Well folks, its that time of year again! Many people are unpacking the trains for this holiday season, some are winterizing their existing layouts, while others are putting up displays for the public.
I thought it would be a great idea to create a thread to share our Christmas/winter/holiday trains and layouts. Your pictures can be as simple as a single Christmas tree on a summer layout, a single piece of rolling stock, or an entire winter themed layout. All scales and gauges are welcome to post!
Luckily, my layout is winter themed so I have a valid excuse to listen to Christmas music year-round.
I look forward to seeing all of your layouts!
Bryce
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I'm jealous. Nice job
@Oscale_Trains_Lover_ posted:Well folks, its that time of year again! Many people are unpacking the trains for this holiday season, some are winterizing their existing layouts, while others are putting up displays for the public.
I thought it would be a great idea to create a thread to share our Christmas/winter/holiday layouts. Your pictures can be as simple as a single Christmas tree on a summer layout, or an entire winter themed layout. All scales and gauges are welcome to post!
Luckily, my layout is winter themed so I have a valid excuse to listen to Christmas music year-round.
I look forward to seeing all of your layouts!
Bryce
That’s awesome! I’m hoping to get a permanent Christmas /winter layout going early next year. By the way Christmas music is always a good option no matter the season!
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ALWAYS looking for high-quality, high-resolution photos of Christmas layouts for the 2022 issue of OGR. Keep us in mind and let me see what you come up with (photos already published online would not be eligible because I like to have original/fresh material for our paid subscribers).
@Artie-DL&W posted:Here’s my little layout, Bryce! Your layout is amazing!
Artie,
You are too kind.
I love your layout! Who manufactured the buildings? They don't look familiar.
Bryce
Bryce, they are St. Nicholas Square, I think, sold in Kohl’s. I bought them from my neighbor when he had a yard sale before moving. It was just what I needed for a Christmas layout.
Simple, yet elegant,…this year I had my carpenter buddy build an oval platform 5 inches off the ground, …..really stopped a lot of dirt from getting on the layout, (last year it was just a board on the floor) ….anyways, this is not something I’d attempt to build,….metal yes, wood no,…I am not a carpenter, nor do I wish to become one,….surround yourself with talented folks, and anything is possible….
,
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@Artie-DL&W posted:Bryce, they are St. Nicholas Square, I think, sold in Kohl’s. I bought them from my neighbor when he had a yard sale before moving. It was just what I needed for a Christmas layout.
Thanks for the info! I'll have to do some more research into their products. Anything pre-2010 is still hazy for me.
There are quite a few St Nicholas Square on my layout. I have their doughnut shop, theatre, public market, clocktower (as shown in my original post), winery, biergarden, and a few others.
One of my favorites is their stone church:
Bryce
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Bryce, I think the church on mine is a little different, and not so ornate. If you enlarge my photo it’s upper left against the mountain. They’re all inexpensive compared to other porcelain buildings. I really like your layout’s detail.
Artie
While I have a layout in the basement, I no longer have the space for a Holiday layout, I enjoy seeing these - keep em coming!
Pat, that oval layout as a setting for your tree is beautiful.
WOW! @NYC Fan did TW TrainWorx (@Traindame) make your layout? I remember them making a Polar Express themed layout some time ago.
Post-op restrictions flushed Halloween down the toilet so now I am HOPING they will be dropped early enuff that I can reprise the Christmas layout.
@bigboy25 posted:WOW! @NYC Fan did TW TrainWorx (@Traindame) make your layout? I remember them making a Polar Express themed layout some time ago.
Yes, this was totally a Trainworx project. I had little to do with building this one.
Nobody makes mountains like my good friend Roger Farkash. All I did was give him the dimensions I had to work with and I added the "Night Sky" backdrop, the blue lighting and hand painted the 3D moon.
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I always liked your NYC themed layouts, Skip, but that Polar Express layout is amazing. When I first saw your article in OGR, I was floored!
@Artie-DL&W posted:I always liked your NYC themed layouts, Skip, but that Polar Express layout is amazing. When I first saw your article in OGR, I was floored!
Thank You Artie!
Good evening, here in Indiana PA we have a few individuals that get together and put together some layouts from different gauges.
Here are some photos from our largest Modern O Gauge layout with winter scenery.
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Bryce! Nice topic and super layout! buildings are Nicholas square? Wow, and you planted a good number of trees!
awesome.
Great photos everyone! We put our tree and decorations up on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I’ll be back with some photos of my Christmas tinplate running under the tree shortly thereafter.
Already? I'm still eating Halloween candy
Great stuff guys, jealous that I don't have head start.
@Leroof posted:Bryce! Nice topic and super layout! buildings are Nicholas square? Wow, and you planted a good number of trees!
awesome.
