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It was honor and privilege to have Joe Stachler from TM Books and Videos in my home yesterday to video my 2014 Christmas Layout.  He spent most of the whole day filming my trains and ended the day with interview with me about my layout.  Joe told me my layout will be in the next video release, Toy Train Revue, Part 4.  The video will be coming out in a few weeks.  

 

Joe called me at the beginning of October wanting to film my layout the 1st week of November.  That meant starting to set up my Christmas Tree on 2nd weekend of October!  It felt very strange to be setting up our family Christmas tree that early especially when I had to run out to Menards on a Saturday night and had to buy a set of Christmas lights for our tree because one of my strings was bad!!  Normally, I don’t begin setting up my layout until the last week October or beginning of November.  I spent about 150 hours on setting up my layout this year while working 2 jobs at the same time.  At the end of this last week I felt very tired and worn out! 

 

My biggest fear was that something would fail or go wrong during the filming.  To my surprise there were only a couple of minor problems such as car coming uncoupled.  Joe filmed 9 of my engines yesterday…6 of them running at one time.  I added smoke fluid to all the engines at least 3 – 4 times during the filming!      

 

As much as yesterday was fun, I was tired out by the end of the day.  I look forward to seeing the video, but now I can enjoy running trains and relaxing as I have the rest of week off from work! 

 

Ken

 

 

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Last edited by kjstrains
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That's great Ken! I thought you'd been a little quiet the past few weeks. If I'd of known I would of filibustered for a Great Train Race rematch between your Hiawatha and Southern Crescent . That's gonna be an awesome video, if I'm not mistaken you're in great company: sharing the spotlight with Brian and Marty. Adding your Christmas Layout to the video seals the deal on what the one Christmas present I'll be buying myself this year is.

Originally Posted by Matthew B.:

That's great Ken! I thought you'd been a little quiet the past few weeks. If I'd of known I would of filibustered for a Great Train Race rematch between your Hiawatha and Southern Crescent . That's gonna be an awesome video, if I'm not mistaken you're in great company: sharing the spotlight with Brian and Marty. Adding your Christmas Layout to the video seals the deal on what the one Christmas present I'll be buying myself this year is.

Matthew.  Yes I would like to see rematch between Hiawatha and Southern Crescent!  ...Maybe give Southern Crescent a little ahead start this time!  LOL!  Yes, the last few weeks have been madness for me in setting up my layout...not much time on the forum. 

 

I asked Joe which layouts would be included in the video.  Brian's, Mr. Muffins and mine, but Marty's will be featured in another video.  He filmed Marty's right after Brian's since he was near Marty's home.  He was saying that this video was focusing on Christmas and wanted to put Marty's on separate video.  He also said there will be a short segment on "smallest Christmas Train Layout." 

Originally Posted by towdog:

I like that they showcase a wide variety of layouts.  Your is one that the average guy could possibly aspire to build one day.  As much as I enjoy seeing the larger layouts, I often find myself enjoying the smaller ones even more.  Can't wait to check it out.  Congratulations on being included!

You are right...My Christmas Train layout can be created by the average model railroader.  There is a lot of wiring which is hidden under the cotton…the most difficult and boring part!  It takes a lot of patience.  I am sure there might be easier ways in setting it up, but for me I follow in similar ways in how my Dad used to set up Christmas Train layouts when I was child.   I took many pictures during the set-up this year, so maybe later on after the video comes out I will put together a You Tube video with those pictures from start to finish.  Thanks for comment.

 

Ken

 

Ken,

 

Congradulations on being on the upcoming Video, I am looking forward to it.

 

You just confirmed my thought that maybe Brian's and Marty's lay-outs would be on different Videos as it seamed as if Brian's would be on a Christmas type Video and while Marty has some Christmas decorations in some spots on his lay-out it realy is not a Christmas theamed Lay-out.

 

I wish we could preorder the Video so we could get it sooner.

 

Again congrats!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Passenger Train Collector:

I agree Ken, the preview looks very good. I am proud to be on the same video with your layout. 

Brian, Thank for your kind comment.  I am humbled to have my layout on the same video of your magnificent layout.  I would love to have the space to have a layout like yours!

I overheard that the DVDs are due in this week.

 

I saw in an older thread that some thought Marty Fitzhenry's layout might be in this video. That is not the case, but I did shoot his layout for a future video to be released in 2015.

 

We're considering producing a new Christmas video next year as well. We figure this Christmas season is the time to shoot new layouts. But we can't travel too far from our home base with other projects going on right now. But if there's anyone in the general Chicago/Midwest area...say around 100 miles in any direction from Chicago...who has a Christmas layout they'd like included in next year's project, let me know and maybe I can come out there.

Toy Train Revue 4 …. in brief.

 

My copy arrived on Monday. Safe to say that anyone who likes Christmas and trains will enjoy this video. Brian Vaill’s huge pike built with tubular O gauge track incorporates more Dept. 56 buildings (of all seasonal themes) than one can imagine. This Yuletide monster is counterpointed with Dan Gura’s world’s smallest O gauge train under the tree layout. Ken Schamberger’s around-the-tree setup is the most detailed holiday floor layout I’ve ever seen. Joe Stachler covers the 19 year history of the Lionel Trains Hallmark ornaments; their evolution in quality and decoration, and their collectibility. Mr. Muffins’s extensive hi-rail layout is probably the largest ever placed in a train store.

  

The Revue revisit section on the construction of the Lionel Visitors Center layout in Michigan from the TTR4 of 1992 brought back some good memories and was special for this viewer.

 

For the young and the young of heart.

 

Bob

Last edited by Bob Bubeck

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