Photos of my layout

WOW!!!  What a great looking layout.  A ton of labor went into that beauty but I know it was a labor of love.  The Preston and Polar xxxpress signs are surefire winners for laughs.  Magnificent job.

Enjoyable presentation...Ron B.

Thanks for the distraction Lee. I've always been thrilled with your creations and seeing most of them all tied together in a single thread is a great treat.

Best regards

Great looking layout, Lee.  Thanks for sharing your work and your memories.

I'm amazed that you have used only two switches in all of that sprawling layout!  I'm slowly amassing what I need in HO to create an "around the walls" layout with an urban switching theme within a room only 9'6" x 12"9" (plus a 2' x 9' 6" closet)... and my track plan has already used around 50 switches!!!

Anyway, good work!

Lee:

Mike Wallace always said the secret to "60 Minutes" was telling good stories.  You always have loads of good stories on your layout.  Keep it up.

I had 22 switches on the layout eight years ago, and a nice trainyard.  However, I never operated them: I like to set locos moving and let them cruise for hours, so when I rebuilt it I removed all.  The two I have are not "operable" in the normal sense: they are remote control Fastrack switches but I cut the control cable at the switched - I have one at the head of the reversing loop on each end of Loop 2, where is anti-derailing feature operates as the train comes back around the other direction.  

Wonderful layout and a great narrative.

Fantastic layout and narrative. It should be in the OGR magazine.

I never get tired of seeing pictures of your layout.

Art

Lee,

Thanks, great photos (and inspiration).

Malcolm

Wonderful.  The children and their bikes outside the hobby shop is a great scene.

LEE very well done!!!  Thank you for that fine show of your layout.  Hope my layout gets to be like yours someday.

Nice concept for "worry free" operation.  No worry about turnouts set incorrectly or unintended train collisions. No complex pushbutton or switch panels to worry about. No complex wiring headaches! Just set the direction and speed of the trains and let them go!

Very nice layout Lee.  I enjoyed the tour!

Your creativity and inventiveness are to be applauded!  I am always amazed at how you take what some would condsider big risks in kitbashing and locomotive modifications to come up with one of a kind models that suit you needs.  They always seem to work out beautifully.  You're a great operating "model" railroader in my book.  Your detailed how to/progess update posts are also much appreciated.

I concur with all of the comments above.  You have been a voice of reason and tolerance in some scratchy issues on this forum.  Plus you have done solid work and you have given a great deal of your time to sharing that work and helping all of us along.

My best to you.....

Terrific layout.  Wonderful creativity.  Thank you for sharing.

Lee....what "wood" said above can't be said better!!  Now...if you would just get more lighting the pictures would be even better!!...

Alan

The first thing that came to mind, is that its not a hobby but a lifestyle. Good grief..what a fantastic effort and result. Puts commercially built layouts to shame. While realism is not my bag that layout is the bees knees. I imagined trying to keep dust off of it,,lol.

Absolutely wonderful and amazing.  And a great storyline for each picture.

This is something to be really proud off Lee.

Congratulations!

great pictures lee.thanks for the time and effort in posting your empire for all to see.

layout would be to big for me to work on and take care of.

thop.......

Hi Lee, Finally, Yes, Finally, We get to see the true Craftsman that You Are...This looks like a Fun to Run Layout with Lots of Exciting Places of a Interest on the way. Thank You for all the nice Pictures and Narrative....ITS A WOW!

First time for me to see your layout and it is truly impressive.  I particularly like the various themes (ie.  Dino Martin, etc) and the old cars.  You have a right to be proud of your creativity, especially with only two switches.  Thanks for sharing...

WOW !! What a layout, just think what a skilled, talented person like you could do with a large layout.

Thanks for showing

Brent

What a layout and presentation of it. Your imagination and creativity is just amazing. Very well thought out and well done. Every square inch of space is used very wisely, including in the workshop.  Nothing looks just right, with nothing over done. It's a great layout and great setup you have there. Some of the stories you have to go along with the detectives are great too, lots more imagination there. And the best part is that you are enjoying it all and sharing it with us!  

Thanks, Lee.  I really enjoyed read about and looking at your layout.

Doug

Lee, Many Thanks for the interesting account of your hobby, well organized and nicely documented with great photos!

Well done....and thank you.

Peter

Lee,

Great job.  I love that style of layout.  Great workshop.  Looks like you planned it out very well.  Thenks for posting pictures.

Thanks for sharing Lee

"Either way you get your dog back." Best layout signage ever.

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OK, your layout: it's too nice and too neat. It's too well done to occupy only very little more space than my backyard "train building" (mine is 12X24), because I always make the "...if I only had more room..." excuse. (In my defense, I do not have the eve-space and my "workshop" must share the 12X24 room with the layout.) The layout is complete, so far as I can see, and mine...isn't (understatement of the millennium).

Where, oh where have i gone wrong?

Love it! This is the "Show of Shows." Thanks for the look see.

Dennis

Lee, your layout has untold stories throughout its square feet. I love your puns and use of all of the detectives. I too have multiple vignettes on my layout and as you well know, add so much to the layout and makes the visitor look at the entire layout so as not to miss any little detail. Thank you for sharing it.

WOW, Your layout is AWESOME, very nice work, thank you for sharing yours picts

Have always thought you had about the most fun with trains than anyone. You have proved the point once again. So nice to see your talent and story lines all in one post. Have always been inspired by your tacky trailer park scenes and have started one myself, so thanks for the inspiration. 

Jerrman

Lee,

Very nice layout. I really like your work shop. I have an un finished room next to my train room. Maybe on of these days I can add a work shop like yours.

Thanks for posting such a detaied description of your layout.

Richard

Enjoyed the pictures.  Always enjoy your posts.

Totally AWESOME Lee.

Thank You for the continued inspiration and great ideas.

Your layout tells a Complete Story.

Lee, thank you,WHAT A WONDERFUL LAYOUT.   Steve