You are too kind sir! Buildings are a mix of MTH, Lionel, Ameri-towne, Dept 56, lemax, St Nicholas Square, and a few others. I stopped counting after I hit 600 trees haha!
@Strap Hanger posted:Great photos everyone! We put our tree and decorations up on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I’ll be back with some photos of my Christmas tinplate running under the tree shortly thereafter.
I look forward to it!
@dmestan posted:Already? I'm still eating Halloween candy
Great stuff guys, jealous that I don't have head start.
Mine is winter year-round so I can BBQ with Christmas music on
Bryce
@Oscale_Trains_Lover_ posted:You are too kind sir! Buildings are a mix of MTH, Lionel, Ameri-towne, Dept 56, lemax, St Nicholas Square, and a few others. I stopped counting after I hit 600 trees haha!
I look forward to it!
Mine is winter year-round so I can BBQ with Christmas music on
Bryce
Hi. Bryce. I forgot all about this and posted my Christmas layout on the switcher Saturday thread. Here it is -
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Strap Hanger,
What sets are you running
Charlie
@Strap Hanger posted:Hi. Bryce. I forgot all about this and posted my Christmas layout on the switcher Saturday thread. Here it is -
I love it! Tinplate trains and Christmas go together very well
@CPC posted:Strap Hanger,
What sets are you running
Charlie
MTH 260e set with some add-ons (coal, cattle and gondola cars) on the outer loop and an MTH 256 with the matching red passenger set on the inner loop.
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Memories of last years set up, none this year as we only put that little tree in the bay window, no room for a train there. Was on top of the dog crate last year, which we weened the dog from over the summer months. so its put away now. AD
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Mine and my wife’s first tree. The train set up was kind of thrown together this year. I told her next year it’ll be more elaborate 😬
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+@Double Check posted:Mine and my wife’s fir+st tree. The train set up was kind of thrown together this year. I told her next year it’ll be more elaborate 😬+
Max, looks great! I will need to get my tree up soon....
@Oscale_Trains_Lover_ posted:Well folks, its that time of year again! Many people are unpacking the trains for this holiday season, some are winterizing their existing layouts, while others are putting up displays for the public.
I thought it would be a great idea to create a thread to share our Christmas/winter/holiday trains and layouts. Your pictures can be as simple as a single Christmas tree on a summer layout, a single piece of rolling stock, or an entire winter themed layout. All scales and gauges are welcome to post!
Luckily, my layout is winter themed so I have a valid excuse to listen to Christmas music year-round.
I look forward to seeing all of your layouts!
Bryce
Gorgeous winter scenes, structures and scenery, Bryce!
Arnold
@NYC Fan posted:
Outstanding, NYC Fan!
@Leroof posted:Bryce! Nice topic and super layout! buildings are Nicholas square? Wow, and you planted a good number of trees!
awesome.
I agree and believe you can never have too many trees on a layout.
@Doug W. posted:Post-op restrictions flushed Halloween down the toilet so now I am HOPING they will be dropped early enuff that I can reprise the Christmas layout.
So much for wishful thinking, restrictions remain until the first week of Jan. May try to find some work arounds to get something together.
The MTH 19th Century Christmas Train
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Here's another Christmas train set around the tree from two years ago. Most of the stuff was taken out of the box from 44 years ago when I lived in NJ. Some AF accessories and a lot of Plasticville buildings from back in the day. I liked to paint things back then. I set this up so my 91 year old father could see all the stuff he bought us back in NJ. The AF trains I have from 1958 will remain in their boxes. That was his last Christmas and I'll probably never use this stuff again. I have all new MTH and Lionel equipment now.
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Haven't finished this years yet this last years .Will post this years later in week.
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Great looking setups everyone! They are certainly putting me in the Christmas mood!
Bryce
Here's some shots of the permanent winter scene on my layout. Still a work in progress as I need to add customers to the tree lot, some skiers etc.etc.
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@RickO posted:
Wow, this winter scene is stupendous! Out of curiosity, who makes those two trucks shown above? They would be a perfect addition to my winter layout, thanks in advance!
Bryce
@Oscale_Trains_Lover_ posted:Wow, this winter scene is stupendous! Out of curiosity, who makes those two trucks shown above? They would be a perfect addition to my winter layout, thanks in advance!
Bryce
Thanks for the compliment! The Christmas tree truck on the right is a "Pine Peak Christmas Tree Farm" offering from Corgi. There are a few other Corgi trucks with Christmas trees. An "Ochs Tree Farm", as well as a" Starbucks" version.
The plow truck is a Matchbox collectibles "1954 Ford F100 Sinclair snowplow".
All are readily available on ebay. Its just a matter of waiting for your price. In fact there is one of each of the trucks in my photo at a low bid of $9.99 at the moment.
Good evening, I attached a couple pictures of my home layout which is a winter scene all year round.
The railroad in the town is the Pennsy.
