Christmas Layouts Photo Album-2011

2011 Christmas Layout officially up and running!

This video shows how I added some "stop and go" action to a small Christmas display, running two vehicles - a trolley and an inspector car - on a single loop. See if you can figure out what makes it work - a whole group of engineering students who came to a department party at my house were sure it involved some hidden electronics...


The "secret" is just a series of insulated track sections. Starting in the left rear corner of the loop, the outside rail is insulated. At the stopping section, the inside rail is insulated. The right hand end of the stopping section is isolated on both sides (plastic pins). Result: no power ground on the stopping section until another vehicle enters the insulated section. I got this trick from Peter Riddle's book, "Grandfather's Attic", a wonderful guide to prewar layouts.

Skip:

Just beautiful as always.

exhausted: very very cool!

Skip, your Christmas layout is gorgeous!

Thanks Fellas! Contemplated changing it up this year. This is the 6th Christmas for this layout. That's the longest I've ever kept the same layout. The tables are showing some signs of wear and tear from being put up and taken down, but it still runs great.

Hello,

My Christmas layout for this year is a continuation of last year's effort. Construction was stopped in January 2011 and resumed on the day after Thanksgiving. My plans were bigger than the time I had - no surprise there.

These are the pictures from last year showing the building of the base and the basic layout. It consists of 2 mainline loops of Lionel Fastrack on the lower level and a city with a trolley line using SuperStreets track on the street level.

A third level is now being built for a NYC Transit style elevated structure. This will be an automated point to point operation.

Simple oval under the tree with the Polar Express, a prewar station and the figures represent Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer television show. The blue Choo Choo with the square-wheeled caboose can be seen next to the track.

Merry Christmas everyone...

pd:

Very nice looking Christmas layout.

well it isnt much, but here is the Lawrence Family's christmas tree...

Garage layout with the new Christmas Beeps and Peeps!

Don, Your layout looks great. Looks like you and your kids are having a blast. Merry Christmas!

Ralph

Thanks Ralph! I've got all kinds of great plans for it, but everytime I go out to do something on it the kids come out of the woodwork & we just end up playing with it!

Merry Christmas!

quote:

Originally posted by DukeGG1:
Trial run of the Christmas "platform." That's my grandson, Ryan. Our Jack Russell puppy learned right at the start of the video NOT to lick the track!



I'll post another when it's all scenicked out.

Did you grandson have some sort of food on his arm? Your Jack Russell seemed to like it.

The cops caught the driver of that mustang vert just as he was trying to get away from robbing the coffee shop.

finally finished the christmas layout,heres a few shots hope you enjoy...

Our Christmas layout for 2011. Locomotive and track are from my childhood Lionel set given to me 55 years ago.

I so enjoy seeing all the different variations people can make with the same items and tools. Imagination plays such a large part of this hobby, and every layout picture is an inspiration to all. One day in the future I hope to post an O layout done up for Christmas.

Well done, gentlemen, well done!

Lionel Christmas Tree and MTH Christmas DAP boxcars

I trust all the guys who are posting their layouts here are also considering the competition, and are going to post their entry pics in the adjoining thread.

I'd love to enter, but it is restricted to 50 square feet or less for some reason. Boo.

LMS,

Love the Super O track! Very nicely done.

Here's a shot of my Bedford Falls layout which uses Super O.

@ LMS Lines

Really nice layout...I'd be wanting to lay on the floor and check it out from every angle. You should enter it into the contest thread...looks like a winner to me...

PD

quote:

I'd love to enter, but it is restricted to 50 square feet or less for some reason. Boo.

-Jeff

No problem, Jeff! Consider taking a series of high-resolution photos (wide, mid-range, and close-up views) and submitting them to the magazine for use in next December's issue. I'm always on the lookout for nicely done Christmas layouts, either individual photos or full features. They won't appear in print for a while, of course, but if/when they do appear you'll receive a nice check to help with next year's (train) Christmas shopping.

Same goes for ALL here who have taken the time to celebrate the link between toy trains and Christmas. Applies to holiday layouts of all sizes--large, small, and everything in between. Just send me a sample of your efforts via e-mail attachment (editor@ogaugerr.com) and we'll go from there. I will provide feedback on anything additional that might be needed.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Paul

I created this small layout on a round table for our office holiday party. Everyone really liked it, especially the Christmas scented smoke. Station looks like the one in our town.

https://skydrive.live.com/redi...95D5EF7F672D9011!711

Hi all. First post here. First real Christmas layout.

Here's the video of the Redford Movie Theater layout.

Here is last year's Christmas Layout. A full article on construction with lots of photos appears in next month's OGR Magazine, January 2012. Here are a few photos that didn't appear in the magazine.

Here is a video of the layout with lots of action.
http://youtu.be/RQgr3AP-YlQ

Here is a video of our Christmas village and trains that I put together for our family. Enjoy and Merry Christmas.

A tinplate train around the family Christmas tree again this year.
Dan

Just a simple circle of LGB under the tree for me, although we do have from time to time a large caribou (Catzilla)
that blocks the tracks.

I am trying to do my part to get it up.
Lotta wiring and scenery to go yet?
Will I make it by Saturday?
Greg

I know the feeling, Greg. I've just started on my second 2011 Christmas layout. I hope it's actually finished before Christmas. ...otherwise, I might have to leave it up until next Christmas. At least mine are small. So you say yours is merely a Christmas layout? I wouldn't mind having that one up all year!

Rick

9 trains on the layout. 5 run at one time, 4 in staging.













Merry Christmas all

- walt

Here is a typical tree layout. Nothing fancy, just simple. Two trains running under the tree. A 1950's 671 turbine to a 2010 Texas Special. 60 years of Lionel magic! The fast track is an inverted figure eight.