I love watching a train miander through mountains and tunnels along side a river. I think the layout at the Colorado Model Railroad Museum is my favorite that I've seen. If I had the space, I'd want to model the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and be able to run the Ski Train from Union Station in Denver to Winter Park, including a pass thru Moffatt Tunnel.
Early transition era steam to diesel for me.
I've ran on this, I've ran on that. "Exiting tunnels" says the young kid in me.
But every part of me over 10 says live catenary, and has been saying it since I was about ten. Hard to have a GG-1 and an E-33 and not want it 
Only thing is, I've never even seen one outside of photos
.
Originally Posted by Mike S.:
My favorite layout themes are those that replicate logging, and coal mines. I love the look and feel of these layouts. From the timbers, cinder ballast, trees, tree stumps, trestle bridges and weathered buildings etc..it really puts me in that time period. I notice a lot of On30 layouts are like this and I absolutely love it. This is what makes the hobby so fun for me. Anyone can put some track down and push a button to make the train go around, but building the scenery to the point where you can actually see yourself in this time period just puts it all together. If you have a layout like this, share some pics!
I almost went On30 for this very reason-- lot's of great modeling of logging operations and mines with small worn out/rag tag equipment. But-- I really like the larger scale, and easily obtainable reliable operation-- plus as I age-- bigger is better. So-- I am trying to collect small steam, Climax/Shay, (does anyone even make an O gauge Heisler?) early smaller diesels, including Box Cabs, ad maybe I'll kitbash/scratchbuild some rolling stock. Short freight cars, and short trains operating in rugged terrain-- that "hit's the spot" with me. I like the narrow gauge " we just barely got the track in here" feel.
I love logging lines with switchbacks and geared steam locomotives. I also like coaling lines. I love to see a well detailed steam locomotive facility with roundhouse, turntable, ash pit, water & coal loafing etc. These are scenes I like to see modeled but I guess I like any good railroad model. 
My layout focus in on the 1950's; the Golden Era of railroading where numerous railroads once prospered. The theme is set in rural small towns with medium size trackside industries, served by the Eastern roads of the mid 50's. Sadly today all the railroad names on my layout are gone.....NYC, PRR, Erie, Lackawanna, Lehigh Valley, CNJ, and Reading.
J Class,
I do not have one specific era, I want my multi level Tin Plate layouts to be a childs wonderland, similar to what I experienced as a young boy, under our Christmas tree. My trains are not realistic on purpose, the era's are mixed and also on different levels. I am definitely not a rivet counter, IMO trains are to be enjoyed as young boys toys.
PCRR/Dave
Postwar, both in time period and style of trains. Allows a mix of steam and diesel.
A basic list in that style:
good sized switchyard with independent operation
plenty of operating accessories
conventional operation, but throw in some isolated sections to add some automation
scale doesn't matter to me and if that time period gets stretched either way a little, I'm fine with that. that's the best thing about the hobby, you can add whatever you want 
I really enjoy British layouts- certainly 7 mm and also the smaller scales - especially branch lines.
Originally Posted by Pine Creek Railroad:
J Class,
I do not have one specific era, I want my multi level Tin Plate layouts to be a childs wonderland, similar to what I experienced as a young boy, under our Christmas tree. My trains are not realistic on purpose, the era's are mixed and also on different levels. I am definitely not a rivet counter, IMO trains are to be enjoyed as young boys toys.
PCRR/Dave
I hope young at heart counts 
I'm thinking right now to make a temporary lay-out small town mid America wheat and oil belt mid 50's transition period.
Hello guys and gals..............
I love seeing the S.F. 5011 class 2-10-4 slowly leaving the round house after servicing and entering the turn table with steam escaping from the sides and top stack. I seen the
picture of the S.F. 5021 doing the same thing.
Tiffany
I love lots of bright shiny tin buildings, cars etc, but if I could only do one thing, probably another Winter Wonderland.
Steve
"Shock and Awe".
Shock when they reach the bottom of the basement stairs and realize how much train layout is spread out before them (occupying nearly every square foot).
Awe when they start seeing ten trains move throughout a detailed miniature world in which guests find little scenes that delight them, as they exclaim, no matter the age, "Awe, look at that!"
And maybe , afterwards, they say to themselves, privately, "I am shocked the Frank I thought I knew is interested in model trains and has spent all that time and effort on such a project/hobby. Awesome."
Maybe. ????????????
FrankM, Moon Township, USA
Attachments
Images (5)
I am planning on building a layout based in the late 1930s. Lots of postwar Lionel steamers that are O27 friendly, rolling stock that is in keeping, and mostly kit built structures that represent rural America at that time.
