Christmas layouts - post your plans, progress and pics!

[Dr. John]

I thought that I would start a thread for everyone who plans on building a Christmas layout - whether around the tree or more elaborate.

Let's hear your plans and see some photos of your progress and results. Photos of previous Christmas layouts would be nice for inspiration.

I'll start this Friday with mine. It will be on two 6' x 30" tables for a 5' x 6' layout. I'll use Dept. 56 buildings, a mix of Lionel and MTH accesories, and a first for me - Fastrack. I'll take some pics and keep you posted on the progress.

I'm ready to get started, how 'bout you? [:)]

[dougdagrump]

The Christmas layout is in progress, 5' x 8', the lower level will have two independent loops with Dept 56 and Lemax bldngs. The second level will have one small loop with the tree and additional bldngs.



The lower level will have the Chritmas Docksider and a Santa Claus Speeder, tha second level will have the Mr & Mrs Claus Handcar. Almost forgot on the lower level will also be the Nutcracker Gateman. [:D]
Thanks to Jim I have decided how the walls between level 1 & 2 will be finished.[tup]

[pbjwilson]

This was last years -



I'd like to add a trolley line this year. I also picked up some two rail track for wind-up trains. I've been thinking of adding just a loop or even just a circle to run my Hafner trains on. My wife picked up some nice pine trees about a foot to a foot and a half tall. These might make a nice backdrop. Theres something about a nice green backdrop that enhances the color of the trains.

Also, I've been hitting the local hobby shops looking at some operating cars. My kids like the aquarium cars, and bobbing animal cars. Mickey and Minnie mouse made an appearance last year via handcar. Buzz and Woody might stop by this year!
Cheers, Happy holidays!

[Anonymous]

I'll be working on my Christmas layout again today. It's small, designed to fit one end of the den in my apartment, but I don't really need a large layout to keep me content or to commemorate the holiday season. I don't have any photos yet, but one of these days will break out the Canon digital camera that I have had stored away for several years (after I buy some new batteries, of course).

My layout is made with FasTrack--the first time I've used that type of track. I like it a lot! I've added several switches to the layout (all of which perform fine with the small locomotives I run) and I also added Lionel's FasTrack operating crossing signal accessory. I really like that accessory! The signals are scale-size and the flashing sequence is very reliable and very realistic. The bell sound can be turned on or off from atop the installed accessory, and I like that feature as well. I don't use the bells, however, 'cause they're just too darn loud. I really wi***here was some way to control the volume of the bells. Last night, I installed another insulated FasTrack section on one side of the accessory to prolong the flashing as a train approaches.

I have about a dozen Dept. 56 "Snow Village" buildings on the layout now and will probably spend part of today installing the lights in those buildings, and in the "Stoney Creek" ceramic station that I use (Grizzly Flats). I also have to put together and install a Lionel Truss Bridge with Flasher that I received yesterday. And I still need to buy a couple of the Lionel plate girder bridges to use on each end of the truss bridge, but my dealer in Delaware didn't have those in stock.

And, I still need to wire-up my Lionel rotary beacon--my very favorite Lionel accessory. It looks a little lonely sitting back in a corner by itself, so I'm considering constructing a mountain with tunnel so it can be given some elevation and a bit more visibility.

Because this layout is a small one, I only operate small motive power and rolling stock. The largest locomotive running on it is an MTH RailKing 4-6-0 "Christmas Express" (love that cruise control), but generally the layout will have even much smaller motive power such as the K-Line Plymouths, the RMT BEEPs, and a trolley or PCC.

I still need another 20-or-so "snow covered" trees for the pike, and will likely visit the local Lowe's or Michaels tomorrow to see if I can find what I'm looking for at a discount price. I really like the trees I already have (Lemax, I believe), but need to see what's available in some quantity this year.

I find it to be very relaxing, and a lot of fun, fussing around with even a small layout. The important thing is to get a train up and running, and then I enjoy just adding more detail items, changing things around almost continually until I'm satisfied with how they look, dreaming up new things to add to the layout, and just sitting back with the room lights out and watching the trains run through the winter "night."

[Anonymous]

This year I'll be setting up one on a 40" x 60" wood platform. It will be N scale with two loops of track and a small fiber optic or articial tree, which ever I can find first.

