Skip to main content

Closed38 replies

The Glacier Line our "O" scale line...

John C.John C.OGR Forum Member

Planned in 2010, started in June of 2011, and continuing to be developed/built/constructed today is our "O" scale railroad:  THE GLACIER LINE.  The line is a fictitious route based upon the former Great Northern Railway's main line that winds its way along the southern boundary of Glacier National Park.  My wife, Connie, and I love Glacier National Park, the former Great Northern Railway; including the Izaak Walton Inn, that we decided to build our own version of this former railway in the confines of our basement 2000 miles away from Glacier National Park.

 

I have written two books about the area, one co-authored with Robert C. Del Grosso, and I am a member of the Great Northern Railway Historical Society.  Therefore, I have a good factual base to work from on this free-lanced line.  I have well over 500 photographs showing the construction.  I have placed a handful of "finished" photos here.  All of the backdrop painting was done by Connie.  I can't draw a stick man.   

 

The layout covers the vast majority of a 36 x 36 foot basement.  It goes from 36" high to 60" high.  The railroad has a linear design meaning the train(s) only travels through  a scene once before it "disappears" into a hidden staging area/loops at both ends of this 231 foot-long main line.  We have years to go.  We are hopeful for a visit by the Lionel Collector's Club of America in/near the Summer of 2014.

00505

00504

00503

00502

00501

00500

00499

00498

00497

00496

00495

00494

00493

00492

00491

00490

00489

00488

00483

00482

00481

00354

00086

Attachments

Hide
Images (23)
  • 00505
  • 00504
  • 00503
  • 00502
  • 00501
  • 00500
  • 00499
  • 00498
  • 00497
  • 00496
  • 00495
  • 00494
  • 00493
  • 00492
  • 00491
  • 00490
  • 00489
  • 00488
  • 00483
  • 00482
  • 00481
  • 00354
  • 00086
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Mark BoyceMark BoyceOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

John,

I really like the two trestles, the wooden one and the steel one.  Connie's backdrops are great.  They give the feel of the distant mountains.  I have heard that Glacier National Park is wonderful.  It is good to build a model railroad depicting a favorite place.  Thank you for sharing all the great photos.

Last edited by Mark Boyce
Mike CTMike CTOGR Forum Member

Here is a link to a thread about a year ago.  James J. Hill's Great Northern Railroad and Glacier National Park.      A lot of beautiful pictures.    I've been to Glacier National Park twice and really need to get back.    The thread has a link to the National Park photo stream of clearing snow from the "Going to the Sun Road". 

 

Wonderful layout Pictures.   Thanks for reminding me of one of the most beautiful spots on earth.  

Mike CT  

Last edited by Mike CT
John C.John C.OGR Forum Member
Dear Mark:
 
I really love the steel one!  Connie did it completely alone.  The three story towers have like 120 small parts and the complete five story towers have like 180 pieces.  I've loved these kits since the mid 70s...and finally have them on my layout--only by the great virtue of being married to Connie.  Not only is she an awesome painter  (I can't draw a stick man)  She can put sophisticated advanced models with small parts together.  
 
With my big fumbling fingers, and my eyesight ain't what it used to be, there's no way in Hades I could assemble those kits.  The big towers take about 15 to 20 hours each.  The small ones ten to 15 hours each.
 
I am proud and did manage to completely scratch build the curved wooden trestle!  My first attempt ever at something on that scale-- 7 feet long, 21 bents.  The greatest compliment I received from a friend of mine who can do anything with regard to modeling.  He built my snow shed, brought it over to my house, saw that wooden trestle and said:  Why did you ask me to build this when you can build something like that?  This coming from a guy who can take a car apart down to the last bolt and reassemble it.  I envy him.    
 
Originally Posted by Mark Boyce:

John,

I really like the two trestles, the wooden one and the steel one.  Connie's backdrops are great.  They give the feel of the distant mountains.  I have heard that Glacier National Park is wonderful.  It is good to build a model railroad depicting a favorite place.  Thank you for sharing all the great photos.

 

John C.John C.OGR Forum Member
Dear Dr. Jack:
 
I'm very proud to say that I built from scratch the curved wooden one.
 
My wife, Connie, who is a gifted talented and skilled painter/artist, put those HO scale 

Micro-Engineering Trestles

 

together.  The five story ones have about 180 separate parts and take 15 to 20 hours to build and then of course she weathered them!  She put in tons of hours on trestles, bridge and awesome backdrop!  I married the right girl without knowing it.

 

On our honeymoon, we discovered our mutual love for model trains!

 
Originally Posted by Dr. Jack:

Beautiful layout John, and those trestles are out of this world.  Who makes the trestle kit or are they K & S parts.

 

Jack

 

Last edited by John C.
John C.John C.OGR Forum Member
I've had no luck installing a video.  Do you know how?  I've looked at the instructions and what they outline doesn't work for me.
 