I am building the layout which has the theme I always wanted most: A 3-footer (On30 actually) freelanced off a real RR where my parents grew up in Northeast Tennessee. The real RR doesn't exist anymore except for a small section of track which was re-laid in the 60s and it used by a nearby summer camp now. We used to visit the area each year when I was growing up and I really fell in love with the place (If I were rich, I'd love to have a home up in the area). The RR I model had fine looking locomotives, fine passenger equipment during the 30s and 40s, and was much better off than many standard gauge lines in the region at the time. It's fondly remembered even today in the area.
That said, if I wasn't modeling this, I would have probably done one of the following:
- North Florida in the 1970s, in the area I grew up in, when I was a kid. I could model the 1976 Freedom Train (which came through my hometown for display a few days before my 7th birthday) as well as Southern RR steam program trains, which did come through my hometown a couple of times on ferry moves when I was a kid.
- The Milwaukee Road line to the Pacific Ocean in WA state, as the real line passed within 1/4 mile of my back door.
Originally Posted by Silver Lake: that's cool. im thinking "George Orwell had a model building party with the guys from Pink Floyd" . smacks of "soilent green" as well. again very cool
I like a layout theme that is not done too often, Future themed layouts. Here is an old one of mine.
Urban landscape/industril backwater.
Then from the old layout, circa 2000
Peter
Attachments
Images (11)
Postwar Classic America!! Lionel Trains and Accessories, Vintage Plasticville, Green Grass and Life-Like Colorful trees!!!!!!!
Originally Posted by Moonson:
"Shock and Awe".
Shock when they reach the bottom of the basement stairs and realize how much train layout is spread out before them (occupying nearly every square foot).
Awe when they start seeing ten trains move throughout a detailed miniature world in which guests find little scenes that delight them, as they exclaim, no matter the age, "Awe, look at that!"
And maybe , afterwards, they say to themselves, privately, "I am shocked the Frank I thought I knew is interested in model trains and has spent all that time and effort on such a project/hobby. Awesome."
Maybe. ????????????
FrankM, Moon Township, USA
beautifully detailed layout!
Originally Posted by domer94:
Originally Posted by Silver Lake: that's cool. im thinking "George Orwell had a model building party with the guys from Pink Floyd" . smacks of "soilent green" as well. again very cool
I like a layout theme that is not done too often, Future themed layouts. Here is an old one of mine.
Its this overhead shot that made me make the association with Soilent Green too.
Its only missing the cops, and riot control scoops on garbage trucks.
The rural Northeast, at some vague time between 1935 and 1955. I haven't room for anything more elaborate or detailed, but my small layout does phase from summer on the left, through fall, to winter on the right.
Originally Posted by gandydancer1950:
Originally Posted by Moonson:
"Shock and Awe".
Shock when they reach the bottom of the basement stairs ...
Awe when they start seeing ..
FrankM, Moon Township, USA
...
beautifully detailed layout!
Thankyou, Gandydancer(!)
Pennsylvania RR in the mountains of PA. And especially the Monongehela Division.
With respect, in the 3+ years I've been in the hobby, I have found it sort of disappointing that so many layouts look so much alike. In broad strokes, the overwhelming majority are as follows: a small suburban "Main Street" type town primarily made up of Ameritowne and MTH buildings and then a rural area with with some industry. It's like going to every car dealership and finding that almost all the cars look very, very similar. In terms of rural/scenic, I've been out west a lot and there are beautiful misty meadows with sunlight streaming through the redwood and Doug Fir branches across the tracks humbly going through. What a scene! I've seen main lines on water routes traversing stone dams and low bridges over the rivers and lakes. Partially hidden by weeping willows and other natural beauty. True mountain bluffs with tracks high above sea level. In the east, I've seen cities with tracks discretely snaking through, or the steel and concrete jungle with so many overlapping structures carrying a variety of different train types going in different directions - showing the hustle and bustle of industry in transit.
I would much prefer to see more of these as I see the layout as a canvas to make unique and to display the beauty of our country's vast and differing terrain through which the trains traverse.
Originally Posted by PJB:
With respect, in the 3+ years I've been in the hobby, I have found it sort of disappointing that so many layouts look so much alike. In broad strokes, the overwhelming majority are as follows: a small suburban "Main Street" type town primarily made up of Ameritowne and MTH buildings and then a rural area with with some industry. It's like going to every car dealership and finding that almost all the cars look very, very similar.
Remember when you were a kid, and you were asked in elementary school to draw your house?
Let me tell you what that probably looked like and I wasn't even there:
It was a box with a triangle on top of it. A single door as in the center (way too low for a single story) and a single window with drapes and cross supports were on each side. There was probably a chimney on one side, even if your house didn't really have one.
