Thomas the Tank layouts

I'll be looking at responses to this topic as well.  Just a week or so ago I bought Thomas, Percy, James, and Diesel--all part of a project I hope to do for display at Akron Children's Hospital Mahoning Valley next holiday season.  I'm hoping to construct a modest-size but nicely detailed "Island of Sodor" type of layout that can be displayed in the facility's lobby area during the season so youngsters unfortunate enough to be hospitalized, or even just in for a hopefully brief medical visit, can enjoy a bit of fun watching Thomas and his friends do their thing.

 

All of the locomotives have the new LionChief controls, so kids will also be able to operate the trains themselves when I or another volunteer are on hand.  I still need to acquire a lot of rolling stock and accessories, but that can be spread out over the next few months.

 

I have no children of my own, but still think it would provide great pleasure to bring a smile to some youngsters' faces when they are confronting the general fear associated with being at a hospital.

Just make sure each pulls the correct consists or those little tykes will let you know, LOL. My youngest son loved Thomas and friends and when we played with his massive Thomas collection he was always correcting which engine pulled what. You fellas will definitely make some children happy.

I too, am looking for some ideas. I have Thomas, Percy, the large remote controlled Cranky the Crane from the PlaySchool Trackmaster set and purchased The Fat Controller and his two assistants from a set break-up of the original Lionel O conventional set.

 

When watching the non-cgi dvd's, they show a map of Sodor at the beginning. That inspired me to think putting a loop around a switching layout. Based on the characters roles, you could pick some vignettes. Someone also posted the "MouseTrap" adaption of the famous 30's layout in FasTrack. 13 90° crossovers, 1 45° crossover and a few switches. Kind of expensive and large, but his idea of Thomas and Friends running around simultaneously appealed to me.

 

So, with Cranky, I need the docks, which Thomas frequents. Percy also, delivering mail. James handles passengers and freight, so a station fits. Diesel works at the quarry and is a little bit of a nudge, so he could be anywhere irritating the steamies.

The standard stuff that makes a layout attractive, a mountain, a tunnel, a bridge and a lake are all on Sodor.

 

I really want a Harold that's close to O, but haven't found one.

 

There's my direction, as Thomas and Friends will have a place on my modules. Thomas is a very useful engine!

Since it was brought up...

 

The Railway Series Map (the Thomas Books)

 

 

The recent tv show map

 

Bachmann had a great fun HO scale Thomas layout they used at big shows in SoCal 5 or 6 years ago.

Here are some neat links from a website dedicated to Thomas.

 

The mapping of Sodor back to 1949:

 

http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/mapsection.htm

 

The modeling of Sodor.  Ideas go back to the 50's and 60's.  So much for being original ):

 

http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/ffarquhar.htm

 

Chris

 

 

Hi, Chris.

 

If I may, since Silver Lake mentioned Bachmann's HO equipment, I'd like to endorse it myself as well. Bachmann's selection of Thomas HO models far exceeds that of Lionel's O gauge range. They run dependably and, I believe, are more faithful to the characters as seen in the show. A young cousin of mine gets his Thomas fix using the Bachmann HO equipment and it fulfills the role very well. As this is an O gauge oriented forum, I don't expect many here to agree with me for recommending HO over O but it's really nice stuff. Just something to consider...

 

All the best,

 

Bob 

 

Of course, these articles are about the Rev. Awdry's own models (the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine), so you know it's what he had in mind! It's a really interesting series of articles that helps you get into the author's head.

 

I think these characters may be the best shot at drawing a new generation into our hobby. 

 

What got me back into model railroading after many years was the Bachmann Thomas gear. We bought a Bachmann James the Red Engine (now also the name of my red Dodge Challenger) and it kind of escalated from there. We ended up with a lot of Hornby and Mainline OO locomotives and rolling stock as well. (Some of the Hornby private wagons are just dripping with character.)  

 

The layout we built for Thomas and friends also drew my oldest daughter (12) into model railroading - she's really into scenery. I've been trying to interest her in the O gauge stuff as well, and she has expressed an interest in helping to populate our Polar Express display with proper scenery over the coming months. 

 

Fred

No, I'll agree with you…the Bachmann HO Thomas line is both extensive and well made.  If I was trying to do a more complete Thomas-theme layout, the HO line would probably be my first choice.  But for a fairly simple display layout with kids in mind, you can't beat the "Wow!" factor of the larger O gauge.  Heck, I would even go with Large Scale (G gauge) if there was sufficient variety available and if space wasn't a consideration.

Yes, the Bachmann collection does seem extensive.  I just feel O gauge is so much more forgiving than HO especially for the young and old.  I wonder if Lionel or another O vender would ever fill out the Thomas collection?

 

Chris

http://www.toysrus.com/buy/rac...light-v7026-11694185

(also look at Harold at the bottom of this same page)

 

Search out Cranky the Crane Remote Control and the Fisher Price set pops up.

This is 2 feet high and runs by remote control hand held controller and has sounds Cranky talking really kid friendly.

