and I couldnt believe my eyes. As a newbie, this is my first real look at “hi-rail” I guess. All i did was search for Lionel Legacy to show the wife. This looks so real. Im really just stunned at what is possible. My work is cut out! Sheeeeeeeesh. Is anyone familiar with this layout?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lZkNOUlkTLA&t=284s
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iT BELONGS TO NORM CHARBONEAU i BELIEVE HE IS LOCATED SOMEWHERE IN MICH.
L.I.TRAIN posted:iT BELONGS TO NORM CHARBONEAU i BELIEVE HE IS LOCATED SOMEWHERE IN MICH.
Yes it is does and he is in S.E. Michigan.
Norm's previous layout was featured in Run 262 (Feb./March 2013) and his newest layout is (or soon will be) appearing as the cover feature in our October/November issue, which goes to the printer this week. Norm most certainly ranks among the most talented modelers in our segment of the hobby, or in any segment for that matter. He is a member of, and contributor to, this forum--most often to the Sunday Scenic Showcase--and I am happy to know him as a friend and mentor.
Norm's fantastic work.....my goal.....along with a number of others here.....
Jamie_h posted:and I couldnt believe my eyes. …..
Love looking at Norm's photos and videos ….amazing stuff. I just stare at it!
His work is one of the reasons that I tell people that I just play with trains, and not model them. lol
Amazing!! Would that be Gargraves Phantom Rail track, with sides of rails painted? Thanks for sharing the video!
Ken-Oscale posted:Amazing!! Would that be Gargraves Phantom Rail track, with sides of rails painted? Thanks for sharing the video!
I think it's Atlas track
Ken, please note the Atlas brand rail joiners and the spike head and tie plate detail. None of which is on GG track. Also, note the tight rail joints and no nubs on any track pins.
Right, Atlas got it, thanks! Thick ties as well. The rail heads looked rounded in the video, I guess due to the shine, and no yellowish/brass color of the rails detectable, so that threw me off. Fantastic work!
Norm's work is certainly in a different class than most of us can attain. It's fun trying though 
Norm is a great guy with some incredible talent!
Some if us remember him in his Tinplate days with trains running on Lionel Trestle Set piers!
Jon 
A modern day Delta Lines - if Ellison were alive, he undoubtedly would be amazed at this superb craftmanship!
Norm (funny how I call him "Norm" - I've never met him) has The Look down pat. Guys who model at this level - and there are few in any scale or format - are so good that it can have the opposite effect from being inspiring. It's actually intimidating. Kind of takes the wind out of my sails, sometimes. (This is one reason I enjoy old MR's and RMC's from the 50's and 60's - that's about where my skill level landed, especially when it comes to the layout scenery and structures.)
Notice the smooth movements of that 2-8-4 and the train as it runs by the camera (and only a bit of a sudden stop at the end). That behavior is due to driving, proper speeds, design by Lionel, electronics, manufacturing standards, true - but it is also due to physics and inertia. It is much harder to get the Junior Scales to act like that - the mass just isn't there. One of the reasons, often overlooked, to do O scale.
His videos are awesome. The way he details things out is really well done.
His videos can be expensive, though. He published an EM-1 video with GunRunnerJohn components added a few months ago, and ever since then I've been lusting after one. The ole wallet usually doesnt fare well when one goes into full lust mode.
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