Back-in -the-day... before X-box, Pokemon and Wii games the kids growing up in the 50's & 60's played outside. This scene captures a bit my childhood when kids played baseball where ever we could. These guys found an empty lot behind some buildings. Found some rocks or cardboard to serve as bases. Some discarded pallets for a backstop and the pick-up game was on.
On the other side of town the building permit was granted and the ground was broken for "coming soon" new eatery.
Hello Santa Fe
This is just getting better every time you post some photos.
Have a great day,
ThomasT
Took these 5 pictures last week. I hope you enjoy them, as I will not be able to take any shots from this side of the layout once it is delivered. This side is will be firmly attached to the back wall.
Beautiful track and scenery, Jim!! You should be close to delivery now!!
Mark,
The layout is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow between 3-4 pm. It will take the builder about 2 days to install, level, connect and test all the circuits.
I will document, with pictures, the progress for the next 2-3 days.
Jim
Jim, That is fantastic!! 
We will patiently wait until it is set up as we know you will be mighty busy with that!! 
Jim
Congratulations on your new layout. I hope it brings you many years of enjoyment.
I just read this entire thread. Great layout Jim! I thought it was especially fitting that the first train to run on it was a Santa Fe F unit in the warbonnet paint scheme. I think the track work is phenomenal as well as the scenery.
I think it was someone on page 3 that said continuous running layouts outnumber point to point layouts. I don’t have any access to any stats but I agree with that. I would not consider you a “Loop Runner.” When I hear the term “Loop Runner” what it means to me is a train on a circle of track without any switches. Not that there’s anything wrong with that if that is what the enthusiast wants. Once you add passing sidings and different routes the train can take than even though it is continually running it isn’t going over the same track all the time and therefore in my opinion not a loop runner. This is just the way I see it. Your mileage may vary.
I have just come up with a track plan for my future railroad and although I would like it to be as realistic as possible I also like having the option of just sitting back and watching the trains roll by. So it will definitely be a continuous running type layout.
A big congratulations on getting your model railroad! I hope you have many hours of enjoyment with it.
SantaFeJim posted:Mark,
The layout is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow between 3-4 pm. It will take the builder about 2 days to install, level, connect and test all the circuits.
I will document, with pictures, the progress for the next 2-3 days.
Jim
Jim,
Good luck with the installation.. the layout looks great and so does the room.. the backdrop is awesome.
Enjoy buddy,
The layout room is ready and waiting. The last step that I had to do was attach a 36" high cleat to the back wall. Rear four sections of the layout will rest on the cleat and the front of those sections will have adjustable legs to allow for any fluctuations in the basement floor.
Hello Jim,
Wow, beautiful. Hope you enjoy this setup for many, many years to come.
Have a great day,
ThomasT
I got to the builders studio about 11:30 so that I could lend a hand in breaking apart the layout. By 12:45 the movers arrived and backed their trunk into the building.
Let the games begin.
One by one each section was loaded into the truck any wrapped with a moving blanket.
The last one was loaded into the truck about 2:10.
Thirty minutes later we arrive at my house and the movers start unloading and staging the modules in the basement.
I could't resist taking some birds-eye pictures.
Will post the installation/setup pictures later.
Jim, How exciting!!!!
Installation & Setup.
Blends in well with the backdrop.
Just for fun.
More Birds-eye.
Tomorrow they come back to connect the electrical.
What a great Christmas present! I remember getting trains for Christmas but this is a whole new level.
That is a beautiful layout Jim. Enjoy it for many years!
Bob
Well I never got trains for Christmas, but I agree Bob
Very cool, Jim!
so nice!
Rich T, Rich D, Mark, Jay Jay, SideHack, RSJB18, ThomasT and all the others that have responded to this thread with wonderful comments and well-wishes. I really appreciate it and I truly wish you all could come for a visit, run some trains and share in my enjoyment.
The guys will be here shortly to connect the wiring and testing of all the circuits. I hope to be running trains by the end of the day. I will grab and post photos at my earliest opportunity. After Christmas I will search for my video camera (we still have not unpacked everything from our May move) and start posting some videos.
May you ALL have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy 2020.
Jim,
This looks really really great. I think you have hit the proverbial jackpot here. With all the layout pictures, I am pretty curious as to what you are going to run. Which manufacturer, steam, diesel roads you model, outside of your obvious name sake, etc. etc.
John
Jim, I have been lurking and really enjoying all the pics. Congratulations, it all looks fantastic. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Eddie & Pat
Austin, TX
Jim, fantastic to watch. Tomorrow is a big day. Good luck sleeping tonight. Santa is coming early.
This seems like a good excuse for a party. Let us know when the inaugural open house is and we'll stop by.
I'm in..just let me know...
Jim,
Congratulations on your beautiful new layout! It truly is a work of modeling art. I'm sure you'll enjoy it for years to come. ( Just promise me you won't give up O scale entirely!)
RTR Mark
Thanks Mark. I have no intention of giving up O-Scale. Next time we get together I will update you and Charlie about the Club.
Now, time for an update on my HO life. The circuits all seem to be in working order. I have spent a few hours this weekend trying various routs. The guys will be coming back on Friday or early next week to fine tune the lift gate and adjust a few areas where the track may be slightly out of gauge.
Rather then sit around I decided it would be a good time to paint the fascia and legs. I know the legs will be hidden once I attach the skirting but in the meantime I wanted to get rid of the raw lumber look. The paint will also serve to prevent the legs from absorbing any moisture.
Here is a BEFORE picture showing the raw legs .
While I was at it I figured I might as well paint the fascia flat black. I like this much better than the dark sand color used by the builder. It serves to focus your eyes more on the scenery and not the fascia.
BEFORE and AFTER pictures.
AFTER:
Merry Christmas EVERYBODY.
Much better Jim. The layout really pops out at you now.
Bob
The new paint looks great, Jim!
Wow!
I have heard the Looper being used in two places:
1. In Houston: Someone who lives inside Loop 610, and does most anything on or inside it.
2. In San Antonio: 2 VIA bus routes which generally run on or near Loop 410. One clockwise, other counterclockwise. But I think VIA has recently changed part or all of these routes.
The Trains Across Texas was built by Train Works. Been to it at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Basicly the layouts consist of large loops....
Loops without switches or crossovets are good for equipment which are allergic to one or both..
I decided to take some and post "Nite Shots" on my layout. Still playing around with the LED dimmer to try and get the perfect exposure. These pictures are best viewed by clicking on the picture attachments at the end of my post.
Hey Jim,
Beautiful pictures, and I love the Cigar Indian.
Have a great day,
ThomasT
Very nice build, hope you get to enjoy it for many years to come.
New Year's Eve Pictures... 18 more "Nite Shots".
Lots of great scenes night and day, Jim! They did a nice job with the lighting! What a fun layout! Congratulations!!!
Beautiful!
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