2014 Christmas Photo Album

Brian, the first time I saw your city streets I could not believe what I was looking at.  Very beautiful.  You and Elizabeth are artists.

Jim - Thanks for the idea. I'll have to look for a Jimmy Stewart figure.  That would make a nice little vignette.

My Father in law does G gauge, here is a picture I took last night after Thanksgiving dinner:

Added some HDR filtering to it too!

The North Pole is very busy today. They don't really know or care about Black Friday, they have Christmas Gifts to make for good boys and girls (lots of train items). You have to agree, they have beautiful surroundings to work in. Click on the photo to enlarge it and to see all of the details. 

WOW, Lots of ambitious folks here. Great work, Great photo's. Thanks. 

Put mine up about two weeks ago and have been enjoying our Christmas layout every night with all the lights out save those of the layout and tree.  There is nothing more relaxing than running trains while enjoying a nice glass of red wine.  Can't wait until tonight.

North Pole 2014

Caribou

Today's addition.

I hope some of these wonderful photographs become Christmas cards shared with friends and family; thanks everyone for sharing them here.

Matthew,

What a unique set of pictures. It looks like the caribou are coming out of the mist.

Dave

Wow....you guys are doing some amazing layouts this year!!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!

Under the terms of my strict contract with the family CEO, the tree went up on Friday 11/28/14 and the layout started to be put together Saturday morning 11/29/14.

Wolves & Snow Bunnies

Hi All,

        Some great layouts and trees on here!

Here is our 2014 Christmas Tree and layout aka the Lionel Shrine as my Wife Tammy calls it!

Mason unboxing the Hallmark trains

Flying the Lionel Flag in the UK

Nick

Nick, your son is really growing up quickly. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Gorgeous tree, Skip. Can't wait to see your 2014 edition of the Christmas Layout.

Paul Like the pictures. The ex; not so much

Real Estate Layout UPDATE

She's up and running fine now and people are stopping to watch, many stepping inside to talk.

Yesterday I spoke with two families from other areas who were here to ride the Polar Express in nearby Bryson City on the Great Smoky Mountain RR Excursion Train.

My wife put together the nice Creche a few years ago. A club member constructed the tent revival behind it using popsicle sticks for benches.

Hey Bill,  As a New Orleans native, I really liked this post - Thanks!

Especially the last image when the film stopped and it became a 'painting' 

Hi Brian,

            He is 6 now, where does the time go?

Congrats on the TM Video of your layout. I'll look out for that one.

Merry Christmas to you and Elizabeth.

Nick & Family

Just a simple O-36 loop this year. Here's my 10 yr old (left) showing his friend for the first time.  His friend has never seen a train "like that" before.  Lionel 6-30024 Union Pacific Fast Freight Ready to Run set Santa brought him Christmas 2010.  Even my 8 yr old Daughter (right) and her friend found it fascinating.....so did the cat who naturally knocked the caboose off the track as it went by the first time.

Brian

I appreciate you posting this thread every year.  This is one of my favorite threads that I look forward to seeing every year! 

Nice layouts and photo’s everyone!!!

Every year my layout is different from previous years.  As some of you know, my layout for this year will be on video, Toy Train Revue Part 4 along with Brian’s and Mr. Muffin’s layouts.  I have already taken many pictures this year’s layout since my layout has been up for a month!  The photo’s below are some close up pictures of scenes around my layout.    

My layout is a Southern country village along with a Snoopy theme.  The other night my daughter and I were discussing how nice it would be to shrink down and become a “little person”…to be apart of my peaceful and quaint village!  There no cars in my village, only horse drawn sleds and wagons, as I have it represent the simpler days of life of the past.    Ken 

Here is our Department 56 Snow Village we put up every year featuring the Polar Express. 

Well Sam, the Kids and Dad looks like they are enjoying the layout, however mom and grandma's body language seems to have a different slant on it(humbug me thinks)

John 

IMG_1552.JPG

Ken there's always something new to see on your Christmas layout. It's one of my longtime favorites.

Me thinks some one in the Village is wishing for a different time.

The Otherside of the tracks...

What a great photo, Matt.

I don't belong to the club but the Washington, Virginia, Maryland Garden Railway Society has a beautiful display at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton Regional Park in Wheaton Maryland. 

The National Capital Trackers, which I belong to, will be at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore during Christmas week. See our website for details on all of our holiday events. 

In 2 weeks, the National Capital Trackers will also spend a week at the College Park Aviation Museum, the oldest continuously operating airport in the world. 

Our small Christmas display combining two of my favorites, trains and Lego's!

When I first read, where you wrote, "...small", the size had not occurred to me because your whole layout is so charming and delightful, esp. considering that red train (!WOW!)

Even the whimsy of the Star Wars walking machine somehow fits the playful mood. All of it is fun to see!

FrankM

What is that white stuff on everything outside the window? Not familiar with that. BTW, 77 degrees today in north FL...going outside for a walk now. 

Matthew

Thanks.  I wanted to throw in at least one picture that added some humor!!  Old Frosty is not very happy in that scene while Fighto is doing his job! 

I enjoy seeing your photos and videos too.  I love the pictures with the Caribou!  Nicely done. 

Ken

Well it's not a train, but it is Christmas, and what's Christmas without the Griswold's?

It's been 25 years since the movie came out....man where did the time go?   

We've had this replica Advent Calendar on order for 2 years, and finally got it last month. It's completely scratch built with a few personalized custom touches by the builder.

On December 1st, you light the house. Then open the door for the next 24 days before Christmas. I had to build the base tonight so we could light the house.

Our last name on the mailbox with the house number for 2014. Yes the waiting list is that long.

Plaque on the back and I had a quote from the movie put on there with the name changed of course.

Of course the Hallmark Christmas Vacation ornaments along with a few others.

This is what Christmas photo albums are about, Sharing Family Traditions new and old. Sure this is a train forum, but I don't see anything wrong with throwing in a few of the reasons we celebrate the Christmas Season and Family has got to be one of the best reasons. Thanks

Here's a tradition I hope keeps going for many years to come. Our Milwaukee Special normally would be running on the top loop of our display. It still smokes, the Mighty Sound of Steam still wails over all other sound sets, the e-unit works flawlessly. Unfortunately there's no top loop for it to operate on this year. Not to worry though it has it's own dedicated table in the middle of the living room.

LOS, this is without a doubt the most beautiful Advent Calendar I have ever seen.

Now that's an advent calendar.

Another Christmas tradition in our family is that the Nativity is always set up before any other decorations. Ma has been collecting the Willow Tree nativity figures available at Hallmark Stores. This year she wanted the Manger for the set. But me being the cheap SOB that I am; refused to fork out the $120 for something I could put together on my own for less than $20 with better options. So that's what I did....

And to keep it Train related it makes a great backdrop for Cheesy Valley and the Milwaukee Special...

The Christmas Cannonball rolls into town....

The town needs to do a better job of decorating! lol