Summer time sadness, Christmas cheer!

Ah Mike, just too soon, personally can't do it now. But I do love Christmas layouts. Remember, we still have through the 21st of this month before we call summer quits.

 

Come to our "summer outing" on 9-21 and we will make you feel like it is still summer. And if you still want to see Christmas layouts in September, a portion of our layout can accommodate this desire.

I am still in the Summer mode.

 

Nobody likes the Christmas season more than I do, but I'm also among those who don't mind waiting another month and a half or so before I really get in the spirit.  It's especially difficult for me to wait, unfortunately, because I just finished putting the finishing touches on our Dec. (Christmas) issue prior to the designer doing his thing with it.  As a result, I'll be involved with Christmas for the next several weeks as that issue comes together.  

 

And I'm already doing preliminary work on features for the January issue and beyond in the hope of getting a lot wrapped-up so I, too, can spend some time enjoying the "real" holiday season.

 

But a reminder to all:  I always enjoy receiving photos/features about Christmas layouts and related projects.  If you're planning something special for this year's celebration, please keep us in mind for images and text that can be used for the 2014 Dec. issue of the magazine.  Ditto for Halloween layouts that some of you folks may be working on soon.

Wait a minute. What about the glories of autumn and its multi hued, crisp do anything weather; and Halloween & all those wonderful Lemax+ spooky town buildings/layouts ; and that long holiday weekend where we gather together w/ friends & family, if possible, and express appropriate thanks? In fact for many including myself the period between Labor Day and the first outing of snow tires/equipment can often be the most relaxing & yet productive time of the year ... and that includes all sorts of layout projects!

 

Let us all enjoy & appreciate each day as they are granted, as they come.

Somebody forgot to tell Mother Nature summer has ended.  The thermometer in my truck indicated the outside temperature was 96 degrees this afternoon.

 

 

 

 

What, me worry?

A lot of people aren't yet ready to let summer go!

 

 

Jim

Got to have my second favorite holiday first, Halloweennnnnn!!!

I'm ready for it.
I have all my Peanuts holiday blu-rays ready too.
Jr. Engineero wanted to watch the Polar Express yesterday.
It was kinda fun to see it while knowing it was high 80's and sunny.
She wasn't feeling well so I didn't fight it.
She can't wait for Halloween.

My question is how do you have a end of summer sale here. My gym is having a end of summer BBQ. How do you know when summers over. It only changes about two degrees if that. The best news is the whales will start coming back in December. Don

I really enjoy Christmas Season too especially setting-up my Christmas Layout.  I have started to think about how I will make this years layout different, but that is it.  I remember one year I started to set-up my Christmas layout in late October before Halloween which was too soon!  I don't have permanent layout so I could not wait to get it up that year.  However, I have learned as 'Between A&B' posted above to appreciate every season or day for what it is and not rush too fast into the next.  I look forward to having a few more warm days in September and leaves on the trees turning color in October.  However, as soon as the Calendar turns to November 1st the boxes will start coming out of attic and work on my Christmas Layout begins!    

My wife and I envy you very, very much.

Was thinking the same thing my self just the other day...this year, I will redo the Christmas layout with fast track, abandoning the old school look for one season...and may well raise it to 38 inches to help keep the two youngest grand children, 1 yo and 18 mos, from taking a hands on approach before they know what to do...

 

jz

I'm still very old school.  My Christmas season doesn't begin until the Friday following Thanksgiving.  That's how it was 69 yrs ago and nothing has changed.

 

 

 

 

 

Was watching Andy Griffith Show reruns on TV Land all day yesterday. One episode was their "Christmas Story." I immediately became all fired-up for Christmas .... I've been planning Christmas stuff for the house, family, and tree since. My wife thinks I'm kinda goofy. I know I'm kinda corny. Lol.

 

The old 2046 set around the tree, on old tubular, little 1033 transformer, smell of ozone, whistling tender, fresh cut tree, old ornaments and lights ...... aaaahhhhh.

 

Sheriff Taylor and his girlfriend Ellie doing "Away In a Manger" in the jailhouse ....

 

For me it was much the same...three rail tubular track...White plastic tree, blue flood lights, tinsel and red and silver glass bulb ornaments...my 1664 engine with tin late cars and my sisters 2020 Hudson with post war plastic cars, she had the giraffe car...the control tower, lighted cross bucks and a PW ZW powering the entire layout...

Still have my original train, lots of tubular track and my existing layout room is all old school...my Christmas layout has been much the same as when I grew up...this year may see a change though...

 

I too love Christmas..and now is the best time to plan and build...

 

jz

I am trying to enjoy the last bit of summer however I can, but I am already thinking forward to the Christmas season.  Unfortunately, I don't think I will be doing a Christmas layout this year, as there are prospects of moving soon.  Last year's layout was by far the best one I've done yet; however, I think I have reached the limit on what I can do with what I have.  Hopefully I will be able to compensate next year--or better yet, get started on a permanent layout.  In the meantime, I can look forward to TubaChristmas .

 

Aaron

Puts me in the Christmas spirit just talking about it:

 

 

Jerry

...Ditto.

 

.....Until that day in October (and April) when you want to  throw a few things into the car or RV and drive to YORK, PA!!!!  

 

Then, not so much.

 

Just purchased our annual TSO tickets (Trans Siberian Orchestra for those who don't know). That officially begins the count down to the holidays for us. Maybe we will go to 2 shows this year.

