Videos of Alan Arnold’s layout

More videos,

I've seen Alan's layout on Youtube and watched them numerous times.  I'd love to see it in person, he has a fantastic layout and it runs very well.  The scenery is super nice and I'm sure he must have many many hours that he has put into it.  Way to go Alan, a super fine layout indeed.  It should be in the magazine.

Alan. All I can say is 'WOW'.

Awesome!!! Hey Rich Melvin come out of retirement and let's do a  great layout video of Alan's RR!!!!😊

Don, awesome is definitely the right word. And long trains. I love it.

Alan, thanks for sharing. Have a great trip John.

Gerry

Absolutely stunning layout !!!!  

John thanks for posting.

Alex

Thanks guys....and a BIG thank you to John.  What a guy!!  John is so interesting and loves the hobby and I have to tell you that he is one special friend.  When he arrived, we visited for just a short while and then decided to go to lunch.  When we went out to the car to leave, he excused himself to go get something out of his car.  He brought out a long gift package that to my eyes appeared to be a bottle of wine....but it was so much better....HOLY COW!!!  Take a look at the picture of what John had custom made for me.....WOW....!  I am so proud to have this one of a kind and it will always represent the great friendship I have made with John.  Thank you John for everything!!  And...the videos look wonderful...thanks for posting them.

Awesome!

Peter

Wow! That is a very nice and very unique gift! First rate!

I'm jealous! After watching these videos of your layout, I'm going to go to the basement stairs that lead down to my layout, throw down a gallon of gasoline, strike a match, and close the door. ….

Amazing layout

Jim Barrett posted:

I'm jealous! After watching these videos of your layout, I'm going to go to the basement stairs that lead down to my layout, throw down a gallon of gasoline, strike a match, and close the door. ….

Ah Jim, don't say that. I'm sure that your layout has something Alan's doesn't...your touch. We each bring to life whatever we can imagine, and I hope you're just kidding.

I could rewatch that freight consist over and over, great choices in trains, scenery, and everything!   

Sure, to some extent Dave. 
But those were some REALLY IMPRESSIVE VIDEOS of a great city-scape train layout.  True, we all have our different ways of telling a layout story. 
What impresses me about Alan's is how perfectly everything in each scene fits together.  Me, I spend unbelievable amounts of time making sure that this building is placed just so, and that gravel road has to look just so in that scene, etc.  As a result, I would have to work two lifetimes to accomplish what Alan has accomplished on his layout! 

I know the feeling Jim.

Captain John posted:

2 years ago I posted a slew of pictures of Alan’s layout. This year I did some video excerpts. To see his layout in person is breathtaking and especially when he tells all the stories behind it.

 Thanks Alan for inviting me to your home again. You and Lakeeta were very gracious hosts.

 

That is a good sized freight train.Remind me of freight trains I would see as a kid.

I am impressed by the skyscrappers he has built.That takes skill to do that kind of work.The whole thing is just a treat for the eyes.

  Gorgeous layout!  Those are some crazy long trains!

I think Alan is hiding the steam engines on me, either that or he doesn't have any. Of course though, I think steam wouldn't fit too well for what his layout is showing us. I still like it anyhow.

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

I think Alan is hiding the steam engines on me, either that or he doesn't have any. Of course though, I think steam wouldn't fit too well for what his layout is showing us. I still like it anyhow.

Dave...I have quite a few steam engines..mostly either on the shelves or in boxes (ran out of shelf space).  In John's second set of videos, the second video shows an overhead view of the roundhouse area.....It is the most unfinished area on the layout but here are a few pictures:

Doh! Nice Alan, I knew you had some somewhere. I watched on my phone, no wonder I couldn't see them.

Very Nice indeed! If I may ask, how big is the space or room that houses your layout?

ConrailFan posted:

Very Nice indeed! If I may ask, how big is the space or room that houses your layout?

Thanks....the room is 30' x 40' but the layout has different levels thus the layout square footage makes up for any isle space taken.

Wow - Alan that is truly magnificent. What a fun, interesting looking layout.

And yes, Capt. John is one interesting guy and gracious host - I hope to bend his ear soon on my upcoming layout designs.

Once again Alan, that looks like a really fun place to spend some time.

Paul

Thanks Alan!

John, thanks for sharing videos of Alan's awesome layout.  Alan has been gracious enough to share countless photos of his layout, here on the forum and in articles in the magazine so I know how incredible it is, but what I most remember from his photos is the unbelievable city-scape and harbor.  Your first video shows that his little out of the way places along the tracks are just as nice.

John and Alan, thank you both for sharing this beautiful layout with us.    I have it on my bucket list and will get it done.   Alan, you have one beautiful layout.   

Marty

OMG so amazing. Love those long trains. How do you keep the dust off, Alan? All the rolling stock looks so clean. Do you have some type of dust collectors running?

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

John and Alan, thank you both for sharing this beautiful layout with us.    I have it on my bucket list and will get it done.   Alan, you have one beautiful layout.   

 

Marty

Alas....my friend Marty was not able to visit as he intended....but his memory will always be here on my layout through the Acela that I now own which was Marty's....

Where's the GG1's. 

Alan, those long shallow arches running along the wall supported on green uprights, Monorail??  Brand of arches?  Thanks, tt

Tom Tee posted:

Alan, those long shallow arches running along the wall supported on green uprights, Monorail??  Brand of arches?  Thanks, tt

 

Tom...those are the Disneyland monorail tracks you are seeing.  The uprights/supports that come with the track would not fit in the tight space so I substituted green tubing cut to the appropriate lengths.  The plan is to perhaps change the color....

Wow! - that is stunning.  What an incredible layout.

William 1 posted:

Wow! - that is stunning.  What an incredible layout.

Thank you!

Simply amazing and so beautifully built and arranged on the layout.   I didn't know that you had such a large layout so nicely sceneicked.  Thanks for sharing.  You'll have to tell your story about the layout e.g. how long you've been in the process of building it.  Also where did you acquire the skill necessary to build such nice buildings, etc.

👍🚂🚝

A Very nice layout for sure!  Definitely a "Labor of Love!"

NOw there's an Engine I DON'T OWN... YET!

Alan, a little while back Marty started selling off engines that I myself could never part with if they were mine. The thought went through my head something was wrong that was not good. I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to purchase his Jersey Central NS Heritage Unit from him so that I have something to remember him by. It will choke me up every time I run it, because I'll know the same feelings of joy and admiration for that engine, will flow over me in the same way they did for Marty when he owned it. I feel that when everyone of us, who purchased an engine from him runs that engine, that he will come and pay us a visit in spirit form to enjoy and absorb those same good feelings with us.

One word: neat! There's tremendous foreground and background allowing the viewer to become engrossed and part of the scenes - and the trains are able to run at realistic fast speeds on nice long strait tracks and what looks like broad curves. That is pure fun to watch

I've seen videos of your layout, before, Alan, but I think these are newer ones.

Can you tell me the height of the catenary wire, from top of railhead to bottom of wire where pantographs touch? I am guessing 5 1/2" to 6" but could it be as low as 5"? 5" is my limit due to Menards run-through structures. Thanks.