New Jersey Turnpike Layout Review; sort of

[FJ and G]

Fairly nice S hi-rail layout. Somewhat disconcerting to see MP, IC, Peoria Gateway, Chessie and NYNH&H electrics (minus catenary), blowing thru the Rockies, but among toy train fans, that's minor.

Backdrop is stunning and blends quite well with the layout trees and rock formations. Only thing I would have done is to lighten up some of the background trees to blend better with the even lighter painted backgdrop ones.

Placement of the structures and accessories is nice and the Plasticville and old AF structures fit right at home in the hi-rail environment, despite not being weathered.

Part of the secret of the good scenery is Maggie the tree lady. Some of us can only dream about having a wife who is a toy train partner. I dream of just having a wife period--and holding on to her for any length of time.

More on how Carl runs 6 trains at once conventional would have been nice, perhaps as a sidebar.

The bio photo interestingly, shows Carl with his arm around his restored 66 T-bird, while his wife Maggie is off to the side. What is it with toy train lovers and classic cars?

[Anonymous]

Dave,
Glad you enjoyed my American Flyer layout. As far as your side bar , on how I run 6 trains at once, for your info, American Flyer made their own semaphores, which actually made trains stop and go automatically ,creating dead blocks. They used track trips which were activated by the weight of the train passing over them.I have three independent loops on my layout, which allow me to run 2 trains on each loop.
As far as the trees being too dark , the backgroud mural is actually much darker than the magazine article shows.
Realism plays a large part on my layout, however, I am not into weathering my collectable AF trains which would dimini***heir value. I have a large collection, and I run them all, even though catenary engines don't actually run through mountains, etc. When Classic Toy Trains Magazine came to photograph my layout, they chose the trains and their location on the layout, for interest and color content.
Maggie says she appreciates your comments about her involvement in the trains, and hopes you find someone, too, who will share your life and dreams.
She is an advid gardener and knew that certain plants would make for more interesting and real-like trees on the layout. She encourages me to show the trains at the holidays for the neighbors' kids.She also comes to most of the car shows and enjoys the T-Bird. She chose to sit in the car for the picture, and neither of us see it as a separation.She actually did not want to be in it at all.
Thanks for your comments and review. Carl

[FJ and G]

Thanks, Carl,

And welcome to CTT forum. I've never held back opinion. If someone asks "how do I look" and they look ugly, I tell them that. But your layout was very well done.

Tell Maggie that if you ever want to make a dead tree (for summer) or leafless winter trees, there are roots of certain weeds and trees (that have overturned) that work well.

All of the trees on my layout are made from weed including (in order from top to bottom):

http://davidvergun.tripod.com/index3.html

The palm trees, made from winter weeds that have closed up (can't tell you what type)

Barrel cactus from Burdock (night scene)

Common Mullein in the town scene, the Juniper row in front of the white building (pick in winter, paint green and dust with greenish sawdust; fine particles)

Iron weed (meandering thru Kansas scene with the RS-3 next to green tractor; iron weed in foreground)

And numerous other plants in the other photos.

I preserve them by simply spraying with diluted glue.

Dave Vergun

[Anonymous]

Hi Dave! Thanks for nice review of my layout. Your layout is just beautiful, great job!!Thanks for the info on different plants, very helpful.Your scenery is outstanding, great pictures. I'm going to ask Maggie if she has any of those plants you mentioned in her garden, thanks for the help.!!!
Carl Giambrone