Been a while since I've posted any new photos. Been a busy couple of months. I had to take my old layout down when we had a new baby this past May, as we needed the larger spare room. My wife was kind enough to let me use the office room to put up a new layout in. I've been planning these last few months and this is what I've come up it. Definitely wanted to stick to traditional style trains, due to the small size of the layout. Also, wanted to stick with all postwar. I've decided to approach this one a bit differently. Rather than do another PW style display layout, I wanted to tackle this from a new perspective.
1- Use early (45-55) postwar trains & accessories
2 - Use traditional Lionel PW accessories (45-55) & plasticville structures, but realistic scenery & ballast - reminiscent of the photos in the early postwar catalogs done by Diorama Studios & the 1949 showroom layout.
3- Don't overcrowd the layout
4- Have some operating accessories to entertain the kids ( I let them pick which ones to include)
5 - Try to have the layout done by Christmas.
Here's what I have so far . Track /Roadbed are down. Additional ties have been cut. Trains are running.
Next up is to wire all the accessories that require insulated tracks & then I can start some ballast! Also hang a few more wall shelves this weekend.
my wife's boss gave her this 919L tunnel to give to me. It was his Dads. Had to re-wire the light but it works great. Was going to go w/ an realistic looking tunnel, but I think this fits in well & I had to use it 
NS SD70ACe 1171 is leading a westbound manifest as it passes one of the many farms that dot the landscape along the Reading Line in Topton, PA.
NS Dash-9 9965 & a UP SD70ACe lead southbound 213 through Paw Creek in Charlotte, NC on the Piedmont Division. 
Rutherford - Morrisville 24K, with SD70ACe 1164 on the point crawls through Hummelstown,PA on a very chilly February morning. Unbeknownst to the crew is that just 2 miles ahead, they will strike a female trespasser around MP 101.5. Reports were that she survived. 
NS Dash-8 8450 (ex CR 757) pops out of Montgomery Tunnel as it leads 201 on the Christiansburg District. 
As the sun begins to drop behind the mountains, NS SD70M-2 2711 struggles up the grade at Switchback, WV with eastbound 188
