Panoramic Shots of Layouts

I guess you could call these panorama.

Here's some over and under shots Arnold...

I guess this is as close as I can come to a panoramic shot of my 5x9’ layout.

I found a more inclusive shot of my crappy basement layout.

Here's a panoramic shot of a portion of a layout that OGR readers will see in our Oct. issue, which is currently in printing. George Lasley is building a combo 2-rail and 3-rail layout. The 2-rail version, which is near completion, is the one being featured in Run 320. The under-construction 3-rail portion will be featured in a 2022 issue of OGR. Will Allen took this photo.

Here is one that I had posted some time ago of my layout:

This is as close as I can get to a panorama

Here a a couple more....click on these for a better and larger view ...

Thanks, Arnold, for giving me a reason to go back through all the old photos and pick out some that showed the widest views of parts of my old layout.

The layout is no more, but I'm fortunate in that it will live on thanks to all the past articles in OGR magazine and to the OGR video layout tour.

Alan - do I recall your home was once a church? I usually seek a more heavenly inspiration at church, but you're certainly inspiring me!

@Don Winslow posted:

Alan - do I recall your home was once a church? I usually seek a more heavenly inspiration at church, but you're certainly inspiring me!

You are correct Don.  It was formerly St. Andrews Episcopal Church but the church expanded into a new building back in 2003 so we bought this one.  My wife at that time was trying to get me to go to church more often. LOL!!

Shot of Harmon, kinda panoramic?….🤔

Pat

1993-2003 Layout......

2011-2021 Layout......

Modular Layout......

Have a great and safe weekend, folks!

Peter

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I was brousing through some photos and videos I've recently taken of my layout and stumbled across this one. It's a panoramic shot of a train running through the Laundry Room Division of my layout. LOL

Now it's your turn to post a panoramic shot of your layout. Arnold

Although I enjoy seeing realistic scenery in a well-lit comfortable room, IMO this is what an O-gauge layout should be - tubular track, postwar type cars and engines, mismash of new and old accessories, visible pipes, and sketchy basement lighting.  Some people might scoff at your layout, but it's YOUR work - it's priceless! 

Maybe I'm misunderstanding  the definition of panoramic.  This is how my phone does it.  This is 33 feet from one end to the other.  Most of it is really straight track, the the panoramic photo process makes it look like a giant gentle curve.

Here is the same shot with my phone held, ahem... vertical.  Sorry Rich M and MartyE.

Thank you, Mallard4468. For many years now, my layout has been a refuge for me, a place to go to escape, wind down, have fun and be a little creative. I think that is true for many of us who have layouts.

I am blown away by the above photos. I find that each and every layout shown in the photos has something special, and some are truly extraordinary. Arnold

Arnold, thanks for starting this. I do have a small finished room in the basement for guests or family, but my layout is in the section where the heater/hot water is, my extensive fishing tackle, two HO layouts, and a light small O gauge layout that’s portable. Like you, this area is my refuge.

Here is a panaromic shot of "my little town" on the other end of my layout back in 2018. I'm quite pleased with this one:

@Mallard4468 posted:

Although I enjoy seeing realistic scenery in a well-lit comfortable room, IMO this is what an O-gauge layout should be - tubular track, postwar type cars and engines, mismash of new and old accessories, visible pipes, and sketchy basement lighting.  Some people might scoff at your layout, but it's YOUR work - it's priceless!

No one should "scoff" at anyone's layout.  Each layout is the owner's creation and represents how they like to enjoy their hobby.

@Ron045 posted:

Maybe I'm misunderstanding  the definition of panoramic.  This is how my phone does it.  This is 33 feet from one end to the other.  Most of it is really straight track, the the panoramic photo process makes it look like a giant gentle curve.

Here is the same shot with my phone held, ahem... vertical.  Sorry Rich M and MartyE.

Ron,

I was beginning to wonder if I really knew what panoramic meant.  I think your shot is a true panoramic view.  Totally like how you have blended the photos into your layout. Would love to see more of it.

Dave

I guess I can do better

@luvindemtrains posted:

Ron,

I was beginning to wonder if I really knew what panoramic meant.  I think your shot is a true panoramic view.  Totally like how you have blended the photos into your layout. Would love to see more of it.

Dave

Thank you Dave.  That is kind of you.  Here is another view.

The layout my grandson and I run is 5x9, currently. no reason to add scenery now. Major expansion plans are in the works though, don't tell my wife.