Same as every other kid in class.
Right?
Model trains, to a degree, are the same thing. People get so hung up on a general representation of reality, they often don't stop and think about what the reality they're trying to portray really looked like. This is made worse when you were into 3-rail as a kid.
Yeah, I know that will go over like passing wind in church, but when your exposure to model trains focused around the stereotyped 'Leave it to Beaver' mindset that 3-rail provided far more than any other scale, you were doomed from early on.
Just like G scalers are far more likely trapped in an odd "late 1800s meets the 1960s" shtick that comes from the far-flung prototypes you can find in that scale, many O scalers are often trapped in the Lionel-inspired world PJB just described above.
If your layout area is about 10'x10' your options for modeling grand mountain vistas or sweeping prairies are limited somewhat. Keep in mind, no all RR modelers are interested in scenery as much as the trains also, some, have the trains to compliment the scenery. Remember it is a vast, broad, many faceted hobby.
Lee, I think you insulted my layout. However; your post made me laugh! LOL
I like the 1920 - 1950 time period, mainly steam, branch line, open space, logging, engine facility, freight. No city or big town. Trees. Roundhouse and turntable at one end, wye at the other end.
We all have fun in different ways!
We all have fun in different ways!
Like a lot of things in life, what you would really like and what is realistically possible are two different things. I like a lot of different settings for a layout except cluttered city scapes where the trains disappear in between all the buildings. I would use Neal Charbonneau's scenery as just about the ideal. His work is balanced, very well done and the track and trains are very visible. BTW-we need some more pictures !!
I admire and appreciate all of them.
Mine probably fits the "eclectic" description more than anything else, although I have made considerable effort to have family specific scenes on the layout.
Originally Posted by PJB:
With respect, in the 3+ years I've been in the hobby, I have found it sort of disappointing that so many layouts look so much alike. In broad strokes, the overwhelming majority are as follows: a small suburban "Main Street" type town primarily made up of Ameritowne and MTH buildings and then a rural area with with some industry. It's like going to every car dealership and finding that almost all the cars look very, very similar. In terms of rural/scenic, I've been out west a lot and there are beautiful misty meadows with sunlight streaming through the redwood and Doug Fir branches across the tracks humbly going through. What a scene! I've seen main lines on water routes traversing stone dams and low bridges over the rivers and lakes. Partially hidden by weeping willows and other natural beauty. True mountain bluffs with tracks high above sea level. In the east, I've seen cities with tracks discretely snaking through, or the steel and concrete jungle with so many overlapping structures carrying a variety of different train types going in different directions - showing the hustle and bustle of industry in transit.
I would much prefer to see more of these as I see the layout as a canvas to make unique and to display the beauty of our country's vast and differing terrain through which the trains traverse.
I find your thoughts expressed here both provocative and stimulating. And I have a feeling many of your fellow hobbyists who have layouts and have shared them here and in OGR magazine eagerly await seeing your layout, or have I missed something?
FrankM.
I like Halloween trains
Originally Posted by p51:
Originally Posted by PJB:
With respect, in the 3+ years I've been in the hobby, I have found it sort of disappointing that so many layouts look so much alike. In broad strokes, the overwhelming majority are as follows: a small suburban "Main Street" type town primarily made up of Ameritowne and MTH buildings and then a rural area with with some industry. It's like going to every car dealership and finding that almost all the cars look very, very similar.
Remember when you were a kid, and you were asked in elementary school to draw your house?
Let me tell you what that probably looked like and I wasn't even there:
It was a box with a triangle on top of it. A single door as in the center (way too low for a single story) and a single window with drapes and cross supports were on each side. There was probably a chimney on one side, even if your house didn't really have one.
Same as every other kid in class.
Right?
Model trains, to a degree, are the same thing. People get so hung up on a general representation of reality, they often don't stop and think about what the reality they're trying to portray really looked like. ..
Interesting point, indeed. In fact, if we were to really model how reality really is, would we not just have room for a track slashing across a wide expanse of terrain, hilly or otherwise, cityscape or countryside; factory zone or prairie; whatever; we certainly would not be able to have a track lopping back to meet itself, esp. not in so short an expanse. Get my point?
Anything from the steam or transition era would be my favorite but I like 'em all.
-Greg
-Greg
The many pics of John Allen's G&D that have the "Devil's Postpile" in the foreground are an inspiration, and even my long-gone 2' x 9' 2-rail micro layout had rugged ground except for the track areas.
We can dream, but reality does rule, and we aren't all doing G&D layouts........yet.
