Cool Layouts 101: What is the COOLEST Layout Around?

 

Roadside America, Shartlesville, PA.

 

Older than my 70+ years, but still the 'coolest', IMHO. 

 

I suspect that the current layout will meet it's end not unlike it's predecessor. From what I understand, it became a bit of a maintenance nightmare in it's latter years. It had worn itself out and suffered a few well intentioned indignities along the way. I imagine there'll be efforts to keep current with modern trains and landmark buildings such as the Sears, now Willis. I guess Ron White's lawsuit fell through.

 

I remember reading the statistics on the German layout and it was obscenely large.  Maybe it should be restricted to O gauge to level the playing field

Misty Mountain Railroad in Blairsville, GA. 3400 sf of phenomenal layout, incredible modeling and extensive train collection. 

I am still surprised that the Fowler Dream Layout doesn't get mentioned or noticed. It is located in Florida.

 

This layout is 48' x 84', is detailed in realistic O scale, has running rivers, a passenger station that is wonderful and on and on.

 

But, the coolest part is that that it is a modular layout that is built of steel frame modules that all fold for transport and roll on wheels.

 

Take the time to view the galleries of photos. You'll like it.

One that hasn't been mentioned is the Choo Choo Barn layout in Strasburg, PA. A mix of humor, fine modeling, and animation that (IMHO) was worth the price of admission and a DVD purchase.

 

Roadside America for really big commercial one.  For an individuals layout that I saw it would have to be our very own PASSENGER TRAIN COLLECTOR, BRIAN VAILL's, very nice large layout!!!

I like the one with the sub being an ex submarainer.

 

Ken M

My wife and I watched RFD TV today, they had an episode of TM "I Love Toy Trains".  This episode was about the HUGE layout of the New Jersey Hi-Railers.  It is verrry nice, and almost 200 ft long, averages 40 ft wide, with several levels, naturally.  Just seeing it on RFD TV was pretty cool.... I believe it does get my vote.  Rex, I agree about Norm's layout, have read and seen many reviews of it....fantastic!!  I have been familiar with all above except for the Fowler Dream Layout.  They all make me wish I had more room for mine, but what I have is enough for me, by myself, to handle and work on towards completion.

WElll this is not a museum layout but it is placed up for public display at the annual Presbetyrian Church Pearl River Show in February. This layout is owned by the BErgen Co Model RR club. Mind you this is only a SECTION of the three layouts built in that show.

IT's simple yet impressive and inspiring on what one might do in a 4'x8' area or a 5' x9' area. IT is multi-level three dimentional and NOT your basic 2 dimentional painted flat board.

The trackwork is a simple dogbone that loops up a mountain 3 times before reaching the return loop. an impressive run on a 5'x9' area. While the layout is sceniced as a logging road, the senic possibilities could be endless.....

 

Behold the BCMRRC "Mountain Division":

 

The New Jersey HI Railers get my vote. here is an early pic

NLOE...one of my all time favorites!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kKEwjh0U4A

 

http://www.oglebay-resort.com/goodzoo/train.htm

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1k-nKU4EkM

 

WElll this is not a museum layout but it is placed up for public display at the annual Presbetyrian Church Pearl River Show in February. This layout is owned by the BErgen Co Model RR club. Mind you this is only a SECTION of the three layouts built in that show.

 

Actually, this show that PRRHorseshoe Curve posted about is held in the Pearl River Methodist Church. Next show is coming in February 2016. Mountain Division has not been used in several years. 

Is that layout in New York? The name Nassau sounds very familiar...

I think i've been there when I was a little kid! Yeah that place definitely deserves some credit!

If only I knew how to post pictures, I would say, Dr. Bill Bramlage in the Cincinnati Ohio area has one of the Best, Hi Rise Original, Long Main Line, Supper Scenicked, Highly Detailed MODEL Railroads in The USA. Next, BoB Bartizek, Modelling Horseshoe Curve In Pennsysvania...A Wonderful, Scale like Operation with winding hills, tunnels, trestles and a Roundhouse/Turntable area to simply ENVY....These layouts are Thrillers...l.WOW. 

Yessir...Levittown, NY. Great layout now, and the one in the Medical Arts building back in the day.

 

i also went to Northlandz a few years after they opened. It was a marvelous undertaking. Don't know what condition it's in now or if it even exists.

 

 

 

 

The La Mesa Model Railroad Club at Balboa Park's San Diego Model Railroad Museum, models the Tehachapi loop Mojave to Bakersfield, they are still working on the layout as long as the museum has be operating. Track is done, scenery is still being worked on. They have operating sessions 4 times a year(50-60, 70-80 and Modern) Today's Operating was set as the day December 21st 1952, the time of day was flipped flop, so 12:00 pm was really 12:00am, and the trains that ran, they modeled they to the exact consist. If th train had a 2 hour layover, guess what the crew sits for 2 hours, if you were late, your late, if. The one difference between the real Mojave to Bakersfield and the LMMRRC model is the track mileage is shorter.

 

Another Layout is privately owned by a All Gauge Toy Train Association Member, Pat Archer. Pat has a nice property with trailers of Canoes and Kayaks for his Boy Scout Troop still being active in his mid 70s, with 143 Eagles he had the privilege to Mentor. Right when you walk in his house, there is shelves of Post war Lionel, proceeding towards his layout, the layout has to be at least 40 by 20(that is the 2nd Level), with most Lionel Accessories, Now the room has shelves everywhere of trains that might not run on his layout or he has no room to put cars on his layout. Special designed Roundhouse and Turn table with 21 2020 S2 Lionel Lines Turbines, 2 Main lines with 2 grades leading to the third level which has 2 lines set up that you might loose your train on level 3. He has a theme park named after him. Going down to the basement he has a layout that he and the team of guys that come and work on the layout are figuring out how to move stuff from level 1 to 2 to 3. Level 1 has a drag strip bunch of Industries, a river, and the layout was built over a pool so he drained the pool to put in the layout and has a storage spot under that layout. He is winding down to finishing the layout in the next 3 years.

Tony Lash's last layout was nifty