@Jim Policastro posted:

Thanks, Arnold, for giving me a reason to go back through all the old photos and pick out some that showed the widest views of parts of my old layout.

The layout is no more, but I'm fortunate in that it will live on thanks to all the past articles in OGR magazine and to the OGR video layout tour.

Hi Jim,

Do you have any more pictures of Mott Haven??? That was truly inspirational!!!

.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted: to go to escape, wind down, have fun and be a little creative. I think that is true for many of us who have layouts.

I find that each and every layout shown in the photos has something special, and some are truly extraordinary. Arnold

I heard that .. I did.. I did

My L-shaped 15x19 foot layout fits into an L-shaped addition to our house. That space was the home office of the previous owner of the house - he was a draftsman.

The two main pix are "panoramic" views of the East-West leg and the North-South leg of the layout; plus a scene that shows my latest acquisition -- the MTH Aerotrain in Rock Island décor with 10 coaches as per the prototype.

Mike Mottler    LCCA 12394

@jackiejr posted:

.

I really like your Coop facility.

Jeff

Simple two level layout is all I have room for.

@jackiejr posted:

.

Every time I see photos of your layout I just smile. It's just charming and classy all in one. Not sure how you do that with a model railroad but you have.

Dave

For the sake of inclusivity and appreciation of all our layouts  (both of which this Forum embraces), I encourage everyone to share their photos.

I say this because when I started this thread, I did not know the special photographic skills involved in taking a true panoramic photograph, some of which have been posted above. I have no idea how to do that.

To me, a panoramic shot meant standing on a chair or foot stool and taking a photograph on one's layout from a distance.  I did that when I took the shot a few minutes ago of my Popsicle Stick Yankee Stadium below.

So please, don't hesitate to post all kinds of panoramic shots of your layouts. Arnold

Alan Arnold:

So your House evolved from a home of the Higher Power to the home of your Motive Power ?

Panoramic shots of "My Little Town" in 2019:

The garage circa 2005-2011

My bedroom in the Bronx, circa 72-73

Outdoors, current house, circa 2005-2010

Baltimore, circa 81

Richmond, 2 houses ago, 1986

More from the 1993-2003 layout, early on....1993....

Love this thread! Great to see all these layouts!

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

To me, a panoramic shot meant standing on a chair or foot stool and taking a photograph on one's layout from a distance.  I did that when I took the shot a few minutes ago of my Popsicle Stick Yankee Stadium below.

I hope that was an Osha approved chair you were standing on Arnold.

Here is a short video on how to take a panoramic photo with an iphone.  Works nearly the same with android.

Have Fun!

Ron

Here’s my small humble layout taken this winter

All I can say is wow everyone! You all have great looking layout with so many different views of how they should look. I find this so cool as the city scenes from the east coast to the midwest towns, to the west they all bring joy to see! Here is my old layout and later today I will go out and take a new photo of where is stands now as I am in the middle of a redo!

Polo Grounds 1954 - see The Catch in centerfield:

Wow what great pictures, I really loved the folks who put in various stages or years to show progress or change.  So I thought I might do that as well.

Here is the first permanent layout I had, Dad and I built it in the basement of our first house in 1954.

Here is my layout today...I call it the "Leonardtown and Savannah" for Maryland and Georgia two places we lived, but mostly to get the initials to be "L&S" or "long and skinny" ...its about 36" X 17 ' long to  fit between the display shelves.

Here is the "industrial" end, with the principal industy "General Door and Sash" Its lunch time and the food truck is moving into the parking lot to sell lunch.

Here is one of the junctions between the inner freight loop and the out passenger loop.  The American Flyer tower guards the intersection and the Marx yard towel and crossing warning keep those areas safe.

Here is the busy shopping center of "Small Town", with the McDonalds where everyone can get fed, including the Racoons on the garbage cans!

Here is the suburban station and its commuter platform over the small stream from the "peddler's rest" motel.

Here is the bustling view of Small Town with the town square flag a Lionel flag pole from 1957 (its a "48 star" flag)

Thanks for starting this Arnold, it was great to look at and fun to participate

Don

.

@Don McErlean posted:

Wow what great pictures, I really loved the folks who put in various stages or years to show progress or change.  So I thought I might do that as well.

Here is the first permanent layout I had, Dad and I built it in the basement of our first house in 1954.

Here is my layout today...I call it the "Leonardtown and Savannah" for Maryland and Georgia two places we lived, but mostly to get the initials to be "L&S" or "long and skinny" ...its about 36" X 17 ' long to  fit between the display shelves.