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@RickO posted:Thanks for the compliment! The Christmas tree truck on the right is a "Pine Peak Christmas Tree Farm" offering from Corgi. There are a few other Corgi trucks with Christmas trees. An "Ochs Tree Farm", as well as a" Starbucks" version.
The plow truck is a Matchbox collectibles "1954 Ford F100 Sinclair snowplow".
Thank you very much!
@MarkStrittmatter posted:Good evening, I attached a couple pictures of my home layout which is a winter scene all year round.
The railroad in the town is the Pennsy.
Your layout looks wonderful! I really like the image of the Jordan Spreader
Bryce
I changed up the one end of the layout for this Christmas. In previous years, it looked like this:
This year, I replaced the snow and generic greenery with structures and accessories from the Dept 56 O Little Town of Bethlehem and the related Holy Land series:
I left the base for the farm that sits there the other 10 months of the year. I intend to add a few more accessories and to light the third building, but there's not much room for growth. I continue to use the Nativity that my grandparents bought before I was born.
The scales are different, but how does that matter?
All is calm--how still we see thee lie!--all is bright, for this is a Holy Night.
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Got my Charlie Brown tree up and a loop of O27 under it. Lionel 4050 Trainmaster transformer on extra low. Was going to put some PW on it but I can fit more Marx tin on that loop. Blasphemous, I know 😁
Christmas for me is really just another day. This will be the first one in almost 20 years that I haven't worked.
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@Chip posted:
But does he bounce? What a fun scene!
Bryce
Finally changed over my Prewar layout over to this years Christmas layout…hope you enjoy it….I know I do!
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Christmas get together at Z house tonight. In case any one was wondering about the magic connection between kids and trains, check this out!!
The kids took turns with the lionchief remote. The train got knocked off the track more times than I could count, didn't bother me at all. Kids and trains are still magic!!
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The older brother showed up on Christmas Eve! I think he was using Chesterfields!
Merry Christmas again!
Jim K
Rich,
How big is your layout table?
Thanks
Charlie
No kids. We just put up a small under tree loop of track to remember past family Christmas gatherings.
Photos from Switcher Saturday
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@CPC posted:Rich,
How big is your layout table?
Thanks
Charlie
Charlie its a 10x7 table that I tried to maximize the space….Rich
Feel free to check out my brother's latest Holiday video card as well as his previous videos!
Toy Trains & Christmas Theme ~ 2021 Holiday Video Card - YouTube
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Rich,
Thanks
Charlie
@onetrackmind. Love those Lego modulars! Looks like you have them all.
@onetrackmind posted:Also, here's more photos of my layout!
I love the layout!
Well here it is December 23 and I finally have the trains around the tree. Wife and I travel just before Christmas to our east coast family place where we all gather for Christmas and New Years...so the "tree" had to wait until we moved 1155 miles east from Texas. Brother and I got tree up - actually he did most of that work and yesterday we unpacked the trains and got them running after a bit of a crises...see below.
Had the classic "Christmas Eve" type problem...my 1 year old, modern, brand new, highly detailed, expensive ($150 +), Lionel 0-8-0 made it 1/2 way around the oval and quit...NO RUN, NO MOVEMENT, NO NOTHING!!! After about an hr of playing "try this then try that" what to do? I am over 1000 miles from my collection which would have had many substitute engines available. Then I remembered a a 50 year old Marx set I had put up last summer for my young nephew to play with...So I dug out the 50 year old, Marx 400 plastic engine ($10) and put it on the track. Like most all Marx, it runs, it moves, it pulls the train. Then comes the imaginative part. We realize that all the "sounds" (steam, bell , whistle, crew talk) are in the TENDER of the Lionel set...so my brother fabricates an innovative link to attach the Marx drawbar (tab / slot) to the Lionel tender (pin/hole) and it works. So now we have the Marx 400 as motive power but all the sophisticated sounds of the Lionel set. So here is our 2021 Christmas round the tree Train layout.
"Old Reliable" Marx 400 linked to the very sophisticated Lionel sounds tender.
The full tree - note since we are at sea shore almost all ornaments are sea shells...thanks to my very talented wife.
Here are a few residents of Christmas Town including the Coca Cola polar bear raiding the Coke machine!
Santa hitches a ride with the NYC we live in Waco, Tx so the "Dr. Pepper" car is required !!
The water tower , caroler's and more residents of Christmas town.
The 2021 "train layout savior" the classic, very common, and always reliable, Marx 400 plastic loco
Best wishes and Happy Holidays to All!!
Don
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Here are my entries in the Christmas layout photos for 2021. Finally finished the 4x8 overnight. Still needs some work, but I'm done. Not expending anymore energy otherwise it isn't fun.
I watched both Die Hard 1+2 in the background on the TV last night as I was finishing up the layout.