 

As for the LionChief remote controls I got Thomas then Percy and James when they came out and have used for a couple of shows with the kids running trains.

Within the first day the kids had broken the James remote control.

The problem with these is that when you turn the speed dial it takes several seconds for the trains to start moving so the little kids just keep turning the dials back and forth and the trains do not move as it takes so long for the trains to respond to the remote.

 

Also the trains go so fast they will come off the track, I hook my remote engines up to a basic Lionel Transformer and turn the transformer way down about half power.

That way when the kids turn the remote to full speed the trains will go at a reasonable speed and not come off the track.

 

There is a little plastic Toby engine at Toys R Us that could be powered to add to your Thomas fleet a bit small but it can work.

 

Lionel makes the cardboard Thomas background with tunnel that looks good with the sets.

 

For Harold I used the Lionel set or you can find a Fisher Price version at Toys R Us

It fits well in the Lionel Airplane towers. The control towers that have planes that circle. Just pull off a plane and add the Harold.

 

Also a hit is the Sir Topham Hat Lionel Gateman.

 

There are lots of British Style buildings that will look the part on the Isle of Sodor.

Where Lionel does a lot better is, ironically, with Thomas. Bachmann's Thomas face looks nothing like the classic live-action show. That's why I went with the Hornby for Thomas - the face is dead on, even though the body is way to long, even considering the HO/OO difference.

 

The Lionel gives you a much better face, plus proper proportions. At least in the older sets, you also got a selection of faces. Not sure if the LC sets do, but I like that option a lot.

 

I'd take home a couple sets of these myself, but I can't imagine what my wife would say if she saw Thomas in yet another scale!

 

Fred

I have been setting up model train displays using the Lionel Thomas series at a few train shows quick set ups so not much time to set up really scenic displays.

But I run a  few Thomas theme trains.

I repainted a couple of the Hogwart's engines for Henry and Gordon on the outside tracks here pulling Lima or Pola Scale coaches that look right.

 

Thomas Percy etc. in the background.

You can get the Lionel Thomas themed freight cars or look for the Pola Lima Rivorosi Europe style 2 rail cars that can be modified or painted to look like the Thomas freight cars. painted a couple of cars red and added the Mail logos for Percy to pull.

Found a kit of engine that was close to Hero and painted it up.

Made up a Mavis, Toby engines, Boco etc.

 

Made a Brick building from a cardboard box covered in Lemax Brick sheet with a Sodor Iron Works name plate on the front.

Diesel, Arry and Bert Lionel engines on inside loops.

 

This is a circus theme layout and added some Sodor style houses and a few trees.

Lots of Circus trains pulled by Thomas and Friends.

Let the kids run the remote control trains and buttons to push for Sir Topham hat Gateman and some Whistle sounds.

 

Harold can be seen flying on the Lionel Tower in photo 1 and 3.

 

Click on photos for a larger view.

You will see Cranky the Crane up front by the kids.

 

The first 3 photos show kids running the remote control Thomas trains and Cranky.

 

 

Click on photos for a larger view.

Here are a couple of other layouts I did for the kids little guy running Thomas with some Circus cars behind at an outdoor event.

Then the Christmas layout I set up for a Polar Express event at the local railway museum.

On this Gordon and Henry are running on the top loops around the mountain on left and over the bridges.

In foreground Thomas and Percy pulling Christmas theme cars around the City, Polar Express around them and under the top level.

In middle section James pulling a Christmas theme train under the upper city level.

And on far left see other photos Diesel running.

 

Lots of fun kids love the color and controlling the trains.

 

 

Thanks for photos kj356. I couldn't find the thread that you posted with the outdoor\white fence event. I wanted to use the point you made about the kids enjoyment of the LionChief remotes and Cranky, too.

Bachmann does offer a great engine and cars in G that Lionel does not the Emily set. The green pinstriped Stirling Single 2-2-2. This engine is the one that may persuade me to get into G. Bachmann offers close to as much in g as Lionel does in O.


       

As an addition to this thread, I believe Trainworld is selling some of the Lionchief sets for $119.00 - no Thomas, but his friends, and some additional cars.

Allan Miller, I like your idea for the children's hospital.  I believe I have some Lionel Thomas items that I could donate to this worthy cause, if interested you could email me, my email address is in my profile.

 

 

John.

Time to revive this thread! We (Our Historical Society) just picked up a Percy set for our Trains in the Town Hall display. We are planning an 8'x8' layout, Christmas Tree in the middle, with a disappearing tunnel, which we will name the "Magical Coal Mine". We only have the Percy set with the expansion pack of cars, but I want to plan two loops for a future faced engine. We need to plan a mountain/tunnel as well as some other features of the Island of Sodor.

The kids are going to love this!

 

We are currently doing "A day out with Thomas" at Greenfield Village

in Dearborn MI. 

We have a 32 X 10 layout of all Thomas....

I think this little guy say's it all....

Wish I could still get this excited...