2015 Christmas Layout Progress Report, the Final Stages for Completion-New Photo Added Apr. 29th

very nice work. great space for a layout.

Very nice and it looks great.

How did he make the curved end framing?

That's Great Brian! Looking forward to the future reports. What's next?

WOW Brian that looks great!!!!!! Excellent craftsmanship

 

Sean, I would say the carpenter used 1/4 plywood and made a series of cuts on the back and then was able to shape it.

 

Alex

 

 

Fantastic start Brian! and that was fast too.

 

Can't wait to see the finished product.

 

Charlie

"How did he make the curved end framing?"

 

He ripped strips of 1/2" plywood to 1/4" so that it was bendable and constructed the rounded frame. Pretty clever idea. This carpenter was a work horse and did a great job.

What a great start.    Think you'll be done by Christmas!!!

Very nice bench work.  That is going to be great Christmas Layout when it is completed.  Thanks for sharing the photos.

 

Ken

WOW!

 

Richie

Brian:

 

I'll echo others' sentiments: Wow.  Great space, great execution.

 

Please do keep us updated.

 

Wow again.

 

Steven J. Serenska

 

Very Very impressive, you two desreve the best. 

Looks great Brian!   Is it going to be a Christmas layout year round?  I assume you won't just run it at Christmas. 

Great looking start to your Christmas layout.

Brian we are excited for you; what a fun project. Will you use North Pole Village or a mix? We planned to do N Pole last year but family stuff and a boat delivery didn't allow the 100+ hours it takes. Now, if it could stay up...

 

Do you use Dept 56 street lights, trees, accessories, etc, for lighting and action or something else?

 

We we look forward to following your progress.

I like how your "temporary, seasonal" layout is larger and more polished, at this point at least, than most of our "permanent" layouts!  

 

Congratulations, you're certainly off to a terrific start!

 

- Mike

 

 

 

Looking nice Brian and Elizabeth.  Have fun and keep the snow back... 

Amazing workmanship.Keep the pics coming my friends.Nick

Looks like you are off and running, train table looks nice. Keep the pictures coming and good luck with the layout.

wow nice job on building that new table

What a great start! Looking forward to updates...

Great start Brian.  Better get humpin'.  Only 310 days until Christmas!   Bob S.

Brian,

Are you going to take down your current layout?  I suspect you're going to have both 

 

This thread has really made me think about just hiring someone to do bench work.  They did in a day what I haven't been able to do in a year...

 

Can't wait to see this new wonderful layout come together!

Brian and Elizabeth,

A great layout starts with a solid foundation. It looks like you are well on the way to a great Christmas layout! Outstanding!!

I am really looking forward to watching your progress.

 

btw: if you run short on roadbed I might know where to find some...

 

Brian - It looks great so far!  We are trying to drain all the snow out of the latest storm before it gets to you so you can get a lot done. 

 

Art

Looks great, like all the detailed work in the finished benched work.

Cheers from Michigan 

Thanks for all of your responses. Let me try to answer the questions that have been asked.

 

The room we are using at one point was a craft room that has not been used very much for the past 4 years. It is a perfect place to construct a layout as it is not in the way of our everyday activities. So we have the option to leave it up. This layout will be in addition to our main train layout located in another structure. With all the snow we have received in the past week, it is not always practical to go to the main layout, so it will be a nice feature to be able to run some scale trains in the house with all of the curves being 0-72.

 

Now for the theme of the new layout. We have many D56 North Pole buildings and accessories that will be incorporated in the new layout. The layout will be a blend of  D56 products with some custom structures relative to the Polar Express story. We will take you on the PE journey starting at the mountain range and take you across the ice field, then pass the elves lodging and services, and finally the Lionel scale blue/maroon version train will arrive at the center of the North Pole. Lots of surprises planned in this area of the new layout.

 

You will notice in the benchwork photos an elevated platform the goes around the perimeter of the layout. We plan to run the 10th Anniversary Gold PE train on this track. We realize that most of our visitors tend to be non-train people, so having trains with continuous operation is a plus for us.

 

And Matt, what's next, PAINT, the first coat went on today. With all the snow we have had as of late and another foot tomorrow, the white paint we applied to the benchwork today is very applicable.

 

Lots to do. We will keep you updated with our progress.

Great benchwork Brian. It will look terrific with all the Christmas buildings and consists.

Brian,

   Good start buddy, Looking forward to seeing the construction as things continue.

PCRR/Dave

Brian and Elizabeth,

It looks great!  Looking forward to your progress!

The ambition you both have astounds me.  You went from tearing down your old one to having the benchwork completed on the new one in the span of a month.  I would've still be stuck in planning stage and procrastinating on actually getting started.

 

You are motivation to us all to just get going with things and stop analyzing and thinking and planning.  Just do it so you can enjoy it.  You will have so much time now to really the create the layout of your dreams before Christmas.  No rushing needed here.  I cannot wait to see the progress throughout the year and the final result.