The Boy Scout lodge corner. As a former Cubmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster (see my avatar) when my kids were younger, this is a staple on the layout
This last one is me running my HO Scale SEPTA train on the ceiling layout.
Unrelated topic, had many issues with the RealTrax this time around and it was very frustrating and made my videos almost impossible to film. Thought about switching to Lionel's Illuminated FasTrack this year, but didn't. That will not be the case 12 months from now. Once I finish editing the cuts that I was able to do I will post my YouTube video here.
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Here is a short video of this year’s family Christmas tree layout.
I finished the video of my layout mentioned above to here it is:
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Wishing Everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy/Healthy New Years!
I pulled an old radio show out of my archives and wanted to share it with my forum friends. In 1965 for Christmas Eve, Jean reads "Rattling Home for Christmas" by Grant T. Reynard. The poem novel is about a son coming home to the Midwest from California via trains. Shep uses lots of audio from steam engines and trains to add ambiance to this poem novel. The story starts at 12:44 and continues at 20:40 after the commercial break.
All the best,
Bryce
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Thanks To Everyone that shared their pics & videos from this years layouts !
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2021 Christmas train garden photos and video finally posted. Chip, I'm going to steal that bumble scene - very creative.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
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OK I know I am way behind the power curve and most of you have already put away and taken down these Christmas layouts. Sorry, but this experience was really unique and fun. While packing away various Christmas presents and so forth from the Holiday season, I happened upon (sealed in a plastic bag) this relic from many Christmas' past. It was the early post war 40's and Japan / Europe was recovering from the effects of the war. Japan in an attempt to get its economy moving decided to create an industry for "paste board" products that could be made without any industrial infrastructure. These products were exported in mass to the US where we used them for all sorts of things, but often when they were in the form of model / decorative structures, around the Christmas tree. So here is the 1940's vintage Christmas Village house I found.
There are no markings about the manufacturer on this except on the bottom is a stamp "Made in Japan" and in pencil, a price 10 cents!
I thought this was neat, then I happened upon a picture of our Christmas tree layout in 1946 and to my utter amazement found a surprise. There is the house, or at least a similar one!! So not only is this fellow a relic, but he just might be MY RELIC!
Well best wishes to all. Belated Holiday Cheer if I missed you earlier.
Don
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0 scale lover, I believe you and my wife colleen must be related somewhere down the line. Ha Ha Ha. Cheers Jim
In about 1959 my dad bought me a set with a ZW and a 2358 Great Northern EP5 (don't know how he afforded it there were already 8 kids) but on Christmas morning I woke up to the set around the tree with about six of those same type of houses.
@jim mcclain - Thanks for your comment on my house. Yes, those pasteboard (Made in Japan) houses were popular as under the Christmas tree village components for many years. Certainly through most of the 1950's. Your story must be a wonderful memory. I know I got the Santa Fe A-B-A and the 25xx "Silver..." passenger cars around 1954. While I was thrilled at the time I didn't know until I did some price/inflated $ research recently what a tremendous financial outlay that was at the time for my parents. I don't know how they managed to afford it. I guess we were just incredibly lucky kids at the time.
Best wishes for Christmas in 2022!!
Don
There are so many outstanding Christmas displays and thank you for sharing them. A general observation would be that we all got started with our interest in trains as part of our childhood anticipation of Christmas. I had not anticipated a Christmas scene but now I’m thinking how can I not.
My question is: Which buildings, Dept. 56, etc. match up closest to the scale?
Thank you, Jay
I have been setting trains around my tree since I got married in 1982. Almost finished this years will post hopefully in a few days. But I have been using Dept. 56. Don't know how close to scale they are but they look nice.
Thank you Jim, that’s what I wanted to know, close to scale.
Jay
Wow! I had never seen this thread before, originating in 2021. Fantastic photos and some of you go all out. Very nice.
Here's a few shots of my winter-themed layout that will be 12 years old this Christmas.
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Well, we travel about 1155 miles for Christmas so the layout gets done at that location and not here so its fairly simple. Here are some "Christmas" like scenes from our layout at home and other places.
The citizens of Small Town have started to get the town tree ready for decoration. McDonalds already has their tree on the sidewalk.
Here is an interesting fellow, returning from summer vacation in Florida but trying to hitch a ride to the North Pole.
Here are some new Christmas houses that should make it to the layout this year.
Hey look at that, looks like that fellow managed to get a ride from the Central !
Everybody around town is buying and bringing home their tree.
Best Wishes
Don
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Same well built layout since ‘21, …..but new flooring, and Century Green paint on the walls,……don’t tell Ms. Tammy it’s Century Green!….it’s teal green ….right??…..
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I never had an 0 gauge Christmas layout; but here is my rock garden Christmas layout that I set up in Brooklyn for 35 years.
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Not as 'snowy' as those above, but here's one that I did on my 2022 Christmas layout.