Here is the "industrial" end, with the principal industy "General Door and Sash" Its lunch time and the food truck is moving into the parking lot to sell lunch.

Here is one of the junctions between the inner freight loop and the out passenger loop.  The American Flyer tower guards the intersection and the Marx yard towel and crossing warning keep those areas safe.

Here is the busy shopping center of "Small Town", with the McDonalds where everyone can get fed, including the Racoons on the garbage cans!

Here is the suburban station and its commuter platform over the small stream from the "peddler's rest" motel.

Here is the bustling view of Small Town with the town square flag a Lionel flag pole from 1957 (its a "48 star" flag)

Thanks for starting this Arnold, it was great to look at and fun to participate

Don

Love Long & Skinny - my layout is also like that; love the raccoons on the garbage cans; and love your entire layout, Don, which is full of many fun things.

@taycotrains posted:

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Bob, your panoramic shot of your layout, shelves and train room is also outstanding.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Bob, your panoramic shot of your layout, shelves and train room is also outstanding.

Thank you Arnold !!!

Thank you Arnold, I also like your layout.  I watched last year (?) as you built the outstanding baseball field section.

Don

Shot from a few years ago.

Hey Everyone, Fantastic layouts, it's photos like these that get the adrenaline flowing .... however I apologize because I'm nowhere in the category of all of you with finished fantastic layouts, but I can give y'all a shot of my layout at this point. - MARSHELANGELO

Just my shot at it.

That's ok Greg! Looks like you have a good start. I really like the engine house and your engine service area.

Dave

You all have some awesome looking layouts!  There's many talented folks showing their wonderful skills in this thread

Because of the shape of my train room and the fact that the layout takes up most of the space in the room, it's impossible for me to get a panoramic shot of the entire thing.  Believe me, I've certainly tried!   So in liu of an overall panoramic shot,  I've taken shots of the various sections ... so here they are.

View of the east side of the layout.  

The west side view.

Looking south east showing the 3 track levels.

West side of layout which I call the Westend Neighborhood, sits on a 1 x 4 ft. shelf which extends the layout another foot. The area immediately below Westend is Brewtown because a brewery, keg warehouse, and wholesale beer distributor occupy this space.  

A panoramic view shows the central part of the layout which I call Midtown.

Looking southwest in natural afternoon light.

Middle of layout looking southeast as a kid may view it.

Looking southeast shows 3 track levels and the lake.

Another view looking southeast ... through a young kid's eyes ... shows how the mountain dwarfs the layout.

View of Westend looking upward from control panel.

Panoramic view looking southeast captures Midtown and the enormity of the mountain which almost reaches the ceiling of my train room.  

Southeast view ( as a young kid may view this angle )  shows how the mountain dwarfs the layout.  

I see we have two different versions of a "panorama" here. The traditional photo that takes in the whole scene, often a birds eye view (see below), and the iphone panorama photo, which is a photo stitched together from multiple images as the camera is "panned" or turned from left to right.

Of course when you have a small enough layout, the old fixed wide-angle view will show it all, although I will have to try an iphone panorama on this little layout this Christmas.

I’m reluctant to post this photo because it reminds me of just how much work I really need to do!!!

This is about as much of a panoramic view of my former layout as I could get. I wish I had taken many more photos.

@trumptrain posted:

You all have some awesome looking layouts!  There's many talented folks showing their wonderful skills in this thread

Because of the shape of my train room and the fact that the layout takes up most of the space in the room, it's impossible for me to get a panoramic shot of the entire thing.  Believe me, I've certainly tried!   So in liu of an overall panoramic shot,  I've taken shots of the various sections ... so here they are.

View of the east side of the layout.  

The west side view.

Looking south east showing the 3 track levels.

West side of layout which I call the Westend Neighborhood, sits on a 1 x 4 ft. shelf which extends the layout another foot. The area immediately below Westend is Brewtown because a brewery, keg warehouse, and wholesale beer distributor occupy this space.  

A panoramic view shows the central part of the layout which I call Midtown.

Looking southwest in natural afternoon light.

Middle of layout looking southeast as a kid may view it.

Looking southeast shows 3 track levels and the lake.

Another view looking southeast ... through a young kid's eyes ... shows how the mountain dwarfs the layout.

View of Westend looking upward from control panel.

Panoramic view looking southeast captures Midtown and the enormity of the mountain which almost reaches the ceiling of my train room.  

Southeast view ( as a young kid may view this angle )  shows how the mountain dwarfs the layout.  

