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Your Top Ten Favorite Layouts (1-10 w/ pics)

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 22, 2007 4:09 PM

You old farts have to give the younger generation a second chance. 

Young farts need to learn that their actions will draw reactions.

Corny Al got pwned, thats it, end of story.

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Posted by PASMITH on Saturday, October 20, 2007 10:21 PM


Above all others, my two most favorite layouts are:

1) Gorre And Daphetid

2) The La Mesa Club RR


Peter Smith, Memphis









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Posted by John Busby on Saturday, October 20, 2007 4:00 AM

Hi guys

Hmm some thing wrong here no1 should always be your own.

so no1 mine

no2 Gore & Daphetid

no3 Buckingham Great Central

no4 Delta Lines

no5 Ffarquar Rd

no6 Thomas's branch line by REV Awdry

no7 San Juan Central

no 8 Pig sty Hill Light railway Unless you are into garden railways UK style you will not know this one.

No9 Sandstone and Termite railway

a load of other English lines

regards John

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Posted by aloco on Saturday, October 20, 2007 2:42 AM

Top ten layouts of all time or just on this forum?

I'm not sure if I've seen enough layouts to choose a top ten, and if I have I can't remember enough names.

Of the layouts I've seen on the forum, my two favourites are Dave Vollmer's and Jon Grant's.

I notice that there are few people who like John Allen's G&D.  Nice layout scenery-wise, but I don't care for all-steam locomotive fleets.    

 

 

 

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Friday, October 19, 2007 10:12 PM
 loathar wrote:

How come nobody has mentioned Al Mayos SoCal Desert layout?Whistling [:-^]

I met Al Mayo at the Springfield show and he is a really nice cool guy.  You old farts have to give the younger generation a second chance.  He used to post photo's on Atlas and I was impressed with his layout.  He has a lot of energy and has modeled some very interesting scenes (many very funny and tongue in cheek).  I only wish I had some of that talent and energy!

I'll vote for most of the western layouts - all so very nice! 

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by vsmith on Friday, October 19, 2007 4:23 PM

Layouts that have had a big influence on me: 

Gorre & Daphetid, John Allen

Franklin & South Manchester, George Sellios

Empire & District RR, Lane Stewart

Pitkin Tramway, Joe Crea

San Juan Central + others, Malcomn Furlow

Several on Carl Arendts micro-layout site

Several Garden Railroads

 

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by Chuck Geiger on Friday, October 19, 2007 3:39 PM

Is that Larry R. who loves in Emmaus, PA? - If so awesome layout, I toured it in 2000.

 

 

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Posted by slotracer on Friday, October 19, 2007 3:29 PM
Also don't forget teh beautiful O scale C&O layout in the kansas City area.
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Posted by Dumptheair on Friday, October 19, 2007 3:03 PM

10. John Rogers MEC Mountain Divison 

9. Larry Reynolds PRR Horseshoe Curve

8. Bill Darnabys Maumee Road

7. Tony Koesters Allengehny Midland

6. Bob Helms Clinchfield

5. Allen Mcellands Virginian And Ohio

4. Vince Lee's Erie 28th Street Terminal

3. Jim Herzogs Reading

2. Brian Kellys C&O

1. Harold Wirthwiens Erie

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Posted by slotracer on Friday, October 19, 2007 3:00 PM

A few others we should toss in the ring

 

Harold Werthwein's Erie RR

 The NEB&W

The Ried Bros N scale layout

Before the V&O became as popular as it did, many of the same concepts were used in a "Lichen Belt layout" was Jim Paine's Durham and Southern

There was a beautiful B&O layout, I cannot recall the modeler, it was featured in one of the early Allen Keller videos

 

 

 

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Posted by denny99 on Friday, October 19, 2007 2:52 PM
 Chuck Geiger wrote:

Denny is one of the European modelers I was talking about. His SP Coast Line in N scale is the bomb. Great work Denny. I want to come help you scenic, that would mean a trip to Italy.

