Holiday Layouts & Scenery - all scales

[detting]

It is time once again to think about building a holiday layout again. The last couple years, I was using O scale equipment in concentric circles. The inner circle was MTH and the outer circle was On30. Needless to say the On30 was kind of lost amongst the 3rail stuff and I was not too happy with it.

I had a couple of ideas that I wanted to bounce off of everyone.

First my objectives: The three rail O track would just be a continous run. For the On30 equipment, there should be more operational opportunities, but also a continous run as well, to entertain guests.

My thoughts are like this right now:
The 3rail would be in a capital "B" shape with extra "cleavage." There would be two switches in the track work so the train would be constantly changing the way it runs through the two loops of the "B."
The mainline of the On30 track would follow along the outside of the "B" with either (or both) industrial siding or engine servicing facility in the "cleavage" of the "B." One loop of the "B" would be opened up for the holiday foliage, sparsely scenicked, more toy-like, and have a winter theme. The other side would be be filled in with scale scenery and have a autumn theme.

The base would be a 4x8 sheet of 3/4 inch plywood. Any area without scenery would be cookie cuttered off the board along with the corners.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I have designed a load of holiday layouts for running "under the Tree." These rangle from 4' by 4' to 4' by 6', and allow more action in limited space. There are plans for O,O27, S. HO, N, G and Standard gauge They are the Holiday Layout link on my site.

Also, a section of making Tinscale scenery and doing holiday villages. This one is illustrated, under the Tinscale Scenery link.

You can find both links in the Winter Holidays heading at http://www.thortrains.net There are also links to the layouts in each scale section, and the Tinscale Scenery is also linked in the O/O27 section.

I hope this helps!

Thor