I've been to York TCA meet
I've visited the NJ Highrailers
I've visited the National Toy Train Museum,
and I agree with all three.
I've also visited the home layouts of Jim Policastro, Alex Malliae, Eliot Scher and others.
These, and many others are wonders alright.
But, I want to tell you about my club layout in Sydney Australia, AMRA.
It was first built 50 years ago, and a couple of these first members are still involved.
It's not the biggest club layout, but it's not small.
It is pretty much all hand made. All the track and switches of the original layout, 80% in total, is hand made and can run 2 rail, 3 rail, AC, DC, DCS, TMCC, DCC. All the signalling is hand made, and actually works through a relay system interlinked to blocks, switches, etc.We recently expanded the layout to accommodate US style 2 and 3 rail, using Atlas track, but with all handmade switches. And they are faultless in operation. All the original buildings, structures, turntables etc were scratch built.
Most of the locos and rolling stock that runs on the original part of the layout are scratch built. One of our very distinguished old members, Col Shepherd, is now 92 years of age, has been there from the start, and has built more than 50 engines in his life and countless pieces of rolling stock. (He still skates every week). Col even built loco models for the government state railways of the day. Over time, when older members passed away, many of their collections of scratch built trains were donated to the club, and are on permanent display.
This club, and it's older members are indeed wonders of our O gauge train world.