- walt
These 2 ceramic trains are 'family' trains. Each car has a name of my 2 kids, their 4 kids, and me on both trains. The smaller one is supposed to be tree ornaments.
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It appears how this special FasTrack has poor connectivity. It would not run my RailKing hand car, and barely runs the caboose hop.
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My boys are enjoying the trains! 😃 The Lionchief remote control locomotives are great. I use a power brick with a PM-1 and CAB1 to set voltage at a reasonable max speed and let them have at it. No flying off the tracks!
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Here is my little video from last year. Turn up your speakers if you would like to hear the music.
Tell your daughter the trolley is a great layout idea
Bryce, Thank you for picking up this thread again!! So far, mine is an empty brown table. Stay tuned!!
Hoping to resurrect last Christmas layout this year with some updates, bad enuff I had to skip Halloween this year but if I have to skip Christmas, I'll be one really crabby old man. Hoping cardiologist and cardiac device doctor gives me the approval before too much longer.
Not a very good picture but I threw together a simple Christmas layout on the dining room table with some trains I had packed in the closet. The outer loop is an HO Lionel set. The center loop is O gauge with the locomotive from a Polar Express set using some lighted MTH boxcars. The inner loop is an N scale Kato set. Kinda neat having 3 different scales.
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Here is a video of last years Christmas special.
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My Dad and me (not 'myself') and our Gilbert Flyer setup Christmas between 1953 to '55 I think. Santa had just discovered a fella selling 'used' trains at Christmas and I was overwhelmed with the 3 or 4 'big' items that year as they were traditionally over budget. New to me was the Santa Fe PA's, passenger cars, the log loader, and the big transformer with 'dead man's throttle'. The outer loop held our PRR K5 freight set.
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@trumptrain posted:
Patrick, it’s ironic that you shared your photos because I had just taken another look at run 327 from this time last year. It was a fun narrative, and unique, in that it told the story of how Santa’s train was in trouble due to a snow storm. Thankfully your MOW crews saved the day. Sensational photographs as well. It would be fun to see an overall picture of your pike. Would you share what materials you used for the snow? It looks very authentic.
Thank you,
Jay
Our Christmas Train Garden has been a family tradition since 1940 -
Merry Christmas!
@Mark Boyce posted:Bryce, Thank you for picking up this thread again!! So far, mine is an empty brown table. Stay tuned!!
Mark,
My pleasure! After all, I'm the Christmas guy 24/7/365! I am looking forward to seeing what you have planned.
Bryce
Folks, some of these layouts are beyond belief! I can't fathom the time it takes , although now that I'm retired, I may have time to give the cat something more to **enjoy**. !!
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Our Christmas Layout fits in the corner behind two couches against the window. Standard size Christmas village buildings, etc with an N Scale track on each level. Each one has a tunnel, one has a trestle, one has a ramp and a bridge.
John
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The Advent/Christmas decorations, other than the window lights, but including the Christmas-themed rolling stock, don't come out until Advent 1B. I did, however, decide yesterday to get a jump start on the layout. (The video was shot before adding the gantry crane and sawmill.) This year's layout is similar to the past two years', but new this year, I wired it as two separately-powered blocks, so that I can have the Christmas consist running on the twice-around-the-tree loop while my son or I are using the accessorized loop, or as one big loop.
The 6-24114 gantry crane wasn't rotating, even though that motor was running. Upon disassembling the gearbox, I found hardened grease on the worm and gear. Cleaning and regreasing them returned the crane to normal operation. The other problem was that when I tested the Christmast rolling stock, my 6-27948 GN 6464-25 Christmas boxcar was derailing on of the switches. The postwar-style trucks appeared to be the problem, so I swapped the chassis out with one that had modern, diecast, sprung trucks. Problem solved.
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@Oscale_Trains_Lover_ posted:Mark,
My pleasure! After all, I'm the Christmas guy 24/7/365! I am looking forward to seeing what you have planned.
Bryce
I now have the 6x4 Christmas board on a sturdy folding table, but it needs a little repair before I start adding scenic items!
@endless tracks posted:Folks, some of these layouts are beyond belief! I can't fathom the time it takes , although now that I'm retired, I may have time to give the cat something more to **enjoy**. !!
I can only fit a circle of track under the tree in our small living room. Our dog has gotten used to the little LGB train I run under the tree. I put up the tree this afternoon. No lights yet, but since I’m retired too, I’m going to take a nap!
Photographs to come once I have things farther along!
This is my Christmas layout that I set up for The community each Christmas. Details posted on the event form. It is located in White House Tennessee just north of Nashville. Thankful for the friends who help me set this up this week. Merry Christmas to all
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Hi All!
