Keeping the family tradition of a real tree and train running around it going this Christmas.The 1970s photos and 2014 photos were taken of the same location in my Mom's house.

Dan

What a great looking Christmas Tree & train.

This never gets old, our pets are so much a part of who we are. And thanks for asking about Cody, he is much better.

Merry Christmas to you and your family, and of course your treasured pets.

... to the tune of On top of Old Smoky...

Atop the 'ol pool table,

All covered in felt,

I put a small layout,

The smoke really smelt!

Because it was Christmas,

And no one could play,

We all watched the trains run,

All night and all day!

The steam was a' steamin',

The diesel was strong,

And nothing derailed,

Tho' the train was so long!

... and I just wanted to bump this thread up so more can enjoy pictures of the great train layouts of Christmas '14!

Ed

I could hardly read the words without the tune playing in my head. Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!

Although I don't have a seasonal Christmas layout, it's always Christmas on my trolley shelf!

Here are some views of my Christmas Tree and Layout.  Also, my new polar express display.  I have one of each of the shows that were classics growing up, ( Peanuts Christmas, the Rankin Bass classics-Rudolph, Frosty and Santa Claus is coming to town) But I did not have the new classic represented.  Now I have one!

As for the layout, the engine's are both my late fathers.  The 2056 was given to him by my grandfather when my dad was born, and the Pennsy switcher he bought in the mid 70's when he  had his own home and put his layout up.  Since he got me on this path to railroading history I will always have them running.  Even now my kids both know them as Papa's trains and they are special.  The layout is basic, Plasticville and a lone Ideal diner with Matchbox cars.  Even though it is simple I can sit with some Christmas music on watch the trolley and the two trains make hundreds of loops.  I know I am not alone with getting nostalgic and sentimental when it comes to Christmas and trains

that looks fantastic! what is the size of your platform? I really like the double main. Might have to redo mine after Christmas, pick up another transformer to run two trains, snowballing already!

its very basic, a simple 4x8 sheet of plywood, thats all.   I have my large complex layout up all year, but I love the simplicity of this annual layout.  Thanks for checking it out

This reminds so much of my first train layout. I was 7, and came down Christmas morning to find a Plasticville layout and a Berkshire freight set. Never will forget this Christmas.

I like the Plasticville look a lot.  Might be time to design a new, old, 4x8!

Thanks for the pics!

Ed

You were seven?

"You were seven?"

Yep, about 68 tears ago, but when I run the trains I still like I did when I was seven. 

Isn't that the magic of Christmas? The ability to feel like you did years ago, to relive happy times year after year.

Okay, I finally got the Christmas train and village up and running this past weekend.  I have a 2012 Polar Express running on the inside loop of Fastrack O-36, and an MTH NYC Hudson with the PS2 upgrade pulling three MTH Madison cars on the O-48 loop.  The village buildings and figures were all collected by my wife's late grandmother.  They are a mix of Lemax, Dickens Village, and one Dept 56.  We set them up on two folding tables in our recently married daughter's old room.  This is the first time we have had room for the village since we bought my mother-in-laws house 4 years ago.

I will take some closeups and try a video later this week or probably next.  My wife was pretty pleased.  

One caveat.  Our daughter who still lives with us helped me raise the completed tables up to put blocks under them to give enough height so our terrier could not reach the table edge.  First try she got her claws stuck on Randy Harrison's great snow blanket and tore it.  I was able to hide the tear.  Now that Annie can't reach the trains, she has no interest at all.  In previous years she barked at the PE every time I ran it, then nudged the Berkshire off the track.  

Oh, what do you know, I did try a couple of videos.  So I see the one with the lights on is a smidgen too large.  This one will have to do for now.  

Mark:

I sure like the night version video. 

Thank you, Brian.  I was pleased with the results from my iPhone 4.  I will get some more photos and videos up in the next couple of weeks.

Brian,

   We finally got the living room Christmas layout complete today to post some pictures on the OGR.  My wife is satisfied with how the Christmas living room turned out and I kind of like it myself.

Merry Christmas everybody!

PCRR/Dave

Dave, it looks great--especially like the new with the old.

Merry Christmas to you too Dave and your family. Indeed, your living room looks terrific.

Ping & Brian,

   Thanks much, we always try to blend old memories with making new ones with the

child like wonderland or our Christmas layout.

We pray the Supreme Architect blesses each and every family here on the OGR,

in reality it's like our extended family, especially at Christmas time.

PCRR/Dave

Thank you Dave, and may He continue to bless you and yours.

Dave that looks really nice.

Can you guys believe we're a week away from Christmas Eve?

This is the Paugh Family Winter Christmas Layout.  We started building the layout approximately two years ago and have been adding to it ever since.  The theme is a 1940's - early 1950's Christmas.  Enjoy!

Very nice. I especially like the snow covered streets.

You have succeeded beautifully in achieving your theme and displaying excellent modeling technique.  Congratulations to you and your family.

So, how did you do the snowy streets?

Christmas Story at the Krayniks.

Photos (5) <script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[ includeShadowbox('https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/static/ver20.6.1.b129.6714289', true, false); // ]]></script>       Hope you can open these two pictures (first try in copy/paste from earlier post)

Yes, I see them.  Very nice!

Ah yes, Kraynik's in Hermitage, Pennsylvania.  We took the kids there many times when they were little.

Gives me an idea.  We need a "Live Nativity" in our Christmas village!  I will have to see if we have one about the right size.

This is really cool, Paugh Family.

Joe,

so your name is Kraynik.  Now 'at the Krayniks' makes more sense.  Anyway, thank you for putting the nativity under the tree.  I was just thinking last night we need something in our village I posted a couple of days ago to show the true reason for the season.

Thank you!!

Very nice work!  Question, you Santa's Flyer engine, did you do something to make the 2 lower lamps light at the front of the engine or did it come out of the box that way? (best seen in the 2nd to last pic)

Joe,

So I see! That is an excellent tradition because of the meaning behind it!

Gentlemen,

   Great Christmas layouts, everyone of them!

PCRR/Dave