The "Encourage Others Challenge": Post a picture of your layout...how many will post???

Jealous of your permanent layouts!

I set up Christmas layouts and leave them up usually Nov - Feb (thank you to my wife for the generous timeline).  It became a full time hobby just planning for the following year.  That was a lot of fun in itself

2011 - purchased my first set (Strasburg passenger)

2012

2013 (set it up in the garage with the intent of having a neighborhood bonfire in the driveway, but it rained out).  Set up a small trolley layout in front of the living room tv

2014 - dual trains and behind the tv

2015 - even bigger, behind the tree, dual levels

2016 ???

passenger stations and platforms

Keep it up guys!  This is, I believe, the largest thread we have had with member's layout pics in a long time!  Here are a couple taken of the morning sunlight falling on both the steam and diesel facilities on my layout...

Thanks,

Alan

OK, I will add a couple of photos. One from the roundhouse and one way across the layout at "John Brown's" waterfall.

http://s1322.photobucket.com/u....html?sort=3&o=0

 Icant believe the photo worked, so Ill try this too. Same table; older setup.

The photo worked, but I can't see the video on the iPhone.  Nice water tower.

Love this thread. This is Ivor pulling out of Llaniog in the top left-hand corner of Wales.and looking the other way.

Mark Boyce posted:

The photo worked, but I can't see the video on the iPhone.  Nice water tower.

I addd a link above, its been posted before.

Thanks Mark, the watertower is nearer complete than the photo above. Spout and weight are there, just need a level indicator....and water; I lost all my water, lol ( a semi opaque disk)

"Encourage Others Challenge," indeed.

This has become one of my favorite threads ever on this forum, great stuff from everyone posting. I've been inspired by every shot in one way or another.

Adriatic posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

The photo worked, but I can't see the video on the iPhone.  Nice water tower.

I addd a link above, its been posted before.

Thanks Mark, the watertower is nearer complete than the photo above. Spout and weight are there, just need a level indicator....and water; I lost all my water, lol ( a semi opaque disk)

It works!  You have been busy collecting cool sounds!  Do you have a name for your motive power?

Mrk Boyce posted:

Adriatic posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

The photo worked, but I can't see the video on the iPhone.  Nice water tower.

I addd a link above, its been posted before.

Thanks Mark, the watertower is nearer complete than the photo above. Spout and weight are there, just need a level indicator....and water; I lost all my water, lol ( a semi opaque disk)

It works!  You have been busy collecting cool sounds!  Do you have a name for your motive power?

Marvins original name was commander of the X-2 flying saucer. A rocket in later shows was the Martian Maggot. I refer to this one as the Martian War Bonnet which makes perfect sense seeing how Marvin is an ant it the god of wars uniform. Ive seen a few other ships too. I think X-1 is the Supreme Commanders so X-X (Roman numerals, lol) and X- 0.5 for the FRED saucer is what Ill likely use for flight numbers.

Two down, three to go, plus an unfinished mini layout.

Adriatic posted:

Mrk Boyce posted:

Adriatic posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

The photo worked, but I can't see the video on the iPhone.  Nice water tower.

I addd a link above, its been posted before.

Thanks Mark, the watertower is nearer complete than the photo above. Spout and weight are there, just need a level indicator....and water; I lost all my water, lol ( a semi opaque disk)

It works!  You have been busy collecting cool sounds!  Do you have a name for your motive power?

Marvins original name was commander of the X-2 flying saucer. A rocket in later shows was the Martian Maggot. I refer to this one as the Martian War Bonnet which makes perfect sense seeing how Marvin is an ant it the god of wars uniform. Ive seen a few other ships too. I think X-1 is the Supreme Commanders so X-X (Roman numerals, lol) and X- 0.5 for the FRED saucer is what Ill likely use for flight numbers.

Two down, three to go, plus an unfinished mini layout.

Ha ha!! I love it!  Very good!

Adriatic posted:

That was pretty cool, nice work on the scratch builds. Had to chuckle a bit with the Looneytoons Martian starting the train, sound effects were good too.  I was looking at some of your other pics.. Futurama was great. Did you do all that?

I use a fog machine to add a nice early morning effect on my layout.

The Blueboard Central Division of American Flyer Lines was originally intended to be a way to run some of the trains in my collection.  It started out as some 2" blueboard insulation placed on the support table for an old HO railroad from my high school days.  This is about 2009.

Notice the duck under.

Crawling through on my hands and knees every time I wanted to get to the other side of the layout got tedious after a while.  I decided to negotiate for a bit more space in the basement and the Blueboard Central made a major expansion to save wear and tear on the body.

At this point I should have made plans to make the layout more permanent, but It was just so much fun to keep adding things to the surface that in reality it is just a very large temporary layout.  Blue insulation board, Fastrack laying on top of that some other surfaces represented by vinyl and felt, some period buildings and buildings from Menards and other manufacturers, have been added over the years.

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2011

Urban Development  2012

In 2013 I got ambitious and ran wires to the street lights.

This is pretty much what it looks like today.