This is my first year with a train in my holiday village. My village has been slowly growing over the years because I am making all my buildings out of plastic canvas. Just got my benchwork done this past weekend (with much thanks to my husband!!). I did all the planning for it and he's the one that did the handiwork! After getting the track laid and secured, I generically placed the buildings for now and added snow blanket pieces all around. After the holidays, my plan is to keep the table up for a few months to work on scenery. Though I am excited to get started already!
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I think this gives an idea of what she is doing
From 2022. Our helper is always involved.
The 2023 tree is up and the trains will come out this weekend.....I hope.
Bob
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@Dtrainmaster posted:
Here are a few that I've completed. The train station is what I'm going to work on next.
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@CPC posted:I think this gives an idea of what she is doing
Yes! These are what I have been crafting.
My Christmas set up a few years back. I will try to do better this year!
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Here is my display set up at my clubs Christmas Meet.
@Squirrel:
The needlepoint was done by my mother several years ago and we set it up in her memory at Christmas.
David
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@David Nissen posted:Here is my display set up at my clubs Christmas Meet.
@Squirrel:
The needlepoint was done by my mother several years ago and we set it up in her memory at Christmas.
David
Those are beautiful!! Absolutely love it! What a great way to keep her memory!
@Squirrel and @David Nissen both sets of canvas plastic buildings look great! David, I agree it is a nice way to remember your mother.
Here is the Christmas Layout at The Equestra Clubhouse that the Equestra Train Club erects each year since 2014.
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Great looking layouts everyone!
The Polar Express has become part of my family's Christmas tradition, and that's a good thing, I think These tracks will look a lot better when they're ballasted.
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After several days of intense preparation and rigorous testing of the model train operations, our Christmas Tree train layout is finally complete! More photos coming soon! Happy Holidays everyone!
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@onetrackmind - That is beautiful.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
American Flyer by Lionel Baggage Smasher station modified with a 4.5 volt LED bulb. This lets me power building lights off of the Christmas tree lighting circuit. For the station, I drilled a hole in the base for the cord and mounted the bulb to the floor. The bulb I used goes directly to a 4.5 volt power supply. The baggageman runs off of a 12 volt AC transformer.
I made the same modification to a 445 interlocking tower. For the interlocking tower, I took a Lemax "R2D2" LED bulb and trimmed it with a cutoff disk so it would fit in the (enlarged) hole for the light bulb without interfering with the mechanism.
I also added signs to the station and light blockers to the eaves.
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We just finished up our Christmas village layout under the tree.
Here are a few videos running a prewar 259 and a postwar 736 Berkshire with Presidential passenger cars.
Happy Holidays everyone!
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Not much as Christmas layouts go, but this is my 1925 350T standard gauge set under this year's tree.
Chris
LVHR
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@onetrackmind posted:After several days of intense preparation and rigorous testing of the model train operations, our Christmas Tree train layout is finally complete! More photos coming soon! Happy Holidays everyone!
That could be a Christmas card.
2023 is done.....
Polar Express on the outside and Holiday Express 2-4-2 (LC w/BT) pulling the new Lionel Fezziwigs Railway set.
The cat was involved as usual but I didn't get a pic this year.
Merry Christmas!
Videos to follow......
Bob
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Wonderful layouts and Christmas trains folks. Thanks for posting!
Don
The 2023 "It's The Same But Different" version…
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I finally got the Christmas layout board out after several years hiatus. Some of the upper level supports came unglued, so knowing it would be after Christmas until I got it all put back together, I just removed and stored away all the supports and track for future use. I did add an HO loop around the outside, and the frustration proves my sound judgement years ago to give up on HO and embrace O gauge.
I have been wiring LED lighting for the buildings. Only the back row of buildings is done, so I took photographs with the power off. I'll post photographs later when I have all the lighting working and put in more people and trees. Here it is so far.
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That’s a very nice village Mark. Are they Dept. 56 or Lemax?
Jay
15 years ago, I built my first O-gauge loop around the Christmas Tree. As time passed, I collected more Lionel and MTH locomotives, cars, track, and accessories. Fast-forward to the present day, and this year's layout features three O-gauge loops, a Birney Trolley line. an HO-gauge loop, and a LEGO Disney train set around the Tree. Here are photos of this year's layout.
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone!
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@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:That’s a very nice village Mark. Are they Dept. 56 or Lemax?
Jay
Thank you, Jay. Some are Dept 56, some Lemax, and a few are another name I would have to look at on the boxes when I get home. I’ll check before I post again.
I do think I will have to run the cords for the C7 bulbs for some of the front buildings. Those have windows with interior scenes separated with baffles. Again, it will take too long to outfit them with LEDs this season. Those really look great when lit. 😃
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Layout I setup for nephews son and daughter. PE set and BNSF Lionchief engine with various cars. Nephew said train was "Best Ever"
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Love the "89" picture
@Rich Wiemann- Very imaginative use of that station terrace. By splitting it off the station you gained an extra "accessory" that really poses a great scene. NEAT!
