In 1952 my great-grandfather built my father a lionel train table. Its about 11.5' x 6.5'. This is only the second time it has been set up and running since the mid '60s. After getting it running I decieded its time for a make-over. Lionel is a tradition in my family. Im glad to be passing it down to my 10 year old son. Ill post some pics before the face-lift, and some of the work ive done. Please give me any advice ideas you may have. 
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Here are some pics with some recent work I've done.
The "mountain" with a little more paint
Starting to look good. This is a great project, even more so when you consider it's family history. Keep us posted on your progress.
Very cool project!
Very nice. However to keep the boredom down, you need to make the train disappear so one does not see it all the time. Consider senic dividers or an elevated town over some sections of track.
That is an interesting idea. I was going to build a tunnel but, maintaining the origanal layout (to keep some of the originality) does not provide enough space. When it was built, he designed it to be broken down into 4 sections, so he was able to ship it from his home in Millwalkee, to my Dad in Connecticut. I have changed it so it will be broken down into two. An elivated town might hinder the "portability" of it. The buildings he built for it, which are impresive, are drastically out of scale. I messed around and scaled up a 3d template of a 30Lx24Tx20D building using .267" per 1' scale and the 1000sf building I mocked up could fit inside his single story structure. I'll upload a picture showing the contrast between mine and his. That set aside, the final phase is going to be a town square. Maybe ill build that grand enough with 2 and 3 story buildings to break up the sight line. Thank you for the suggestion, and encouragement!
Nice project to preserve family legacy. I am with you on keeping it "as was".
The land scenery items and perhaps a small elevated deck can be made as a diorama or a piece that is placed on the layout. It can be stored or shipped in boxes or plastic containers. So, don't eliminate those ideas as add-ons.
Why did you use .267? Lionel O is 1:48 or .02083 or commonly used .25" to 1'
Carl, when I did the research, all i can find was that explanation of the scale. What I saw most was a rounded .25" =1' ratio, and read that it was .267" = 1'. Is that in correct? Sorry for the delayed responce.
I aquired this set yesterday, a solid running prewar 1668 with tender and 3 cars. 
Great project. Honor grandpa and honor your father. Build structures and add their names. Name a train for them. Name a business on the layout for them. Do that for your son with his name.
Scrappy
My great grandfather was a tool and die maker. I may purchase the tool and die shop on this site and put the family name on it. Funny you mentioned that...i was thinking about that last night.
Fantastic!
Peter
Im thinking of grabbing a GG1 reproduction, I think it is made by Williams? I currently have an origanal black GG1 set with the passenger cars... Im all about using all of my engines, but I was told that it's fairly rare for its condition, and I am thinking I should keep it preserved. Any thoughts?
Im currently looking for whistling tenders, preferably from the '50s, as most of my Loco's and rolling stock are of that era, if anyone knows of some being offered on here, please let me know. I really need a 2046.
So i added a smoke unit to the 1668...pretty cool..ill post more pics of this weekends layout work soon. I plan on building a removable tunnel/mountain.
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