Lionel has been in touch with his classic Lionel model trains:
“Hi Al
I view each one of your E-Mails and find all of them educational/enjoyable.
I acquired my first Lionel Train Set Christmas 1953 (3rd grade) and additional trains/stock every Christmas there after.
This went on for 5 years and accumulated enough to cover a board 4′ x 12′. By todays value, of $2,100.00, using E-bay as a reference, I’m in the process of resurrecting my childhood experience.
I’m retired, 73 and no room to start my project which now includes what I have collected over the last 10 years and my original layout.
This required an accessory building to include my train room.
I have attached pictures of my collection and start of construction. If you feel this undertaking is worthy of your posts I will send updates as we go.
Lionel”
“Hi Al,
As I mentioned in my last post, I wasn’t happy with the perspective on my parking lot, so I redid it.
I changed the angle of the parking lot and reshot the photos of the cars.
I lowered the horizon and added trees, larger in the foreground and smaller closer to the horizon. I added a photo of an n scale building close to the horizon.
Below are the before and after photos. I think it looks more like looking off into the horizon than it did before.
Any comments or suggestions for improvement?
Thanks,
Jack”
And Jim’s been in touch again – if you want to refresh your memory, his last post is here.
“Greetings, Al.
I’ve recently purchased two new ScaleTrains GEVO Rivet Counter Tier 4 GEVO ET44C4 BNSF Diesel engines.
This is a really great looking model with super detailing and they run very smoothly.
They actually have rotating bearing caps.
In any event, I thought I’d do another video of the layout with a consist of the new engines with intermodal rail cars.
Jim AZ”
Latest ebay cheat sheet is here (still updated everyday).
A huge thanks to Lionel for sharing his classic Lionel model trains – and to Jack and Jim.
I’d love to know how Jim gets his videos looking like they do. Stunning stuff!
That’s all for today folks. Please do keep ’em coming.
And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide if you feel like it’s your time to shine.
Best
Al
PS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
Jack why are the cars parked there? I cannot see anywhere for them to visit.
Much better perspective Jack, looks great. Loved the video and your layout is awesome Jim.
Cary B
Fantabulous!
I do agree that the videography is done very well. The parking lot is very nice with good striping, and layout. Everything is very modern in appearance therefore the rock cut behind the train tracks would have also been a recent cut. There should be vertical line shown in the rock face indicating exposed drill hole were modern blasting had occurred. I would agree that the attention to detailing in the rock painting, and fake vegetation was nice.
Thanks friend for your video I really enjoyed watching.
Video is very clear and your layout, locos and rolling stock is very very pristine.
LOOOOOOOVE Your layout. 9:00 am
Wow, Is it real or is it a model? Impressive!!
The cars are parked for the amusement park
Hi Jack
You have a nice parking lot but I don’t see a road leading too it. So how to car get there?
Very impressive layout. Appropriate train speed; and wonderful work on the buildings, roadwork, parking spaces, population, and accessories. I especially enjoyed seeing the older passenger car on an appropriate display location. I’m very envious of all the modelling skills brought together on this display. – – – dave in Ontario
There is a road leading to the parking lot alongside the amusement park. I’ll show it with my next update.
Jack
The 1st & last clips of the video show superb realism! Enjoyed all!
Excellent video Jim. At the start it looked very real. The sound of the diesels is very good indeed.
Much thanks for all your compliments and wonderful remarks. Really appreciate them.
Jim AZ
the change to the car park great improvement. great video I noticed a change in the design of the shipping containers I haven’t seen it before. thanks for sharing.
Great Backdrop showing the train with the new locos, very realistic.
Jack, I like your changes to the car park it looks much better now.
Jim, always impressed with your layout and video, the result is what we all strive for, especially like the blending of the foreground with the backdrop, it really looks great.
Awesome layout Jim. Very realistic looking ! GOOD JOB
SWEET…………………
Are those some of the containers that were offloaded from the ships waiting in California? Maybe we will get Christmas presents after all.
Jim outstanding video. Great engines. My desert layout made it to Illinois. Now next to Nebr branch line. Hope to show to all soon.
Jack, I LIKE your improved parking lot!
Something to consider: You could make the far width of the lot a bit shorter than the front width – as if the parking lot was receding into the distance. (Imagine train tracks looking as if they get closer together as you look down the track.)
Then, perhaps park smaller cars near the far end, and larger ones near the front. And maybe add smaller trees near to the horizon, and taller ones nearer the train track.
Lionel, you were apparently aptly named for your interest in O scale trains. 73 is just the right age to revive your boyhood model railroading enterprise. I’m 74 and reading this blog for the past two years has revived my interest too. It looks like you have all the makings of a great future layout. Please show us more when you actually get some track laid.
Jim, Another great video of your impressive HO layout. I’m very fond of the Scale Trains quality line of model trains too. I have a couple of their ES44AC’s and some Dash 9’s. Hope someday to build the layout to run them on. I really LOVE your photo? backdrop. It captures the true felling of western US railroading, as does your desert layout.
Jack, The revised parking lot is definitely an improvement. What a coincidence: I was telling my wife about your very clever amusement park last night.
Look great.?
Video is very well done, great natural sound and several “rail fan” views. Especially like prototypical speed of the train.