In this time of national crisis, it is no small comfort to sit in my micro-fiber office chair with my layout controls within easy reach. My well stocked bookcase with both toy train guides and histories as well as real railroad reference and history books are within my grasp. My train room is a small spare bedroom with LED lighting and HVAC comfort. My walls are decorated with both train art and actual railroad photos adding to the ambiance! A nice temporary "escape" from the present scary reality of the outside world!
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Tinplate Art,
Very much like you I have all of my trains, layouts, railroad paraphernalia, books, DVDs etc. close at hand in my basement "Man Cave". In these troubled times it truly is an island of tranquility in a sea of turmoil. I stay away from watching the apocalyptic news broadcasts except for one time daily and that's bad enough. Stay safe and as healthy as you can.
Our hobby is indeed a pleasant respite from the "outside" reality!
A 4 X 8' corner of my basement is a welcome respite from the insanity of the outside world at the moment.
Sharing with my 15 YO son who's doing school work from home too.
So...rather than this thread making comments about the news, etc....how about some pictures of your trainrooms??? Here is mine: be sure to click on the pic for a clearer photo...
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Alan's tremendous urban-style layout is a "hard act to follow," but here's my modest L-shaped layout -- pix attached.
Mike Mottler LCCA 12394
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Alan has one layout that defies superlatives! Maybe, MASTERPIECE?
My layouts are rudimentary when compared to Alan’s but I’ll show them anyway. The first is my tiny all tinplate layout. All tin all the time.
The second is my 4x8 American Flyer layout. I love diversity.
The third is my O gauge 8x20 layout-and the rest are additional photos of my “man cave” island of tranquility.
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I've been a "massive shut-in" for many years already ... not much change in my daily life really. The trains have really "been there" for me; I don't see that changing
The lemonade; "There is time now" 🤓. (just mind your spectacles )
Originally I had a Hi Rail O-gauge layout. Over 1000 lineal feet of Weathered Rails, hundreds of trees, hills and mountains... then... I discovered the joy of running tinplate. No more rivet counting, no more lamenting the gaps between the rail and pilots, no more replacing circuit boards at $200 per pop... Just relaxing with the hiss of steel wheels on tube track, enjoying bright colorful trains (that are easy to work on), and....OZONE.
Here are a few shots of my Hi-Rail converted to Standard Gauge Layout.
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Rob,
What a great layout.
When life returns to normal someday I think I need to come and visit St. Louis.
I like the arches used for fascia. Did you make those? Any suggestions for how to make them?
Northwoods Flyer
Greg
Greg J. Turinetti posted:Rob,
What a great layout.
When life returns to normal someday I think I need to come and visit St. Louis.
I like the arches used for fascia. Did you make those? Any suggestions for how to make them?
Northwoods Flyer
Greg
Thanks Greg, You are welcome to visit anytime! The arches are my concept, realized in MDF by TW Trainworx. Between the arches and the viaduct, I have 300 hours in sanding and painting... every edge needed sanding...twice. They can make them in Sintra (a type of plastic) which eliminates the sanding, at a premium to the cost.
TWTrainworx does excellent work. Roger and his crew digitized my napkin sketches and even engineered the viaduct based on the concept I had.
Here is a Picture my layout and train shelves in the Train room or better call the All Purpose room. It is used for trains, vintage hi fi stereo room with two walls of stereo gear, home theater with flat screen and surround sound, drafting table, watching home film movies and slides, sleep over for grand kids and bible study. It is located above a two car garage and gives some distance from the rest of the house for peace and quiet in the house.
Charlie
RSJB18 posted:A 4 X 8' corner of my basement is a welcome respite from the insanity of the outside world at the moment.
Sharing with my 15 YO son who's doing school work from home too.
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This is my layout. It's a photo from Christmas 2019 and it just makes me smile. My train room is actually our apartment dining area. If you want to run trains you can always find a way...😁
John
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Amazing, all. Thanks for sharing.
But Art, where is yours?