Ray’s been in touch with his n scale train station which is the centerpiece of his layout:
“Hi Al,
I found your site about 4 months ago and have thoroughly enjoyed your posts, pictures, videos, and modeling tips. I have since paid for the golden ticket and found it to be a great investment. I consider myself an amateur compared to most of the people who are sending in pictures and videos.
I used to have an n scale train set when I was a kid and really enjoyed it. About 14 months ago I found a box in my attic with some of my old n scale trains, track, etc. There was not much left but it got me thinking about researching what it would take to start up again. A little over a year later I am totally hooked.
.
Being from Worcester, Ma. I have always been interested in Worcester Union Station which was restored a few years back. I have attached a few pictures of the actual station. I then found a model of the station (a laser cut wood model) that I had to have. I was warned that this would not be a good project if I have not built a laser cut model yet, but I ignored the advise, purchased the model on line, and went to work. 100 hours later, here is how it came out.
It is the centerpiece of my layout and the first thing people notice when the see my layout. I have attached some pictures for you.
Best,
Ray”
A big thank you to Ray for sharing his N scale train station – really enjoyed his layout. I remember his station build too (I got in to trouble calling it a scratch build, when it’s a kit. Still looks great).
That’s all this time folks. Please do keep ’em coming.
And if you’re still sitting on the side lines, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
PPS More N scale layouts here if that’s your thing.
What size is your layoff and it be made for ho it a very nice layoff I like a lot ..not to many layoff I see I like but this I can say I like it very much.
Loved the little details. How was the snow made? It looks stunning.
Very impressive, especially the station which is terrific, wish I had half the space you have. The ski slope looks good too.
Eric
Lots of great features and inspirations for my own set here. Can you send a track plan please so I have a better idea how your set works. Many thanks in advance
Nice layout you have there Ray from snow at the top of the hills to that fantastic looking Railway Station …well done ..Dave
Ray – if you thought you were an amateur – you have definately elevated you’re ability. Beautiful job on the station – very very nice – and i can appreciate the number of hours it took..as i have spent many many hours on HO scale structures of lesser size and scope….but in N scale….wow..excellent job – and very nice layout too..And thank you Al for all the inspirational emails…. Joe W
Wow! Some amateur, excellent work Ray, the station reminds me of the one I saw
in Nashville some years ago. No wonder it took 100 hrs. I also like the autumn leaves, – New England in the fall. Great work.
Alan. UK
Brilliant – Absolutely fantastic. How long did it take to create this masterpiece.?
Max D
Australia
Real great job, well done. Dave
GREAT looking layout. I particularly liked some of the little details used on this layout like the piece of rusted track laying near the turntable. Things like this really add to the realism of a good train layout.
Nice layout. How did you do the water? I would like to see an instructional video on water, lakes, white water rivers, etc.
Ray: Sweet job on your layout. I can’t really single out one part . The whole thing is beautiful. I really enjoyed looking at your pictures. Paul
What size is this layout ?
Al: Love it. I also would like to know the size. I have ho. But would now have ratcheted n scale. Is yours DC or dcc? Keep up the project it can only get nicer. If that’s possible
Would love to see the track plan!!!!
Great work!
Wow, what a well done layout.
great layout plenty of detail. nice to see trains everywhere.
Outstanding job Ray, very nice work!
great job on the layout really looks good can you please tell me what size it is once again nice job.
Ray, you have really accomplished amazing things in 14 months, especially the station. Where did you get that laser cut model of Worcester Union Station? Is it only offered in N scale? I’m modeling the Norwich and Worcester in HO during the last period of New Haven RR ownership and I thought that I’d have to scratch build it.
Great job. J
Quite a nice layout you built in just 14 months- love the station model! I wonder what other buildings you can get. And the ski area is great too!
looking good
A BEAUTIFUL LAYOUT.
Al, your emails got caught in the company filter and suddenly I was not getting them. I really missed them. I finally got it sorted out and now I am seeing your post again. Having poke around with N, HO, O and now G, I am always looking for new things for the HO and G scales. Your site is a wealth of knowledge and worth the time to enjoy all of the submittals you post. Especially this one. God Bless your work in sharing our great hobby!
Wow!
Wish I could of showed you my N scale layout …….It was super cool and was huge with all Kato unitrack …
Great looking layout…do you have a diagram of the complete track plans?
What are the dimensions of the space used for this layout?
Do you have a track plan you could post? A very nice layout.
sweet layout
lots of time and effort spent in detail
and the train station is exemplary (100hrs later eh?) wow!
keep em runnin fellas
stjohn from long beach calif
Nice layout, full project and good job. Congratulations.
Bedros Ansrian
Los Angeles
I would also like to know the size and thanks.
Hi all,
I’m a newcomer to the site. I rediscovered N scale model railroading after I retired. I have looked at lots of layout books, but cannot find one that fits my space (my old home office). I can fit two hollow-core doors in an “L” configuration. I literally have looked through a dozen “track plans” books, and a few online sites without any luck.
I noticed some incredibly beautiful layouts on this site (WOW!!!, Ray), but never any track plans other than a couple really nice ideas, but too small to read and blurry enough that my old eyes can’t make them out. Someone mentioned that they bought “the Golden Ticket”. So my question is: what is the golden ticket, how do I obtain one,and will that get me some readable and track plans?
