:

My first layout was 7' X 7' and similar to yours.

It's hard to tell from the pic, but you might want to re-adjust the trestles so that the high point is in the middle of the back straight and install a bridge, like the Lionel bridge with flashing beacon for some visual interest.

Other suggestions would be to install a lighted or earthen bumper at the end of the exposed siding; create a street/intersection and add some vehicles; and add some street lights and billboards/signs (lighted or not). These will also add some visual interest.

Having all the trains on sidings is a good idea, so you don't have to constantly subtract and add trains to the layout.

I appreciate the input.  Your water feature under your bridge looks really cool.  I like the way you have your town set up too and the way you used 1x especially the “chair rail.”  
We’ve got three bar stools so my son and his two younger cousins can sit and watch or play.  That’s why I have a plexiglass barrier on 3 sides- to keep small curious hands from grabbing a moving train!  The little ones are more careful now that they are older.

Since I only have an 8x6 area, I was hesitant to set up both the elevated trestle and the incline/decline.  Still, I wanted to use part of it.  I am still playing with it.  I have two bridges I can use.  They are black plastic ones we picked up at the beginning of the year at a train show.

Its been fun working on it and there’s lots more to do!

I'm sure they'll love whatever you come up with and don't forget there are also many flat and gondola cars that have moving accessories (searchlight car, bugs bunny car, log dump car, etc.) that kids love to watch and play with.

Looking good!

Well done!

Peter