Progress Photos and Reports for Your 2015 Christmas Layout

It has been a lot of fun over the past couple of weeks working on the planning stages of the 2015 Christmas layout. I somewhat forgot how much enjoyment this brings since it has been eight years since I started our primary layout.

The past couple of days were field trips to look at different scenery materials (some very specialized) that would work best for the layout we want to create. I also got a head start in ordering accessories that we will need as well. Some ordered this week have already arrived. I was impressed with the pewter 19th Anniversary PE figures as well as the caribou.

This project really keeps the creative juices flowing.

We met with the carpenter last night and it looks like the benchwork will go up a week from tomorrow. This chap was impressed that we had a rosin paper template of the proposed benchwork and that many of the layout details were drawn out on it. Getting the benchwork done will be a big step out of the way.

This however has not stopped our progress. We went to Home Depot today and got Styrofoam and paint for the arch bridge causeway that will lead one of the trains into the center to the North Pole. This is no small project as we need about 120 ft. of it to line both sides of the elevated track. We spent the afternoon making a 4 ft. pattern and did a proof section to see if it passes the test. We were both pleased with the way it came out, so now we can start the production line.

Tomorrow it is off to the Amherst Train Show, so no further progress (unless we find something for the layout) this weekend.

It sounds like it will be a most impressive Christmas Layout!  I'll keep watching for updates.

I used the blizzard going on today to get some more work done on the new Christmas layout. We are using about 120 feet of arched causeway for the elevated track so today I cut out of Styrofoam twenty-four 4 ft. sections. Next step is to create a stone effect and then paint them.

The benchwork is scheduled to be completed this weekend, so then we can make some serious progress.

We both are having great fun with this project as there will be many interesting details that will be a first for us.