 

Hey Chuck, thank you!

You can come to Italy whenever you want :)

Denny Modeling the SP Coast Line in N scale in 1974
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Posted by GAPPLEG on Friday, October 19, 2007 2:43 PM

Well to start with , I like any layout , everyone works hard to produce what they are capable of. PC aside , There are layouts I really like looking at , no order of preference

Cliff Powers MA&G  is beautiful and so southern. I love it

Joe Fugate   SP rules

Bob Grech    great Detail

Chuck Geiger    hard to believe it's N scale really nice details too SP rules again

Pelle's layout for his fantastic desert scenes

Just some I like:  And being near retirement and having CRS .  I can't remember the one in the UK Joe is it ?  Great detail.

 

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Posted by steamnut on Friday, October 19, 2007 1:38 PM
Good list on the whole but I would have to add Jack Burgess's Yosemite Valley - and somewhere near the top too!
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Posted by Chuck Geiger on Friday, October 19, 2007 12:08 PM

Denny is one of the European modelers I was talking about. His SP Coast Line in N scale is the bomb. Great work Denny. I want to come help you scenic, that would mean a trip to Italy.

 

 

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Posted by denny99 on Friday, October 19, 2007 8:46 AM

Here is my top ten, but I'm probably missing some great stuff...

 

10. Utah, Colorado Western - Lee Nichols

9. ATSF Lamy Jct. - Carsten Lundsten

8. Chicago, Indianaopolis and Louisville - Lance Mindheim

7. Los Angeles District - Bruce Petty

6. Argentine Division - Chuck Hitchcock

5. Yosemite Valley - Jack Burgess

4. Utah Belt - Eric Brooman

3. DRGW Tennesse Pass - Bernie Kempinski 

2. SP Coast Line - Charlie Burns
 
1. SP Siskiyou Line - Joe Fugate
 

 

Denny Modeling the SP Coast Line in N scale in 1974
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Posted by shawnee on Friday, October 19, 2007 7:23 AM
My favorite, and I think the most useful of the master layouts...Joe Fugate's Siskiyou Line.  His web site is superb.  Joe inspires and teaches you something.
Shawnee
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Posted by Pruitt on Friday, October 19, 2007 5:43 AM

My favorites, in approximate reverse order (the bottom of the list being most favorite) are:

10. The GN Whiskey River Division by I don't remember who

9. Pelle Soeborg's UP layout

8. Joe Fugate's Siskiyou Line

7. Whit Towers' A&LP

6. Paul Dolkos' old small layout - the Duquesne something-or-other

5. Bruce Chubb's Sunset Valley (the one in the 70's)

4. Tim Kerkhoff's Overland Green River Basin RR

3. Cliff Powers' MAG

2. John Allen's G&D

and my all-time favorite -

1. Mark Brunton's CB&Q in Wyoming (if my own layout wasn't my favorite, I'd be building someone else's!) Big Smile [:D]

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Posted by Medina1128 on Friday, October 19, 2007 5:27 AM
I would make it a top 12 and add Stephen and Cinthia Priest's Emporia Division and the layout of the Museum of Science and Industry!!
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Posted by zgardner18 on Friday, October 19, 2007 1:12 AM

Chuck,

I like all of those too, but for a club layout I would have to go with this:

The La Mesa Model Railroad Club's layout is great and the other day I was given a special tour of the new level with the loop, and all I can say is just sit on the edge of your seat and wait because it is going to be amazing.

--Zak Gardner

My Layout Blog:  http://mrl369dude.blogspot.com

http://zgardner18.rrpicturearchives.net

VIEW SLIDE SHOW: CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW

 

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Posted by Chuck Geiger on Friday, October 19, 2007 12:47 AM

Last email I got from Bob, the layout was packed and he was moving to Seattle. When it comes to the SP - Bob, Bruce and Joe have it handled, AT&SF Barrow, Priest, Hitchcock for sure. I have found some off the hook Freemos from Europe of the SP that knocked me out. The best looking HO SP layout is in freakin' Germany (I think). Google SP layouts and also Youtube videos SP and check out this layout.