@Christopher2035-The color pictures are neat but the b&w picture including #89 locomotive is just spectacular. The b&w emphasizes the detail on the loco and enhances the effect of the light "snow". Great shot!
Best Wishes
Don
Rich,
Any chance you have a broad overview of the layout?
Charlie
And thank You
Charlie
Thanks for a great thread guys! Now featured on the OGR Facebook Page
I finished the Christmas layout for this year. I showed earlier that I put LEDs in the rear row of buildings. The buildings I selected for the middle and front rows have interior details. My wife really likes these. At short notice I wasn't up to figuring how to light the individual rooms with LEDs, so I opted for the old incandescent C7 light strings. She liked how the rear row with LEDs are dimmer giving the appearance of depth. I got the HO train running after I replaced a broken Kadee coupler on the Chessie F-unit with a horn hook coupler from a broken hopper. I have a folding backdrop, but haven't come up with an easy way of attaching it to the layout. The HO track is in the way on the rear of the table where I balanced the backdrop previously. I want to leave room for my wife to access her sewing and craft items behind the layout.
Some of the lit interiors.
Animal shelter
A modest home
Church. The pastor is in front of the congregation to the left
Fezziwig's party with Scrooge looking in from outside
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This is what I put together this year. Wanted to get the Christmas layout off the floor since we now have a dog. I found a tree stand on Amazon that I was able to mount on the underside of the table and then cut a hole in the middle where the tree goes down into. Pretty happy with how it turned out.
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@Mark Boyce- Great lighting effects Mark, looks really good esp the interior shots! @Dynamo2112 - Great "anti-pet" solution and a beautiful tree and layout. Thanks for posting. I am not having as much luck with my "anti-cat" solution, they still jump up under the tree...Why? Who knows! @Mark Gannucci - WOW a festival in red and green. Neat video Mark thanks for posting.
@Christopher2035- Great photos. I am really impressed at the clarity and degree of detail that you seem to be able to deliver from your camera set up. What are you using?
Best Wishes everyone
Don
Thank you, @Don McErlean!! Those buildings with interiors are really nice. I might add that my wife bought every building at thrift stores for an average of $5 each.
@Mark Boyce - Wow, she is really quite a super shopper and supporter of our train hobby! Best buy her a very nice Christmas present !
Merry Christmas to you both
Don
@ed h - Hey well we persevere and get the trains running right! I have 2 mess makers like shadow and have to guy wire my tree up with a 3 way support system to keep them from knocking it down!
Best wishes and Happy Holidays
Don
@Don McErlean posted:@ed h - Hey well we persevere and get the trains running right! I have 2 mess makers like shadow and have to guy wire my tree up with a 3 way support system to keep them from knocking it down!
Best wishes and Happy Holidays
Don
@ed h posted:
I'd love to do a snow covered winter wonderland Christmas layout.....
but.....CAT!
Tell me that this isn't an intimidating look.......
At least she's not a climber......
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@RSJB18 posted:
Has the cat been watching Dirty Harry movies? That expression indicates: “Go ahead, make my day”.
Thanks to all for the beautiful pictures of your Christmas Creations. It was a great lift to see them all. I’m in hospital with. Viral pneumonia almost through it but my 02 levels are too low. Hope to get home to put up a tree.
@Mark Boyce I don’t know how heavy your back drop is or the make up of your room; but how about using those stick on hooks that come in all sizes and weight ranges? You could use fishing line to adjust the height.
Once you get out of there you will feel better Bob. Practice those breathing exercises. Get home soon!
Jay
Oh my, Bob!! I had viral pneumonia years ago. It’s not fun! I’ll be praying for your recovery.
Thank you for the idea. The backdrop is double sided on 1/4” thick cardboard. It folds and is intended to sit on the layout slightly folded. It is heavy as backdrops go. I tried a couple ideas, and it fell down. I may just forego it for this year. Maybe I’ll get the upper level setup again next year and do away with the HO track. Then it will work out like years past. 🤷♂️
@pennsyfan posted:Thanks to all for the beautiful pictures of your Christmas Creations. It was a great lift to see them all. I’m in hospital with. Viral pneumonia almost through it but my 02 levels are too low. Hope to get home to put up a tree.
Bob:
Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. We look forward to you here on the forum. I will send up a prayer for your recovery.
@Randy Harrison posted:Bob:
Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. We look forward to you here on the forum. I will send up a prayer for your recovery.
Thanks Randy
@Mark Boyce posted:Oh my, Bob!! I had viral pneumonia years ago. It’s not fun! I’ll be praying for your recovery.