Originally Posted by Moonson:
Originally Posted by PJB:
With respect, in the 3+ years I've been in the hobby, I have found it sort of disappointing that so many layouts look so much alike. In broad strokes, the overwhelming majority are as follows: a small suburban "Main Street" type town primarily made up of Ameritowne and MTH buildings and then a rural area with with some industry. It's like going to every car dealership and finding that almost all the cars look very, very similar. In terms of rural/scenic, I've been out west a lot and there are beautiful misty meadows with sunlight streaming through the redwood and Doug Fir branches across the tracks humbly going through. What a scene! I've seen main lines on water routes traversing stone dams and low bridges over the rivers and lakes. Partially hidden by weeping willows and other natural beauty. True mountain bluffs with tracks high above sea level. In the east, I've seen cities with tracks discretely snaking through, or the steel and concrete jungle with so many overlapping structures carrying a variety of different train types going in different directions - showing the hustle and bustle of industry in transit.
I would much prefer to see more of these as I see the layout as a canvas to make unique and to display the beauty of our country's vast and differing terrain through which the trains traverse.
I find your thoughts expressed here both provocative and stimulating. And I have a feeling many of your fellow hobbyists who have layouts and have shared them here and in OGR magazine eagerly await seeing your layout, or have I missed something?
FrankM.
I think you did miss something - the point of the thread. We're not 8 years old and comparing. We're discussing what we would find most attractive. I don't think having a layout is a prerequisite to having an opinion on what we would find most attractive.
Peter
Originally Posted by Moonson:
Originally Posted by p51:
Originally Posted by PJB:
With respect, in the 3+ years I've been in the hobby, I have found it sort of disappointing that so many layouts look so much alike. In broad strokes, the overwhelming majority are as follows: a small suburban "Main Street" type town primarily made up of Ameritowne and MTH buildings and then a rural area with with some industry. It's like going to every car dealership and finding that almost all the cars look very, very similar.
Remember when you were a kid, and you were asked in elementary school to draw your house?
Let me tell you what that probably looked like and I wasn't even there:
It was a box with a triangle on top of it. A single door as in the center (way too low for a single story) and a single window with drapes and cross supports were on each side. There was probably a chimney on one side, even if your house didn't really have one.
Same as every other kid in class.
Right?
Model trains, to a degree, are the same thing. People get so hung up on a general representation of reality, they often don't stop and think about what the reality they're trying to portray really looked like. ..
Interesting point, indeed. In fact, if we were to really model how reality really is, would we not just have room for a track slashing across a wide expanse of terrain, hilly or otherwise, cityscape or countryside; factory zone or prairie; whatever; we certainly would not be able to have a track lopping back to meet itself, esp. not in so short an expanse. Get my point?
I think so. Sounds like your point is - Instead of aspiring to build a great layout creatively using the available space, start by handicapping yourself with the notion that you can never accomplish something special because you don't have a football field for your layout?
Peter
Originally Posted by PJB:
Originally Posted by Moonson:
Originally Posted by PJB:
With respect, in the 3+ years I've been in the hobby, I have found it sort of disappointing that so many layouts look so much alike. In broad strokes, the overwhelming majority are as follows: a small suburban "Main Street" type town primarily made up of Ameritowne and MTH buildings and then a rural area with with some industry. It's like going to every car dealership and finding that almost all the cars look very, very similar. In terms of rural/scenic, I've been out west a lot and there are beautiful misty meadows with sunlight streaming through the redwood and Doug Fir branches across the tracks humbly going through. What a scene! I've seen main lines on water routes traversing stone dams and low bridges over the rivers and lakes. Partially hidden by weeping willows and other natural beauty. True mountain bluffs with tracks high above sea level. In the east, I've seen cities with tracks discretely snaking through, or the steel and concrete jungle with so many overlapping structures carrying a variety of different train types going in different directions - showing the hustle and bustle of industry in transit.
I would much prefer to see more of these as I see the layout as a canvas to make unique and to display the beauty of our country's vast and differing terrain through which the trains traverse.
I find your thoughts expressed here both provocative and stimulating. And I have a feeling many of your fellow hobbyists who have layouts and have shared them here and in OGR magazine eagerly await seeing your layout, or have I missed something?
FrankM.
I think you did miss something - the point of the thread. We're not 8 years old and comparing. We're discussing what we would find most attractive. I don't think having a layout is a prerequisite to having an opinion on what we would find most attractive.
Peter
Experience teaches.
I have two small layouts because I liked two themes but I didn't want to co-mingle them. I have a postwar layout styled very close to the old Lionel dealer display layouts. The other one is a modern Lionel fast track layout with lots of Department 56 buildings used for a holiday layout that's only up at the holidays. It's up now because I'm working on it still.Maybe by February,I'll finally take it down! I retired a year ago in Miami,Florida,now living in Phoenix,AZ and have more time for them. 
