do you guys have any suggestions on an under the tree layout? i have septa beeps. i have a bunch of old 3 rail track. im thinkg about up grading to fast track. Does anyone have pictures?
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my only beef with roadbed type track is the inability to customize sections.
i really prefer small layouts that do not parallel edges and that's tough to do without making a few track cuts. for the tree, i usually raise the board enough to clear the stand and still leave enough room to add some water which also keeps any wiring off the floor. cheers...gary
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Rob, would appreciate if you'd post track layout for both of these and list the Fastrack pieces you used and how many of each along with size of each layout. Also which trestles and where they are placed. Thanks.
Originally Posted by ADCX Rob:
Originally Posted by ogaugeguy:
Rob, would appreciate if you'd post track layout for both of these and list the Fastrack pieces you used and how many of each along with size of each layout. Also which trestles and where they are placed. Thanks.
Not my layout, you can email the guy who made the video, or go to the CTT site which has detailed drawings in the layout plans section.
Here's my Christmas layout from a couple of years ago:
O-31 MTH track on a 5'x5' layout (cut from a single sheet of 4'x8' plywood.)
Jim
I just use a circle of Realtrack on a white painted plywood. We use my wife's collection of Dept 51 buildings with their lights. Simple but effective.
Happy model railroading
Mark Boyce
Butler. Pennsylvania
If you have a artificial tree, use a heavy outdoor umbrella stand instead of a tradional tree stand with water holder and legs. The flat base provides maximum area for scenics.
Great tp, Joe. Thanks.
Originally Posted by Joe Hohmann:
If you have a artificial tree, use a heavy outdoor umbrella stand instead of a tradional tree stand with water holder and legs. The flat base provides maximum area for scenics.
This is what I have been setting up under the tree.
I did two loops of track with crossover switches. Wife won't let me cut lower branches so no trestles or over/under stuff. Mixture of Dept 56 and MTH buildings. Notice the fake overhead track on the lower right of first picture. I think it adds visual interest.
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Just a simple loop this year with Thomas running around the track. Next year as the kids are a bit older I might do something more.
Here's the AnyRail plan of the O-31 2010 tree layout. The top was the front, a remote track to operate the candy cane dump car and one custom cut section. Pushbutton operated Sir Topham Hat in the upper right corner. Kids loved the cane dump and the hat man.
Pete
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I do a "twice around the Christmas tree" plan with Lionel FasTrack.
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That is nice M & O . Great video also ,Thanks.
Originally Posted by Michigan & Ohio Valley Lines:
I do a "twice around the Christmas tree" plan with Lionel FasTrack.
Nice. If you don't mind, I'm going to try to pilfer your plan for under one of our trees this year, with the boss's permission, of course. Maybe that will get me going on a larger layout, downstairs, that has been stalled due to brain clog on design. Love your stuff. Especially what you've done with your PE. I'm going to try to duplicate some of the snow on my traditional PE set for under the tree next year.
Ron
I've been using fastrack since I got my first oval of it in my Santa Fe El Capitan set in 2007. I use the regular cotton snow stuff that's made for Christmas villages, and I definitely like that the roadbed creates a barrier between the locomotives and cars and any stray fibers from the cloth.
Here are some videos of previous layouts. I've never really gotten creative with track plans. Usually just an oval or two with a siding off of one.
Not under the tree, but pretty much the same layout I used to do under our tree but without the tree. This one was built on an 8x12 platform and had one big oval around the perimeter and a sort of dogbone loop in the center with a trolley line along the front. This year it's going to be 8x16 with a fastrack loop, and then whatever we come up with using a few boxes of old O-27 track somebody else loaned us.
Previous years
thank you guys. i have not built a layout under the street since i was a little kid. im looking forward to running my beeps
I seldom have a under the tree layout, but this year my wife's sister got us a K-Line Proctor and Gamble Set from one of her friends.
My wife suggested we run it under the tree this year.
I'm thinking of a "squared" O31 circle, and a little bit excited too.
Jake...
Are you doing the layout at the Redford theatre again?
Originally Posted by Casey LV:
That is nice M & O . Great video also ,Thanks.
Originally Posted by FrankfordJunction:
Originally Posted by Michigan & Ohio Valley Lines:
I do a "twice around the Christmas tree" plan with Lionel FasTrack.
Nice. If you don't mind, I'm going to try to pilfer your plan for under one of our trees this year, with the boss's permission, of course. Maybe that will get me going on a larger layout, downstairs, that has been stalled due to brain clog on design. Love your stuff. Especially what you've done with your PE. I'm going to try to duplicate some of the snow on my traditional PE set for under the tree next year.
Ron
Ron, I hope you enjoy the plan.
Thank you for the compliments! The Polar Express cars were fun to do. I look forward to seeing yours, when you do them.
Originally Posted by Gandalf97:
Jake...
Are you doing the layout at the Redford theatre again?
Yes, I am. We put the platforms up last Sunday and I'm working on getting everything ready to set up next Sunday (the 25th). It'll be 8x16 this year instead of the 8x12 we did last year.
If you're in the area, check it out one weekend. We're showing "A Christmas Story" the weekend of the 30th.
great ideas