Patrick, metaphorically you have made beautiful music creating and photographing your gorgeous layout. Arnold

The finished layouts shown above are all wonderful, but so are the unfinished ones which are masterpieces in the works. Those can be revisited on this thread by posting future panoramic shots (of all kinds) when they enter future stages of completion.

I think it was Patrick who recently posted that a layout is never totally completed. I agree. It can be largely, but not totally, completed.

Mine is an example of that. It can be said that it was mostly completed 25 years ago, but I have done a million important things to improve it since then, especially with the scenery, and I have at least a million more things to do to improve the scenery in the future. LOL.

Another example of a recent improvement happened last year when I installed  DCS - that was huge.

@Apples55 posted:

I’m reluctant to post this photo because it reminds me of just how much work I really need to do!!!

Paul,

  Nothing to be ashamed of there! You have a beautiful layout.

Tom

@Apples55 posted:

I’m reluctant to post this photo because it reminds me of just how much work I really need to do!!!

Glass half full or half empty???

It could also remind you of all the work you have done thus far.

Looking Good.  👍

Ron

Here's a panoramic view/video of my small upper level postwar layout

I forgot I had these three in the basement as well! The first is a portable layout, which becomes my Christmas layout, and the other two are HO, one being a shelf layout.

I have a new, "upstairs" layout in what used to be my dining room, which I call my "Retro" layout as it is designed to run only conventional.  So, I get to run all postwar trains.  With this topic, I decided to try a "pano" shot on my camera.  So here is one side and the other of the layout.  You can see the "bowing" you get when doing a real panoramic shot as closer areas to you seem to bow forward.  Anyway, here it is.

And so you can see areas in "non pan" format, there are a couple from each side as well as my "retro" power supplies.

OK...finally found some pictures I took a few years ago where I stood either on the layout or on a ladder.  I'll add a few posts this evening...here is the first one:

Here's a recent one of my layout.  Lew

@OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

OK...finally found some pictures I took a few years ago where I stood either on the layout or on a ladder.  I'll add a few posts this evening...here is the first one:

Allan, the word that came to my mind when seeing your panoramic shots was: Empire!

Taken from a hot new product I just got from my LHS, an O Scale remote control (runs on both DCS and Legacy) Goodyear Blimp with camera. I am willing to sell it for $20K.

Here are a couple more taken way back in 2014:

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Taken from a hot new product I just got from my LHS, an O Scale remote control (runs on both DCS and Legacy) Goodyear Blimp with camera. I am willing to sell it for $20K.

Great shot of your ball park. This is one of my favorite sceans on the forum and this topic is great.  I always enjoy seeing it as I love baseball and trains.

The last layout.

@OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

Here are a couple more taken way back in 2014:

Alan,

IMO, you are a true Empire builder, not only with your layout, but with this Forum.

Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Alan,

IMO, you are a true Empire builder, not only with your layout, but with this Forum.

Arnold

Thanks Arnold!

Here is a panoramic shot of my layout, if you click on the image, it should enlarge.



Bryce

My layout built in 1989 and completely rebuilt on the same table in 2006, was once featured in a magazine article entitled “World In a Living Room.”

After seeing some of the layouts on this thread I've decided to set fire to mine and collect the insurance.

Don-don’t short change yourself- your layout looks great! JohnA

My layout, panoramic view...

Don, your layout is a lot better than you think!

It’s great to see these layout pictures! Here are some wide - pano pictures of my postwar layout.

Here are a few images of a panoramic backdrop I created, from photos supplied by Norm Charbonneau, of a section on his amazing O scale layout. The master is over 20 feet wide by 4 feet high. I created the backdrop for Gunrunnerjohn’s 12 foot wide yard area, The second & 3rd images show a section from the master, adjusted & mounted to fit John’s space. The final image shows an early proposal, wrapping around the wall, continuing the illusion of depth into another section of his layout. The image is for sale, either in it’s complete configuration, or in sections, to custom fit virtually any space.

Great topic and summary of OGR members layouts. Keep them coming.  Thanks to everyone for posting.

About as wide angle as I can get my camera.  Five trains running, 31 switches,  homemade turntable, wye, 027 Toy train switching and operating layout, 44 years old.  Layout details below link

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...ra-027-layout?page=1

Charlie

Some from the floor above of the modular layouts from 2016......

.....the Christmas layout......

Peter

Current pics of the new home attic layout (under construction).....

....a work in progress.....latest update......a charge on my card from Ross Custom Switches.....the Transfer Table, more switches, track and RossBed must be on the way.....