There are no switches, just two independent loops; a folded dog bone and an oval.  Prewar American Flyer Trains do not like Fastrack switches.  Its pretty much plunk things down where I think they will look good and "play trains".  I have a great time playing too.

Greg

Northwoods Flyer

Post War on the west side of the layout.

OK.

Here's one from my layout:

Here is a collection of pictures of the St. James Model Railroad Club.

tr18 posted:

Alex M posted:

Fantastic thread 

Here's my layout 

Alex, love what you have done with the upper level. Great work!

Hi John, sorry i just saw this. I thank you very much, i was able to get this far from all the help you gave me when we first started. I still want to come and see your club layout, if i can ever get some free time

Thanks again, Alex

Pat Kn posted:

Here is a collection of pictures of the St. James Model Railroad Club.

So many great pictures here and ideas!!  WOW!!!  Here is a picture of my suburban area platforms...

Thanks,

Alan

Now this is to me is what I would like to emulate... not so much the scene but to in "incite" drama as one views the layout as they walk  down the basement steps... this does it...  you cannot help but stop and look and say wow!

We work with such little space and to create a view that makes your jaw drop is what I am trying to aim for...

Thanks Tonkanut...

I am working on another portion of the layout and after looking at the store bought buildings assembled into block squares... I got bored.... I am ripping it all out to create a larger WOW factor... stay tuned...

Thanks for the post guys... and I really am enjoying the layout pics.

Wow Pat Kin, and Alex M, Wonderful club Layout, and Alex, Your work is Awesome, now a few more of Leapin Larry's Looney Lines RR....

Leapin' Larry's Looney Lines always looks great!!

TonkaNut posted:

I use a fog machine to add a nice early morning effect on my layout.

That clanging sound you just heard off in the distance to the West was my jaw hitting the floor.

Amazing!

Thank you J Daddy and P 51, I appreciate your comments. The famous  HO model railroader John Allen, AKA the Wizard of Monterey, had a big influence on my layout scenery and this canyon scene in particular.                   TJ

TonkaNut posted:

The famous  HO model railroader John Allen, AKA the Wizard of Monterey, had a big influence on my layout scenery and this canyon scene in particular.    

It shows.

Really.

p51 posted:

TonkaNut posted:

I use a fog machine to add a nice early morning effect on my layout.

That clanging sound you just heard off in the distance to the West was my jaw hitting the floor.

Amazing!

Pictures do not do TJ's layout justice.  His layout has to be experienced, not seen.  It is almost sensory overload.  Not only do you see the beautiful layout, but you also are exposed to the environmental extras such as sound, lighting effects, smells and temperature changes, among other things.  I had the privilege of visiting his layout a couple of years ago.  The memories are etched in my mind forever.   

Tom

My good friend Matt from the forum just sent me this picture he took from my old layout. The engine house wasn't finished yet but you get the idea. Thanks Matt. Don

TonKaNut, Wow, Now that's a Spectacular Picture, nicely done.  Thank you for posting.....

Laidoffsick, Your picture brings back Fond Memories, Sante Fe, New York Central, and The Texas Special!!! WOW....Your layout scenery is great.....

J Daddy, Your Layout is coming along Nicely...More Pictures Wanted!!!

Keep the Film Rolling!!!!

My 3x8 Halloween layout, now 15 years old.

Jim R, this is super cool, maybe you could add a few more Pictures....Thanks

various scenes

leapinlarry posted:

Jim R, this is super cool, maybe you could add a few more Pictures....Thanks

Here you go. 

My Basement layout.

DohertyNJ posted:

Wow, I love these shots, good photography and great modeling!

I have to say, the level of each layout shown, the detail and quality say much about the great fellow O Gaugers on the Forum.  Mine is still in the early construction phase, has been on hold for too long, due to priorities.  But, we all know how that is, and always look forward to completion..... as if it ever does arrive........    Congrats to all in this post, really displays the talent and ingenuity of all, and best thing is.... THE TRAINS !!!!!!!

Well, you did say in all and any stage of completion...... thanks for all the inspiration shown by everyone.

Jesse    TCA  12-68275

!

This has been a really fun post to watch grow. I love all the variety. The ability to do whatever you want is what makes 3 rail so appealing. This is my current 11 x19 crappy basement layout. Its more of an experiment in space and operations than a permanent layout, in fact its currently completely disassembled as of last weekend (I'm putting adult size legs on it). Its semi modular in that its made from 3x8 segments some made from my original 4x8 I had as a wee lad (hence the short legs). I've never had a layout that I could "operate" other than to back into a few spur sidings. I've also never had an around the walls layout. The track plan is mostly copied from the "Quick Start" chapter of Tony Koesters's operations book. I've been having a really good time tinkering with it, but am looking forward to finalizing a more interesting track plan and getting the legs back on it so I can do some scenery, its been bare wood since I took off the grass mat when I was 13 or so. Sorry for the low quality pics my 2 tube fluorescent fixture competing with a single incandescent bulb isn't exactly good lighting! I think overall its non-photogenic proof it doesn't take much to have a great time in this hobby.