 

 

 

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Posted by loathar on Thursday, October 18, 2007 11:06 PM

How come nobody has mentioned Al Mayos SoCal Desert layout?Whistling [:-^]

 

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Posted by marknewton on Thursday, October 18, 2007 7:51 PM
 potlatcher wrote:

Bob Smaus' SP in LA - his use of only a few well-placed details gives his layout a level of realism that George Selios can only dream about.


LOL! I'm surprised that comment hasn't started a flame war by now!

But then, I agree 100% with you. Bob's layout is a very impressive example of realistic urban modelling. I can only assume that those who regard the F&SM as realistic have a rather fanciful view of the world... Big Smile [:D]

Cheers,

Mark.
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Posted by fvdave30 on Thursday, October 18, 2007 6:39 PM

I like both of these layouts. 

5) DRGW Tennesse Pass - Bernie Kempenski

4) Chicago, Indianaopolis and Louisville - Lance Mindheim

Everett Davidson

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Posted by obermeyern on Thursday, October 18, 2007 3:35 PM

These are the ones I have bookmarked for insperation 

I'd have to add:

Stephen Priest's  ATSF Emporia Sub 

Jack Ozanich's Atlantic Great Eastern AND Sandy River & Cleark Lake Railroad

Blair Kooistra's Walla Walla Valley

Jack Burgess Yosemite Valley 

Bill Schneider's O&W

BNSF Chilli Sub 

Concure with: 

Cliff Powers MA&G

Joe Fugate's Siskiyou Line

Lee Nichols' Utah, Colorado Western

Pelle Soeberg's Daneville and Donner

 

Nate 

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Posted by Gandy Dancer on Thursday, October 18, 2007 2:05 PM
Oh yeah, I think I would also have to include the diminutive Jerome & Southwestern somewhere on my list.   Nothing says a favorite has to be large.
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Posted by secondhandmodeler on Thursday, October 18, 2007 12:43 PM

I only know layouts from this forum.  That being said, I really enjoy Bob Grech's work.  Granted, it feels like a 1930's Gotham City, but it's soo fun to look at. 

Corey
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Posted by PA&ERR on Thursday, October 18, 2007 12:14 PM

Who said anything about "hero" worship?

The list is of layouts, not layout builders. I don't know anyone who "worships" a layout.Whistling [:-^]

George

"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."

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Posted by daboneman on Thursday, October 18, 2007 12:10 PM

What about The Franklin and South Manchester?

The urban modeling in that layout is superb.

Armstrong's Canandaigua Southern also warrants respect.

Let's not forget Lou Sassi's work either!

--just my two cents

Dan

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Posted by potlatcher on Thursday, October 18, 2007 11:59 AM

I try not to get too caught up in the hero worship aspect of the hobby, but I would be a liar if I claimed that none of the layouts I've seen in the hobby press have had a positive effect on my own efforts.  I can't compile a list of ten off the top of my head, but a few of my favorites are:

Jack Burgess' Yosemite Valley - I'll never measure up to Jack's pursuit of perfection in following a single prototype, but it doesn't hurt to aim high.

Lance Mindheim's HO Monon - proves you can still make it look and operate like the prototype in a small space and without a lot of tracks (his N-scale layout looks nice, too).

Doug Leffler's Lenawee Central - it's probably been dismantled long ago (I first saw it in a 1981 issue of RMC, and I don't know if it ever showed up in the press after that), but I like it for the same reason as Mindheim's Monon.

Blair Kooistra's Walla Walla Valley - same reason again, plus it's a prototype that is/was really close to where I live.

Bob Smaus' SP in LA - his use of only a few well-placed details gives his layout a level of realism that George Selios can only dream about.

That's all I have for now.

Tom

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