Originally Posted by BrianEso:

John,

Awesome Layout and I too Love those Trestles.

Sooo..What do you do in your Spare Time..!!

Throw a camera on one of those engines and give us a ride around the layout???

 

John C.John C.OGR Forum Member
I can't do a video because the Windows Media Player will not work on my system:
 

Windows Media Player is not compatible with your system.

You are running Windows 7 64-bit. Although Windows Media Player will not run on your system, you can download Windows Media Player for other operating systems.

I'll have to see what I can do...

 
Originally Posted by BrianEso:

John,

Awesome Layout and I too Love those Trestles.

Sooo..What do you do in your Spare Time..!!

Throw a camera on one of those engines and give us a ride around the layout???

 

BrianEsoBrianEsoOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Hi John,

A few weeks ago someone on here recommended purchasing a MOBIUS Digital Camera. I checked them out on eBay and they are around $70.00. It looks pretty easy to install on a flat car or the back of the tender. I have seen many guys post videos on youtube with a flat car in from of there loco to get some really great shots of the layout. I have it on my wish list, so I will purchase one pretty soon.

I will keep you posted once I have it up and running.

 

John C.John C.OGR Forum Member

Brian:

 

I'm interested in doing that but have about $1500.00 work of track to get and get in place first.  

 

I want you to know that I've been hassling for hours trying to get the video to work.  Hours!  No kidding.  I'm unhappy.  I do want you to know that currently as I'm writing this I'm attempting to get one onto Youtube.  I was told that if you post it there it is easier to get it posted onto here.  Even if that's not true in my case if it gets onto Youtube I'll simply paste the link.  Lastly, if nothing else, if you give me your direct email I'll just send it!  

 

PS:  The latest video I have was from Oct. of last year--much has changed.  If this works I'll video an update.

John C.John C.OGR Forum Member
Dear Brian:  FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I managed to get it posted onto Youtube!  Here is the link:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...amp;feature=youtu.be
 
Now I'm going to attempt to post it on here under the videos....for the experience because heck once it's posted on Youtube--I merely post the link into the text.  I hope the designers of this forum put a user-friendly interface on here identical to the photos!  This has been a pain the Glue T Muss Max-I-Muss.  
 
PS:  THIS VIDEO IS SIX MONTHS OLD AND THE WORLD HAS CHANGED.  I will do an update.
 
Originally Posted by BrianEso:

John,

Awesome Layout and I too Love those Trestles.

Sooo..What do you do in your Spare Time..!!

Throw a camera on one of those engines and give us a ride around the layout???

 

John C.John C.OGR Forum Member
Well I give up.  I post in the facebook code and the video appears as it did before.  When I hit "insert" the video is gone.  My videos will be on Facebook and I'll post the link to them here.
 
 
Originally Posted by John C.:
Dear Brian:  FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I managed to get it posted onto Youtube!  Here is the link:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...amp;feature=youtu.be
 
Now I'm going to attempt to post it on here under the videos....for the experience because heck once it's posted on Youtube--I merely post the link into the text.  I hope the designers of this forum put a user-friendly interface on here identical to the photos!  This has been a pain the Glue T Muss Max-I-Muss.  
 
PS:  THIS VIDEO IS SIX MONTHS OLD AND THE WORLD HAS CHANGED.  I will do an update.
 
Originally Posted by BrianEso:

John,

Awesome Layout and I too Love those Trestles.

Sooo..What do you do in your Spare Time..!!

Throw a camera on one of those engines and give us a ride around the layout???

 

 

BrianEsoBrianEsoOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

John, I just watched the video on YouTube. It is by far really cool to see the Before view of the layout. The Scenic view on the walls really shows up well this way. Congrats to you and your wife for a Great Job !!

Love the Video

Thanks for the effort. I can't wait to post mine once the layout is done.

John C.John C.OGR Forum Member

Thank you.  My wife did an absolutely AWESOME job on the backdrops.  Every time I walk down those stairs and see that giant mural of Glacier National Park on my walls I just shake my head in amazement!  I knew she could paint and she had done small paintings but nothing of this scale or magnitude. 

 

I'm telling you she could make a living painting model railroad backdrops.  I suggested that to her as a retirement job.

 

You would NEVER believe that those simply outlines in these photos become an awesome mountain backdrop! 

 

And, the pictures/videos to NOT due justice to her painting!  When people go down to the layout they just stop at the base of the stairs in awe.  No kidding.  I wish I had that kind of talent.

 

 

 

00536

00534

00533

Attachments

Hide
Images (3)
  • 00536
  • 00534
  • 00533
Last edited by John C.
mjrodg3n88mjrodg3n88OGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by John C.:
00501

 

John,

 

I don't know how I missed this thread, but I'm definitely glad I found it.  Great job, it looks amazing.  I enjoyed reading where the inspiration for your layout came from.  Like others have said, you did a wonderful job on the trestle and your wife with the painting.  This picture above... I was amazed at how the mountain and trees "flow" into the painting on the wall.  I'll be following this thread for sure.  Thanks for sharing.

