What Is the Focal Point On your Layout?

What a person is looking at during a given time.

The steam locomotive servicing facility.

Actually three. The GCT for the city, the train station for Elizabeth, and the Newport Bridge.

 

 

I would have to say the bridge. The "Hale Gate Bridge" is a 12 foot, double-track structure that spans the lower level town. It is hinged in the middle and folds to 6 ft. for when it was transported as part of a module. Here is was undergoing some inspection and repair last summer. Named for its builder, F. Hale.

 

 

Hmmmmmm.....

 

 

The trains, I guess.

 

I agree with Andy, the trains!

Mine will be a scratch built full circle roundhouse.

 

Something unique....

I would think this would do the trick for my small layout the big bridge in the back gound

These are the bridges on my suspended layout. I almost forgot about the pond that the layout and shop were designed around.

Don

People always think it's my two helixes, but that's because there isn't any scenery yet. The layout is divided into 4 aisles, so you can't see the whole thing at one time. Each aisle will have at least one focal point.

 

In aisle 4, it has to be the Hiawatha Milling District...

 

but the Ford Plant will be pretty cool too.

 

In aisle 3 it has to be Dayton's Bluff.

 

Aisle 2 it's Pigs Eye Yard.

 

Aisle 1 it's Northtown Hump yard.

 

The 1948 Lionel 115 station with the 2 postwar bascule bridges. All of those pieces were my uncles way back in the late 40's and prominently displayed and operating on my layout.

This bridge (not yet installed).

 

 

George

 

 

A video, click on the triangle.   Early Diamond Scale turntable.

 

This is a gorgeous focal point, Doug.

 

The trains are no doubt the STAR of the show, but when guests come to your layout, for the most part, their initial reactions are drawn to a focal point on the layout. I encourage anyone building a new layout to incorporate a scenery element that draws immediate attention.

On a large layout such as ours, there are/will be several. One of my personal favorites is a massive mountain and gorge scene which has five bridges of various styles crossing the gorge and a beautiful water scene under the bridge closest to the edge of the layout.

Some great photos. I think it's Ivor's shed. It's right at the bottom of the stairs into the basement and the 'beginning' of the rest of the layout. Here's an old snap: 

Wow!!! 

 

George

 

I always had small layouts (4x8 and once a 8x8 "L") so there was always by necessity a balance between everything.  Although, in any postwar layout like mine, the operating accessories tended to be a focal point for me

Doug,

I love your service facility. Its one of the best I have seen. Brennan's roundhouse is one of the best Roundhouses  in O scale. I hope you keep us posted very soon on your layout progress.

Chris


       

Absolutely beautiful. Perfect. I couldn't suggest changing a single thing, even if you paid me. Wow. I stand in awe.

FrankM.

Good question. And a thought-provoking one, too.

 

Perhaps, Moon Township's "focal point" is the unexpected, this neighborhood and what is spread out beyond it, all of which is what a guest sees immediately upon descending the cellar stairs and entering the train-room:

FrankM.

(And it is what we see everyday when we pass through to the garage from the first floor, and smile.)

Paul,

   The actual focal point on my layouts is not the trains, or the building structures,

my layouts are done at Christmas time, the Lord's birthday is the focal point of each and every layout.  The Tin Plate and other Trains are decorations, on a Christmas theme in our formal living room at Christmas time, this has been our families tradition sense before I was born.  Even our large gameroom/office layout, that was up for 10 years centered around that same theme.

PCRR/Dave

 

This is an awesome focal point!!!

Wow. Awesome layout. The detail is incredible and I like the way the train disappears around the bend into the cityscape. 

Amazing level of detail. Superb workmanship.

 

Thank you both for the compliments.

 

Here are two additional pictures I found which show a better view of the deep end of the gorge.

Here is mine.

 

On a 4x8 I would say this.

 

 

Probably the Roundhouse. It's a recent addition to the RR and was designed to be at the layouts edge. With large windows in the rear for viewing detail items.

 

 

no question that it is now the GCT with the Harry Heike base

 

 

Correct, those are the 60" truss bridge kits sold by Miami Valley.

Just got back to see these and they are great. Thanks to everyone who has posted. It is neat to see the differences in each post yet all are excellent for that particular layout.

This is it  If the timing is right 14 trains can cross each other

 

It used to be this....

 

 

Now its this:

 

-Pete

That is nice!!!

 

George