Brian & Elizabeth.............fantastic!

 

I am looking forward to updates!

 

Peter

I am impressed with your ability to make a good plan,build it and not make changes along the way because it doesn't need any.

Way to go Brian & Elizabeth. Looks like another impressive layout in the works. Great to see the photos in the planning and construction phases. Looking forward to seeing additional photos in the construction process. 

Looks Great !

That's one heck of a Christmas layout you're going to have!

-Greg

Well, If that room wasn't used much before, you'll sure use it now! Shaping into something great already in just 1 day of construction! Looks great!

Looks great so far

I was imagining, "I get to build what?"

(beats being in cold, unfinished houses too)

 

Looks like you may be having too much fun. Is this legal??

JohnJr

 Looks fantastic! Brian

 

Nick

That looks really nice Brian. I am looking forward to seeing more as the layout progresses.

Brian

Thanks for the update an photos,Looks like a classic in the making

Steve

I really like the oval layout.  Do you have a date in mind for completion?  This is shaping up to be something really special!

 

Rich

That was a big day, exciting!  

Bill:

 

Forgot to mention, no D56 lights as I really don't like them. However there will be a substantial number of lights. There will be 120 ft. of arched causeway with lights outlining the arches (similar to the PE movie). In two areas of the new layout, we are using Lionel die cast red street lights to light the Center of the North Pole and the large skating area. In the North Pole elf village, we are using MTH die cast street lights. There will be other special lighting effects as well.

 

I learned a long time ago that lights really make a layout, so watch for a lot of it on this one. 

Here we go!  Looking good.

 

Thanks for the update.

After two coats of flat white paint, Installing the track and roadbed was next. Photo below shows the newly installed track. As in our other layout, we are using Lionel tubular track.

 

Next step, wire the track and get the trains running.

 

 

What kind of road bed? Looks like you are making good progress, please keep the update pictures coming.

Just curious how many Dept. 56 buildings do you have? I only have 12 that I have on shelves that I use on my Christmas layouts. Love them.

You guys are amazing!

 

Peter

Congrats on this benchmark accomplishment!

Looking forward to your next update; possibly a train running?

Thanks for the photo.

I like that! 

Well Brian, it just keeps getting better.  You and Elizabeth are doing a great job!  Looking forward to your continuing progress.  Bob S.

Brian,

   Got to agree with Bob 100%, real nice looking layout so far!

PCRR/Daver

You guys are going to have one great Christmas showpiece.

Looking GD.

That is beautiful...should be a real eye catcher. 

I would have loved to use Johnson roadbed, but alas I could not find enough. So I went with Woodland Scenics. It has very good sound deadening qualities and looks pretty good.

 

Department 56 buildings, Christmas in the City on the primary layout, about 230. Dickens Village, about 100. And North Pole, about 60. Over the years I gave many away as I no longer had room for them. I kept what I really liked.

 

We will use the 60 North Pole buildings on the new Christmas layout as well as some custom structures.

Brian,

Beautiful.  Can't wait to see it populated for Christmas.  I'm envious of that terrific room you have.  Best of luck with your new layout.

Brian:  I am especially impressed that you have given away some of the buildings you no longer need.  I do the same with many of my life's possessions that I have moved on from. I like to see folks enjoy the things I have enjoyed.  Double pleasure for me.  Bob S.

This continues to look better by the day. Have you received an ETA from the boss on when he is coming for his first inspection. Mrs. C can be pretty picky so I have heard... heck she will probably be given a paintbrush too.

 

You are having a lot of fun!

Brian, that's going to be a beautiful Christmas layout.  I'm looking forward to seeing how you and Elizabeth construct the scenery!

 

Have fun!

It's really coming along.

This Christmas layout is gonna be great. Wow.

WOW Brian looking Great!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Alex

Superb work.  I am especially impressed by the obvious careful attention to the planning of your design and vision.  Then sequencing the work for efficient progress.  Looking forward to your photos.

That's gonna be great. And only 322 days to go...... Makes me want to get out the sledge and chain saw, cut my 4 x 8 up and then...............Hmmmmmmmmmm knock out two walls...........who needs a living room and dining room.............................. and I'm hoping I can jam 15 or 16 Dept 56 North Pole on mine........

Update, ran the trunk wire for the elevated track tonight and made the first connection. First train made it around, through at a crawl speed with a small post war transformer (I use it for accessories), but we have lift off.

wow that is looking nice there how old is your train set???

That's great news!

Hi Friends, This Room, Layout, Track Plan, is really Awesome and I will keep reading the updates. This is going to be a Fun To Watch Christmas Layout, so Merry Christmas, at Near Valentines Day.....Thanks for Posting the Beautiful Pictures. Happy Railroading.

