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Christmas tree train layout

Rick has been in touch with is Christmas tree train layout.

I think there’s something quite special about it – you can tell he’s having bags of fun with it and spreading the joy of a train layout. And that’s all that counts.

“Al:

My Brother-in-Law Fred Hughes from North Carolina brought your website to my attention.

He recently suggested I send along some photos of my multi-gauge Christmas layout, which changes thematically over a three year period.

This is the year of the 1960’s aluminum trees (three of them on my platform) circled by O, O-27, S and Classic HO trains dating from that era and various Plasticville and tinplate structures.

The layout is basic and pure fantasy with trains running via conventional power.

I set it up purely for the joy of running classic model trains – some old and some new – for me and for guests visiting over the Holidays.

I offer the following tour of this year’s Christmas layout.

I have 3 ovals of track for the trains and a figure-eight for a trolley winding its way through a Plasticville village, and an Alpine village I picked up real cheap at a tag sale. The kind of “eclectic” arrangement my Dad would have made back in the day!

I change the trains throughout the season and even have a special Christmas train for the grandkids on the big day. On the O Gauge loop I am currently featuring the sleek Lionel Santa Fe train I received when I was 5 years old. I still remember that Christmas morning and how stunning the train appeared then (it still does). It is great to have enjoyed something as a little kid that I can still enjoy as an old man.

The Lionel Trolley I received when I was 6 or 7 years old negotiates the sharper O-27 curves in the figure 8, serving residents and businesses of the villages.

I use Gargraves S Gauge track for the middle loop, running vintage AC Gilbert/American Flyer trains I have acquired at swap meets and train shops over the last 25 years. I love this GP-7 that is pulling some classic cars that likely saw action under aluminum trees in the 60’s.

Last but certainly not least is a classic HO Revell yard switcher pulling five equally classic Revell freight cars that I acquired over the past few years from eBay. I am sure these gems also ran under aluminum trees 60 years ago. I will also run some classic Lionel HO, Fleischmann, Gutzold and others over this inner HO loop this Holiday season.

By the way, I reserve realism and rivet-counting for my year-round, always under construction, HO layout in a converted bedroom.

Not sure if this simple Christmas layout is of any interest but feel free to share if you are so inclined. Pardon me but I must go back and run some trains.

Rick
Johnstown, PA USA”

A big thanks to Rick. It reminded me of:

Christmas model railroad.

And this one: Christmas layout.

Now it’s my turn to spread a little joy.

I know this is a time when many of you start or plan your layouts, so I thought I’d do some of the print out scenery at a very silly price for a few days.

How silly? How does $1.45 a building sound?

Yup, it’s a very silly deal, and you can grab it here, for the next few days.

Please be quick though, it’s just a quick flash sale to say thank you.

And of lastly of course, Merry Christmas!

Best

O scale benchwork

Bill’s been back in touch with some O scale benchwork.

I thought I’d post it because if you get the base of your layout wrong, it’s creates all sorts of problems.

(You can see Bill’s layout pics here.)

“Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Al

My wife thinks I’m crazy but I’m starting another layout in the garage.

I’m keeping both the N Scale and HO Scale layouts and adding in an O & ON30 layout to the mix.

This layout will be portable and on castors like the others. My intention is to make this one and take to shows in the next year or two.

Retirement is two years out so I’m planning to keep model railroading a big part of my activities once I move to a different phase of life.

The pictures show some of the steps in construction of the first module which is 4’6” square.

Once done I will have three modules for this one. Overall size will be 4’6” by 14’ long. I plan to use both old and new equipment on the layout so it will be fun the build and operate.

The O Scale will be older two rail DC equipment and the ON30 equipment will be new DCC. It should be fun.

The video shows some prep and more of the construction process for the first piece. I’ll be having fun over the holidays.

Best

Bill”

A big thanks to Hall of Fame member, Bill, for sharing his O scale benchwork.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Oh, and don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide, if today is the day you start your railroad adventure.

Best

Shotgun Tom model railroad

Shotgun Tom model railroad – he’s been busy adding bits to his layout and playing with real trains.

In his first post you can see how his layout was created.

“Al

The California state Railroad Museum in Sacramento pulled my Fathers 347C Santa Fe F 7 Red Warbonnet engine out of the Museum and put it in a consist.

The 347C is the last one in the world.

The Museum let me take a ride on this historic engine on for 17 miles.

Take a look at this professional video and ride with me and hear the story about my Dad John G. Irwin The Santa Fe Engineer from 1947 to 1973.

Here’s a shot of my Dad’s two Diesel engines on my Layout. The 347C and his switch engine the 2357 as seen in the video.

Also The steam engine that my Dad brought President Harry Truman in to San Diego in 1948 on a whistle stop tour.

As for my Layout I’ve made a few additions like this old Timey water tank in the industrial area of my Layout.

And I’m in the process of putting up telephone poles with high-voltage wire going up to my television transmitter on the mountain. Note the balls on the powerlines so helicopters won’t fly in to those lines.