I love this hobby, and during my working/child rearing years, accumulated about 300 various pieces of rolling stock, 4 complete passenger sets and about 18 engines covering the late 40’s to the early 70’s. I’m hoping to model the Jersey Central Railroad (almost all my rolling stock, passenger units and engines are so emblazoned. Last, I am looking high and low for an N scale Baldwin (baby face” double cab engine. Any thoughts on where one of these might be found?
This is a great site and I visit every day. I’m looking forward for some information on my questions. Happy Railroading!
Awesome job and what size is your table
Hi Ray, nice work and all the more so because you say you are a newby!
Dont let any one tell you a project is too difficult, it might be for them! I have found that sometimes the challenging jobs make me learn the most. In this hobby, if you persist, you only get getter at it. I started at 8 years and am now 65, and I know this is true. Well done.
Pete
Stunningly well done. What a beautiful laid layout. Love the skiers. Wish my layout could look this good someday.
Great stuff! Thanks for sharing
That is awesome !!!
Very nice layout. I like all the pics!! The town and country seens are very detailed. Especially love the station. I model in ho scale I someday hope and pray I’ll have that kind of space for a spectacular layout. Great job Well done!!
Innteresting when i looked,a,second time at the ski slope. There was skier, it appeared, to be skiing down The hill as I scrolled up. I did a double-take and scrolled,down and the up a few more times thinking “Wow, what a great effect…….when to my chagrin I saw it was a black dot on the screen in exactly the right place to make it appear a skier descending when I scrolled up. Old eyes do play tricks………
It would,be a neat trick to do, tho!!
Sensational layout,
Jon from New Jersey
Ray,
That’s one fine layout for a newbe. I love the skiers and the station is amazing.
I’m in the process of moving so I have not started building a layout. I sure hope I can get done what you have in 14 months. Thanks for sharing.
Tom, NJ
Great Job Ray, nice layout, much accomplished in 14 months, looks like your having fun, congrats! Thanks for sharing, Cary in KY
Nice. So many different scenes. And great detail. Great modeling skills.
Thanks for sharing.
Jim AZ
Great layout. The station is well done. Like the skiers.
Jack in PA
Hello Ray,
Awesome looking layout. Love the many different scenes you have modeled.
Cary B
What a great layout !
I bet it provides you lots of fun and I hope it does so for a long time!
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Dave, in NY
Totally Awesome!!
I can’t add much to all the other replies because they cover the full gambit of comments. You have done exceedingly great including so many different scenes, all mended together. All I can say is WOW!!, TERRIFIC!!, fun to see all the pictures. Please send more.
Ski mountain is very impressive!!! This is a great layout all around.Your 100 hour station effort is exemplary
Beautiful job on union station I was lucky enough to build the towers out of fiberglass incredable job
Wow !!!! That is a really great job on your layout!!! Thanks for sharing the pics Chris
Your site looks very good. But I would like to call your attention to the track with ballast. Fill in the gap between the ballast and ground with more sound so one an not see the shadow of line under the ballast. Other than that it looks very good.
Very nice
Station is outstanding. The layout has loads of interest as pointed out by a few of the comments made. A slight change of subject for a moment on what people build.
There appear to be 3 types of modellers well perhaps 4. Those who want to get as much down on the table as they can, those who want to get a more open and some would say more realistic layout and those who want to model a very specific subject like a harbour or logging camp or an exact copy of a real station/fiddle yard or similar and finally those who just want to stick down the track don’t care too much about detailing/scenery etc and just want to run a train. It is very interesting to see the great variation in modelling displayed by the layouts we are privileged to be given an insight into. Perhaps more importantly the joy and at times the frustration this great hobby brings.
Ray, Beautiful Layout! You’ve obviously spent a lot of time and money over the past 14 months to achieve so much in a relatively short time. I can’t see how you could ever regard yourself as an “amateur”. I also like your choices of motive power as they are also my favorites: Union Pacific, Santa Fe, and Rio Grande. I too would like to see your track plan or, even better, a video of your trains running on the whole layout. Thank you for sharing your photos.
Pretty Neat.!!!
Could someone point out the “centerpiece” Ray mentions? Please be specific.
Amazing building, very nice layout.
I can see why it’s the centerpiece of your layout, it’s magnificent!
Thanks for sharing
I would like to propose a comment. In picture # 8, I would eliminate the track that loops around the town. It jumps out as being non-credible with its closeness to the houses. It is best not to crowd too much track into an otherwise good layout. Other than that, a very well-done layout. Just a 2¢ worth of criticism.
A great layout Ray! Lots of great unique activities depicted! Please send a photo of the street side of the masterpiece station you built(or did Al keep that photo to himself?).
I feel I must remind Ray and the rest of you about the difference between an amateur and a professional: An amateur doesn’t get paid; a professional does.
IT DOES NOT INDICATE ANY LEVEL OF EXPERTISE.
wow!
amazing!
Fantastic accomplishment!
would love to see track layout!
WWWOOOWWW!!!! What a superfine N Scale layout, I hope my N Scale turns out half as good!
Fantastische layout greet scynery!!
HC Treintje Herman form Belgium.
Again, well manicured and castle on mountain is perfect addition, almost like a roll in on wheels. No track or train needed or required. Could again review with any amount of venue photos presented.
R again
Nice layout Ray : I have considered of starting a “N” scale layout but I have too much money invested in; “G”, “HO”, “027” and American flyer trains.
love the details, great job.
A very handsome layout! I couldn’t help but notice the “Acme” shipping containers near the turntable. A forecast of some Roadrunner & Coyote action? 😉
Cheers!
Jerry in New Mexico