To keep in train related...

 

I get mine on Friday!  I'm psyched for the show this year as it's been about 4 years since they've played Philly at Christmas time.   I'm a big fan but it's just not the same when you have to see a Holiday concert in November..lol

 

--Greg

I hate the summer and the heat so the best part of the year is coming, fall and the cold weather of winter. It is really train weather when the temp turns cold. I run my trains all year but there is something special when the cold and snow arrive. 

 

 

Funny, we are finally getting some real summer now in North Georgia, with days in the mid 90s (well 94 anyway) - and its September!   It truly was a "Cool Cool Summer" for us.

 

Thanks Jerry, I got a good chuckle from the "Walken in a Winter Wonderland" poster.

 

Predictions are that we will have a cold winter as well, with real snow, and ice on the swimming pool.   Just what the doctor ordered for this transplanted North Dakota boy!  Perhaps even a "White Christmas".   I am already planning my holiday layout - an O gauge loop and an On30 loop.   -- Ken

No Christmas layout for 2013 (or "memories" for those that get it) YET.  But I have sorta started it already.

 

I have to store my Homasote on edge and no matter how straight up and down I try, it has to lean some to stay against the wall.  WHich means it will warp some.  So I bring up the pieces that I will need ahead of time to give them time to flatten back out.  This stack will cover 11'x'14'.

 

Can you tell I live in the house by myself?

 

- walt

 

I can wait let not push the season

We spent part of last weekend cleaning out the room behind our living room and beginning to work on the fall/Halloween layout.  It will have Spooky Town buildings, Carnival rides and most of our Yellow-Orange-Black locos and rolling stock. 

 

After Halloween passes, the carnival will leave town and we will replace it with Holiday buildings, decorations, and snow.  The Holiday layout will remain up until Super Bowl.

 

Unfortunately my wife wants to have a party this year and I have to leave access to the double doors right in the middle of the room.  

Let's enjoy the changing of the seasons and the Halloween season a little bit first.

Can't wait to see what 2013 memories you will create this year, Walt!

 

--Greg

Well, as crazy as it sounds... I'm already in the planning stages of the 2013-14 Redford Theatre Christmas layout.  It's a popular part of movie-going at the Redford Theatre in Detroit, MI during the holiday season.  I have a full orchestra pit at my disposal to fill with trains and my continually growing ceramic Christmas village collection.

 

Normally I set it up the first week or two of December, however our film schedule is starting with the Christmas theme a month early (November 22/23), so the layout will be getting set up a week or two before that.

 

Probably will be an 8x16 display again (as it was last year), but as always, I'm going to try to change placements of various items to make it look a bit different.  I'm in my freshman year of college currently, so any free time I get will be used wisely in the next couple months in order to get the layout built and operating on time.

Jake, extremely nice public service you do for the community every year. They should be very appreciative of your work. You are a credit to our hobby.

 

I'm the same as I really despise summer!I'll take the cold & snow anyday over hot & sticky 

       
       


Everybody is always excited when the trains come out, and definitely show their appreciation.  Not a show goes by that there isn't a huge crowd at the front of the auditorium trying to catch a glimpse of the trains.

To me, it's a lot of work to put up, but well worth it. 

Plus I don't have a permanent layout so it gives me a chance to go all out and play with my trains in a larger sized display 

I have to wait, at least, until after York before I even start thinking about Christmas.  And then, we've got Thanksgiving, and a couple of local shows.  Even though I will get back to work on the layout, can't spend too much time on Christmas.  I'd like to get one of the Grandkids layouts built for him before Santa shows up, but that's about the extent of my preparations.

 

Paul Fischer

The annual Thanksgiving weekend train show in Huntington WV, almost 60 years strong, kicks off Christmas and Holiday train season for me......I enjoy fall too much to rush it!!!

And so the photo is train related......My Javelin is sitting on what was the roadbed for the C&O Greenbrier branch. There was a small station here too at one time. Now it is a hiking trail.....but there is talk of putting track down on part of the trail!

 

Greg, TSO was in Philly back in December.

 

 

greetings all it's been a while since i've posted anything, but this thread deserved a reply, moved yet again over the summer but the new house is much better train wise i have room for a good size permanent layout in the basement. the old place had no basement. 

last year i was limited to a 3 1/2 by 7 for Christmas, this year i have a good size space to work with in the living room so i'm thinking about it already. the basement layout will start after the holidays. 

as far as rushing things, well i'm still planning on getting some camaro work done while the weather is nice. can't wait until gilbertsville though. then first frost.

good to be back

Dave

Last year my mom was sick & I had to move her in with us. Her hospital bed took up the space in our small house where I would normally set up the Christmas trains in the living room. It was a tough holiday season last year & now that mom & dad are both gone I need to make an extra effort this time to have a nice display for my family & friends but also as a tribute to my parents for fostering my interest in trains & I'm looking forward to setting up a train layout a little more than before for just that reason this year.

That's Ben, looking through the bars into the jailhouse. He, was the person that had  those folks arrested. But he is lonely and all by himself for Christmas. He makes such a racket outside the jail that Andy has to arrest him. However, when he comes into the jail he has presents for everyone. Maybe, I seen this episode once or twice. One of the all time greatest TV shows.

Railroaded:

 

You have special motivation to make your 2013 Christmas layout the best ever. Thanks for sharing your story with us.

If I can get this darn Flash Player to work with my IPad by Christmas I'll be able to post pictures!