The Greatest Layout Ever

The two main things I learned from John was, detail, detail, detail and less is more. I think many layouts have to much train and not enough open landscape. Don

Hi Don, for looks your one hundred percent on the money. But, I'm one of those strange types that love to jam as much action into my layout as possible.

I think my attitude comes from spending to much time living in the city, wide open spaces is usually left to the imagination.

DKDKRD

Are there any photos of the Roadside America layout you referred to? Now you have the curiosity factor going for me inasmuch as my own layout is generally the type of display layout one would see in the late 1950 period or thereabouts. I am going to try to do a search and see if I can find some. If so, I will post them unless you hopefully beat me to the punch.

Is this the one? That certainly looks like real water!

Electroliner check it out at 

Roadside America - Home

Thanks DK

I added Roadside America to my must see list. Much Thanks. After perusing the site, I have to say one word. Incredible.

Hi Folks,  Photos and articles about the G&D inspired me to sell all my Lionel equipment when I was a kid and go into HO.  I really was influenced by the G&D.  The Sunset Valley and V&O were major inspirations during my HO years.  

The Great Southern inspired me to return to 3-rail O gauge.  This was another landmark model railroad.  

I think that to hold the title of a "great model railroad" the model railroad needs to be both well done but also widely known.  There are many exceptional model railroads throughout the country but only a handful of them are well known to other modelers.  

I think that the G&D may have been the most influential model railroad for many of today's older modelers.  Most of the younger modelers in my club have never heard of the G&D.  Time moves on and the past is forgotten.

Joe 

G&D was one of the original master piece mountain railroads that started a huge craze in mountain rails & that type of imaginative work. I would agree Lorell Joiners Great Southern was a great 2 rail layout. It seems today some best around in 3 rail and 2 rail layouts are right here.

John Allen was an artist, a modeler and a professional photographer. He combined all of these talents to create a unique and realistic looking HO layout and it was a standout. Not to take anything away from Allens work, IMO, the greatest O gauge layout ever built was Frank Ellisons Delta Lines of the 30's, 40's and 50's. Like the G&D, that layout was also destroyed but some of the original structures remain in the hands of private collectors today. The Delta Lines was a regular feature in Lionel's Model Builder Magazines (1937-1949) and from his 200 articles, it is possible to recreate and enjoy the work that Frank Ellison did. Frank Ellison had a unique way of using art, proportion, distance, detail and illusion to create some very interesting scenery and towns. His creativity and effective use of oil painting backdrops to transition the scene to the layout table was nothing short of genius.

After 10 years in the building process, the construction of over 28 scratch built structures over 100 lbs of Plaster of Paris, and hundreds of feet of track;  I am currently putting the final touches on a half size around the room recreation of the Delta Lines that will feature the more prominent parts of the layout plus a few touches of my own. After countless delays it is certain that the layout will be finished and open to all visitors this year. 

Dennis....I sure would like to see some pictures of your recreated Delta Lines!!!  Have I missed them somehow on the forum??  Now you have me wanting to see more...

Alan

I only knew of Roadside America since I live in Pennsylvania, and only learned of the other masters because of this forum.  Since I was a young teenager (65 now), Roadside America, open to the public, was my inspiration.  I took my wife there about 20 years ago when our sons were young and not with us (one of those weekend trips).  She had a blast pushing the buttons to operate all the action scenes and there was a bunch of them.

electroliner... Thanks for posting the video.