Anybody starting a Christmas Layout yet?

I started in my head, Skip.  Construction begins next weekend.  I am pumped!

 

Why are you building a new layout, anyway?

 

Rick

I started my 8'x20' public display at the Redford Theatre in Detroit (as I stated in its own thread).  Got all five tracks wired and operating last Wednesday, and plan to start adding buildings this week.

Not yet might work on it tomorrow

Still working on the Halloween layout.   

In past years I have run either the Polar Express or MTH Rudolph set around the tree (about 5' x 12' with dual reversing loops).  But, I was running conventional.  I've recently acquired a Polar Express loco from the Lionchief set and I just got a DCS Remote Commander.  So, I'll be running with command control this Christmas.  And, I pre-ordered the uncatalogued MTH Christmas ES44 with charging lights.  A little more variety under the tree this year.

Not started yet but certainly thinking about it.  I have a toddler this year and I am not sure what to do. The rest of the family expects me to come up with something awesome after last year,  but I could use some ideas on how to set things up so that little hands don't get into anything they shouldn't.  All ideas welcome. 

No small children at our house....our kids are grown but no grandkids....yet.

 

We do have 4 cats.  So, nothing too fragile on the layout otherwise it will be attacked by a catzilla.  

after asking the Boss last year if I could set the platform up around this time, and was told "not before Thanksgiving", I'll do myself a favor and wait until after before I ask her again for this year.She's been really good the last few years letting me have the trains up before we get the tree.

Hi Skip,

 

You have a great Christmas layout. I was just reading about it in the latest issue of OGR. Well done!

 

 

I think about it prior to every Christmas season, but I always guilted myself into thinking I should use my available time to work on the permanent layout. 

 

I already have benchwork completed for a Christmas layout that I had built for Christmas 2002, our second in our current house.  It's an 8 foot by 5 foot trapezoid shape that fits perfectly into our walkout bay window in the living room.  It's at a height that you can see the trains running in the window from outside.

 

Maybe the next time all the kids visit for the holidays I'll put it up again.

 

Here are a few pics:

 

 

 

 

Me working diligently to get it done before Christmas Eve, at a time I could still work on my knees.

 

 

 

'Mistletoe' offering help by holding down the track… or is she just saying "Mine"!

 

 

 

My 'outdoor' Christmas layout:

 

Started in late Summer 2013....nearly finished.

TrainDiesel - I showed my wife the pictures of your layout with a short tree on top and she liked the general idea - We might have a starting point!

Good timing for this thread Skip. We have to get busy with the tear down of the Christmas layout on the first level of our home and rebuild it to handle 0-72. We always try to have this done by Thanksgiving day, so we better get going.

Week #1's efforts:

 

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walt

This is the one I set up in the office. I started getting it ready. The MTH track is over 15 years old and connection end needed to be soldered.

 

 

 

 

This is a new car I built for this Christma. I took a red Lionel flat and place a wooden deck on it. I found this Nativity set seyt on Amazon and affixed the figurines and stable using rubber cement.

 

 

 

 

 

Peter

my little brother is in the airforce...and sometimes hes not able to make it home for christmas but he always is for thanksgiving...so we try to have the tree set up before then....ill be starting today by cleaning the track...but will set the tree and stuff up the weekend of the 15th rather have it up before then spend time during the season to hurry hurry put up to play haha...here are some pics from last year....

 

 

 

My grandfather & I are thinking about starting to set ours up. We intend on it being about 12' by 4', with a 2' by 4' addition on the side. The Christmas layout is always at his house, and I have a permanent layout in my basement.

Yep, pretty much completed until I get permission to move it into the big house. I'm already making plans for 2015.

This years display is again about 8 X 5 with a traditional Christmas theme facing into the house and more of a Polar Express theme facing out the sliding doors to the patio.

Still working the Polar Express side but here's the traditional side.

At night with the Northern Lights reflecting of the mountains.

 

 Day light showing more detail...

 

RadioRon

 

I got the figurines on Amazon.....I just did a search on Nativity figures.....

 

Peter