 

I have not watched the video yet, but believe me... I will.  Looking forward to it actually.

 

-Mike

 

and I'm getting jealous of all you that have so much space to use!

Last edited by mjrodg3n88
John C.John C.OGR Forum Member
Dear Mike!  Thank you for your kind words!
 
I was jealous and envious of others for years on end about the HUGE spaces they had.  Due to complete luck out of my control our nation's housing market went into the dump some years back.  As a result, I was able to buy this house which has 4000 square feet including 1300 square feet in the basement!!!!
 
I'm so tremendously blessed, lucky call it what you will.  For my first fifty some-odd years of life my home weren't much larger than now just my basement.
 
On the downside, my utility bills and property taxes aren't cheap.  Still I used to envy these guys with O scale who had all that space and the disposable income to be able to afford a none to expensive hobby.  Today, I envy me.  All praise and thanks to God.
 
Originally Posted by mjrodg3n88:
Originally Posted by John C.:
00501

 

John,

 

I don't know how I missed this thread, but I'm definitely glad I found it.  Great job, it looks amazing.  I enjoyed reading where the inspiration for your layout came from.  Like others have said, you did a wonderful job on the trestle and your wife with the painting.  This picture above... I was amazed at how the mountain and trees "flow" into the painting in the wall.  I'll be following this thread for sure.  Thanks for sharing.

 

I have not watched the video yet, but believe me... I will.  Looking forward to it actually.

 

-Mike

 

and I'm getting jealous of all you that have so much space to use!

 

John C.John C.OGR Forum Member
I just re-shot the trip!!!, with a very long train including my two newest additions--2 big sky blue F45s!  You won't believe the difference in scenery from the 1st video. It is loading now...may take 2 hours--5 minutes of video!
 
 
By June I hope that Connie and I are about 60% of the way done with the "public" scenery portion.  We have made outstanding progress but at the same time at the start I was predicting five years until the railroad was kind of "finished" with details and upgrades happening forever.  Now I'm think six years.  We're at 2 years and 8 months building phase.
 
Originally Posted by BrianEso:

John,

You are getting the hang of Video's..

Nice Trains.

Great Layout.

 

 

Mark BoyceMark BoyceOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

John,

It was certainly worth the trouble getting the video attached.  I loved it.  I like the transitions from one room to the other where you don't lose the train, not even when going under the stairs.  Your wife's artistry certainly is an enhancement.  I am glad she takes an active part.  Our older daughter is an artist and I have tried to get her to paint some backdrops for me.  She does a wonderful job, but her thing is really 3 dimensional art.  If I could get her to scale down a bit from dollhouses complete with her own movable joint dolls, I would have something.  Too bad I don't have room for a 1/12 scale layout. ;-)

 

But I digress.  What are your plans for the unsceniced area at the early part of the video, with several loops at various levels?  You may have commented on that on the video, but my sound is out.

 

Thank you.

John C.John C.OGR Forum Member

Those "circles" or return loops will be in a "hidden" part of the layout.  I've told that to several people that were physically at the layout.  Two especially protested and I said:  "Come over and help me paper mache' all of that including the area between each level.  It would be fun.

 

The railroad I'm replicating to a very slight degree is out in the middle of absolutely no where with a single main and long passing sidings.  No where is there a "roller coaster" my words of track as there is at this place on our layout.  The purpose was to utilize the space to its greatest advantage by placing all of the space-hogging return loops in one place.

 

Yes I understand that the people here thought it was an engineering feat, impressive, etc., had never seen anything like this before.  But, it would absolutely kill my illusion of distance and loneliness as we are trying to capture the "feel" of the real line.  Have you ever been to Glacier Park around the southern border?  There is nothing there but a huge wilderness with a couple of "bumps" that are small towns--really small towns.    

 

Mark BoyceMark BoyceOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Originally Posted by John C.:

It's a mighty long haul from Penn!  It's several miles from here, about 2000 actually.  That's why I model it in the basement.  It's much easier, cheaper, etc. to get "there."

Ha, ha!  That's right.  I have the same idea, modelling an area that I can't get to very often.  I'm about 50 miles from the Ohio line, so it is quite a way further.

Last edited by Mark Boyce
Views: 3,182
Post

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×

Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership

OGR Forum Supporting Membership

Help support this forum with an OGR Forum Supporting Membership.
You will be able to watch the videos in the INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO FORUM!
A one-year OGR Forum Supporting Membership is only $12 per year, so sign up now!


    OR     


Access the ALL the OGR VIDEO FORUMS AND  over 300 back issues of OGR
with a DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION!



$12.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable)
×