I can't believe the amount of progress that you've made, in such a short time.  How many elves do you have, secretly working on your layout? 

 

Richie  

Now THAT's impressive! 

Brian, looks great, I like everything about your new layout.  The North Pole will never look the same..........just fantastic.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

Slow down Brian. You and Elisabeth are going to run out of things to do while the snow is falling. But if that happens, I could use some help down here with my next display. Hurry Up!

Brian,

 

This already looks like it's going to be awesome. I'm enjoying the ride.

Brian and Elizabeth,

You certainly have done a fantastic job so far.  And to have the first train make a preliminary run is excellent!  I am really looking forward to following your progress.  It makes me wish I lived in Maine (Even with all the more snow you have than us) to be able to see it when it is done.    

"Slow down Brian. You and Elisabeth are going to run out of things to do while the snow is falling."

 

This is exactly why we are doing this project now. We have had over 40" of new snow the past two weeks and another foot is expected to start on Sunday. Best time of year to get this done for us.

 

How many elves do you have, secretly working on your layout?

 

Thanks for the reminder Richard. I have to order 200 of them later today. The Center of the North Pole scene is planned to be really spectacular. My guess is there will be over 400 elves in the new Christmas layout.

But, they're soooo smalllll.  

Brian, what elves will you be getting? Dept 56, or other? I've got most of the Dept 56 I have been able to find, but would like some more. Thanks in advance.

I don't like it.  It's too neat.  There should be pieces of wood, sawdust, and debris all over the place.  You need stuff around to trip over and stuff to collect on your shoes to track all over the house.  This looks like you're building your layout in a hospital?

.....

Dennis

 

 

 

 

"But, they're soooo smalllll."

 

Bob, wait to you see our elves.

 

Charlie, please e-mail me, it was a long process I had to go through first to find elves and then to allow a sale directly to me.

I hope there's a little Cody on the layout somewhere Brian. 

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

I can't wait to see it completed. I wish you and Elizabeth many, many years of enjoyment with all that you have in good health.

 

 

Joe B. 

Today I finished wiring the elevated track and it tested out beautifully. One down, the benchwork track to be done tomorrow. Then we can get some scenery work done. Been awhile since I wired track. It is like riding a bike, you don't forget.

Very nice layout. I really like the rounded ends, I bet that will saved a lot of bruised hips over the years. 

"I really like the rounded ends,"

 

Mario, the rounded end serves a couple of purposes. In this area of the new layout, we are depicting a scene from the Polar Express movie where the grand Christmas tree is located and if you have seen the movie, the PE train leaves to bring the children home in a circle pattern. We think this area of the new layout will be nothing short of spectacular when we are done. The other reason, the rounded end really looks cool.

 

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Totally AWESOME BRIAN!!!!  Can't wait to see it.  Boy, that's a lot of elves!!!! With all those little guyz you'll need one big one and have the Guinness Book of records certify him as the Worlds Tallest Elf. 

 

Keep up the good work!!!

Wow - beautiful!!

I am in the same boat planning for my shelf layout.

Using the rosin paper to do the planning is exactly what I need to do mine.

Where did you get rosin paper that wide??

Thanks,

RickM46

And now it starts.

The true test of a arch bridge builder is getting the curves right. Being good friends I doubt you need the reminder; Art (Chugman) did a real fine job on His curved stone arched bridge... Great excuse for the two of you to collaborate once again.

Rick, My guess is its three sheets from rolls with tape. I don't know if its sold in various at a big box hardware store or not. I used to get my wider rolls from various contractors supply stores, like a Sherwin Williams paint outlet, or my local woodworkers store. Stone masons had larger ones at the shops I think, like 8' - 12'ft wide rolls were in the monument shop (forklift needed, but sure they would've sold me some). 

let's get some "test" trains on there with some temp wiring

Thanks for the info,

I am going to take a look at Sherwin Williams since one is close and then keep my eyes open when at a big box.

RickM46

And now it starts

Since we are talking about layouts:

Considering the roadbed of a layout, is there any way to minimize track noise?

RickM46

And now it starts.

Brian:

 

Everything looks first-rate, tip-top, A-#1, top-shelf great.  The speed with which you and your wife are progressing is making me and my girlfriend feel like the biggest slackers in 10 counties.

 

Bravo.  Brava.

 

Steven J. Serenska

 

Rick, the rosin paper comes in rolls of 3 ft. wide. There is a lot of length to the roll, can't remember off hand what it is. I purchased mine at Home Depot. They all have it.

 

As far as roadbed is concerned, I purchased Woodland Scenics that also comes in a 24 ft. roll. Really reasonable and has excellent sound deadening qualities. The test train ran smooth and quiet.

 

Worked today on powering the other main line today. First the old transformer I was using for test purposes had the dial stick and then break. When I went to power the track, dead short. There is tomorrow and we will get it fixed.