Thank you for the idea. The backdrop is double sided on 1/4” thick cardboard. It folds and is intended to sit on the layout slightly folded. It is heavy as backdrops go. I tried a couple ideas, and it fell down. I may just forego it for this year. Maybe I’ll get the upper level setup again next year and do away with the HO track. Then it will work out like years past. 🤷♂️
Thanks Mark
@robmcc posted:
Never too late Rob! Wish this thread would go on all year long…
@pennsyfan posted:Thanks to all for the beautiful pictures of your Christmas Creations. It was a great lift to see them all. I’m in hospital with. Viral pneumonia almost through it but my 02 levels are too low. Hope to get home to put up a tree.
@Mark Boyce I don’t know how heavy your back drop is or the make up of your room; but how about using those stick on hooks that come in all sizes and weight ranges? You could use fishing line to adjust the height.
Bob,
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
@Don McErlean posted:@Mark Boyce- Great lighting effects Mark, looks really good esp the interior shots! @Dynamo2112 - Great "anti-pet" solution and a beautiful tree and layout. Thanks for posting. I am not having as much luck with my "anti-cat" solution, they still jump up under the tree...Why? Who knows! @Mark Gannucci - WOW a festival in red and green. Neat video Mark thanks for posting.
@Christopher2035- Great photos. I am really impressed at the clarity and degree of detail that you seem to be able to deliver from your camera set up. What are you using?
Best Wishes everyone
Don
@Don McErlean - I'm using a Nikon D4s or D810 with a strobe flash & room lighting. The photos are then run through Adobe Lightroom
With Christmas rapidly approaching, here is my brother's 2023 Holiday video card featuring this year's Christmas Tree train layout. Enjoy the video!
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLjFgXziR-E
@pennsyfan- Bob, forgive my oversight, I was just re-reading this thread and caught that you were in the hospital. Man, watch those O2 levels for sure, please take whatever precautions your Doc suggests. We (and yes I mean both of us...I am 79+) need that oxygen for sure. I had a brush with low levels when sleeping and now have to use a CPAF machine at night. Annoying but I am still here in the morning which I count as most important. Please take care and get well soon.
Best Wishes
Don
@Christopher2035 - hey thanks for responding to my question. "Adobe Lightroom" was a tool I had not heard of before, will investigate that as I have trouble balancing flash and light level too low. Of course my 620 film camera is a little old (only kidding).
Best Wishes and Happy Holidays
Don
Chip, great frozen effect! Those aliens don’t know what hit them! 😄
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Alas, after 2000 years, the Christmas Candle gets an upgrade.
Revered for it's simplicity and elegance, this candle can provide both a wonderful diesel (or coal if that's your thing) fragrance along with that most engaging background sound we all have dedicated how many days/months/years/miles/ or even other countries to pursue and enjoy!!!!
Get one today of your home or office!!! There's still time!!
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@endless tracks posted:Alas, after 2000 years, the Christmas Candle gets an upgrade.
Revered for it's simplicity and elegance, this candle can provide both a wonderful diesel (or coal if that's your thing) fragrance along with that most engaging background sound we all have dedicated how many days/months/years/miles/ or even other countries to pursue and enjoy!!!!
Get one today of your home or office!!! There's still time!!
Bob, that is an impressive candle to say the least!! I like your imagination!! It would have been great for work; when I was still working!
Alas, no candles (or engine smoke) in my house. Besides setting off the smoke detectors tied into the security system, smoke messes with my wife's low grade asthma. She doesn't even burn any fragrant candles anymore.
Mark, Thanks for your note. It was fun to do....even though I have a zillion other things to do. I am using JT Clove smoke fluid at the moment. Nice scent but not overwhelming like some of the candles with metal wicks. Those are the ones that leave soot up the wall.
Funny you mention smoke detectors. I have had virtual clouds in my train room but never set anything off even once. I think the cloud falls more under the "vapor" context than smoke, which might explain why the smoke detectors never see it.
@endless tracks posted:Alas, after 2000 years, the Christmas Candle gets an upgrade.
Revered for it's simplicity and elegance, this candle can provide both a wonderful diesel (or coal if that's your thing) fragrance along with that most engaging background sound we all have dedicated how many days/months/years/miles/ or even other countries to pursue and enjoy!!!!
Get one today of your home or office!!! There's still time!!
What an excellent idea for the holidays when family and friends come over, especially for a train enthusiast.
Gene
I must admit, I have never set off a detector. I Have heard just what you said about a vapor not really smoke. I just know she won’t let me take a chance. 😄 🚂. It doesn’t bother me, I bought an HO train growing up, so smoke doesn’t really matter much to me.
@endless tracks - Clever idea! thanks for posting
Don
@pennsyfan- OK you win! I have not seen a smaller layout than that for sure. Hope your feeling better.
Don
Much improved from my first 2023 post
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The basic oval set up hasn't changed in the last 3 years, but the village gets a makeover with different trees, a new building or two, more people. Kept the Christmas layout up until the Super Bowl last year. Probably do the same this year.