Peter

Well uh, ahem, that’s really nice, Peter. Lots and lots of wood and benchwork. And I hope it doesn’t get too hot up there for you in the attic.

But what I and I think quite a few others enjoy seeing are “Panoramic Shots of [FINISHED] Layouts.” 😉 So, when you’re done building it, I for one, would really be interested in seeing the finished layout.  

In the meantime, good luck with everything. 😀 👍

Looks like the beginning of a model railroad masterpiece!

Way to go, Peter.

Arnold

@Yellowstone Special posted:

But what I and I think quite a few others enjoy seeing are “Panoramic Shots of [FINISHED] Layouts.” 😉 So, when you’re done building it, I for one, would really be interested in seeing the finished layout.

In the meantime, good luck with everything. 😀 👍

I don't recall "finished" being in the title... If that is what you are looking for, then I need to delete my pics.  I'm nowhere near finished.

Here you go Peter Putnam Division.   I can help out a fellow RR model friend.  Looks good!

"...I'm nowhere near finished."

Is anybody ever really finished?  I've been playing in this hobby since I was in elementary school, I'm almost 70 now, and don't think I ever truly finished a layout.  That bench work is beautiful, looks like it would hold up something 12 inches to the foot.

Outstanding layout photos in this thread!  Here is a panoramic video from my layout -

@Ron045 posted:

I don't recall "finished" being in the title... If that is what you are looking for, then I need to delete my pics.  I'm nowhere near finished.

Here you go Peter Putnam Division.   I can help out a fellow RR model friend.  Looks good!

OK, then let’s see Panoramic Shots of Layouts from benchwork only to completion. Evidently, anything goes. 🤔

I posted a still photo before, but here is a short video.

@swise posted:

I posted a still photo before, but here is a short video.

Outstanding work, Steve.

@swise posted:

I posted a still photo before, but here is a short video.

Now THAT is panoramic. Nice, 👍

@Yellowstone Special posted:

Now THAT is panoramic. Nice, 👍

Is it?  Or is it just landscape?

Hi Yellowstone,

I liked your video, & would love to see more of the layout! If you don't mind, what is the overall size of the layout?

Joe

@ironman1 posted:

Hi Yellowstone,

I liked your video, & would love to see more of the layout! If you don't mind, what is the overall size of the layout?

Joe

Thank you, Joe. Besides the photos taken above, here some more below, including the latest video I just took a few minutes ago. The layout is fairly small at 88 sq. ft., and consists of two 4 x 8 tables and one 4 x 6 table arranged together in a backward "J". I can run only two trains at a time, so change them out every now and then. Tonight I was running two covered wagons, a Santa Fe F7 ABA for the Super Chief and a Union Pacific F3 AB for the freight train.

I'm not into trains as much as many on the forum and have other interests including music (pedal steel guitar) and traveling with the wife. But this little layout, which started as a Polar Express winter layout, has expanded to what it is now and has been up and running for over 10 years. The grandkids love it and I find it relaxing to come down and run the trains, although I'm never down here with them for more than about 15 minutes at a time.

Thanks for your interest.

Hi swise, i was wondering about the overall size of your layout, specifically the roundhouse section. I’d love to see more videos or photos highlighting other areas.

Thanks,

Joe

@ironman1 posted:

Hi swise, i was wondering about the overall size of your layout, specifically the roundhouse section. I’d love to see more videos or photos highlighting other areas.

Thanks,

Joe

Thanks Joe.  The overall size of the room is 48' x 20'.  But the height at the edges of the 20' dimension are very low, so the walkable area is really 48' x 12'.   It is a room on top of a 4 car garage.  The roundhouse section is around 15' long by 6' wide at the roundhouse.  So the track running around the roundhouse is O72.  Here are a few other videos...

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0KJ0DiRHGbaTq4

And here is a page that links to several albums of photos. 

https://www.aoot.com/T&BCRR/

Cheers!

These are from around 2000 when I still had a Canon AE-1 and could take these kinds of pictures.  I now only have a little point a shoot and it can't.  Of course since I sold my 130 pieces of mostly Mth products and now only own 2 tinplate trains, I couldn't take these kinds of pictures anyways.  But I miss doing it.

There are 7 trains running.

- walt

Here's a shot I took of the famous Tony Lash layout. It appeared in Run 216.

It is not perfect because it was done with six separate shots from a digital 35mm camera. I combined them in Photoshop.

But this is only about 2/3 of the layout! There is this huge freight yard behind me!