[Anonymous]

Howdy,

here's my 2003 Xmas-Layout from Germany ... Fleischmann HO on the floor ... [8D]



Happy Thanksgiving & a lot of fun with ur layouts!

Eckard

[Anonymous]

DJSpanky:

Yep, I have one of the Lionel Docksides, as well (in North Pole Central livery). Also have a couple more in other roadnames. I didn't really mean to leave the Dockside out of my post. I also have the matching work caboose, but I'm having a wee bit of trouble with it when it's running because the electrical contacts, wheelse, or something else are making a whole lot more noise than one would expect. I haven't been able to pinpoint the precise problem.

If K-Line had made their Porter locomtoive in Christmas livery, I likely would be using one or two of them. As it is, the Porter I have is the U.S. War Dept. model. I was also hoping that the K-Line Christmas Plymouth would be available by now, but I'm told that it is not. In light of K-Lines recent problems, I'm not holding my breath on that one. I did pick up a Plymouth in U.S. Steel livery when I called the dealer. It arive yesterday. I wasn't even arare that K-Line was making a Plymouth in that roadname.

[Dr. John]

Eckard - great looking Fleischmann layout! Very intricate plan.

I have the Lionel Docksider in the Copper Range scheme. I did not see the point in buying the North Pole Central version, although I did buy the work caboose as well as several cars. Also bought the Lionel Christmas car expansion set which includes the Santa and Mrs. Claus handcar.

One thing I noticed with the Fastrack is that I can't use my old milk platform. I wonder if Lionel will release one for Fastrack as they have for the plate girder bridge?

Hope to have some track laid by tomorrow afternoon with pictures to follow.

[nitroboy]

[Anonymous]

Hello guys,

very nice Xmas-Layouts as far as I can see ... and a lot more to come!?

Here's my Xmas-Layout 2004 ... also a floor layout but that year a "big one" ... [8D] ... btw, u can learn more about that layout in my thread "A Lionel floor layout somewhere inna good ol' Germany ..."



In the foreground u can see what my beloved wife is doing around Xmas: Solving a puzzle consisting of some thousand parts, while I sit in the back on the old mattress controlling my Railroad Empire ...

That's always a nice time. "Hey sweetie, will u pls throw that switch in the other direction? Thanx a lot!" I love it ... and her ... [:)]

Nice week,
Eckard

PS: Dr. John, I'm very interested in ur experiences with Fastrack! What's about the noise for example? As far as I remember there's been a discussion here some times ago about that topic ...

[Dr. John]

Eckard,

I really like Fastrack for temporary layouts such as my Christmas layout - it goes together easily and looks good. I especially like the turnouts.

It is rather noisy, although that does not bother me personally - I like the noise! I place mine over a layer of white felt (representing snow) which helps somewhat, especially since I do not attach the track directly to the table. I think Fastrack is an excellent choice for floor layouts. As to my more "permanent" layout, I will stick with traditional tubular track as I like the more nostalgic look.

[Anonymous]

I actually have two Christmas layouts. First, there are the trains under the tree. This is basically just the track sitting right down on the carpet without any extra accessories, etc. I have three trains around the tree. First, a circle of standard gauge track around the base of the tree with my good old #38 on it. Then, there are two large ovals of O27 track that curve closely around the tree on one side and then extend all the way to the other end of the room on the other. The presents go inside the track beside the tree. I like to have a Lionel train on one and a Marx on the other, one steam and one diesel. I still haven't decided what trains I'll have this year.

Then, there's my Christmas villiage layout. This is set up on a 4'x8' with a white sheet on it in the living room on our old kitchen table. I set up my collection of ceramic buildings, figures and accessories on it and cover the whole thing with a liberal helping of plastic snow. For trains, I use New Bright battery operated trains that are somewhere between HO and S in size. I have the smaller buildings and these trains are the perfect size for them. There are two loops of track, one with a Rio Grande mixed freight and the other with a "Dickensville Express" train. Since last year, I've picked up a partial used Dickensville set and so that train is now going to be a double header!

As you may know, I'm away at university now. Classes end on Dec. 5. I'll be heading home that day and so have just over a week to mentally prepare before I set to work. I'll update you guys with the results.

[M1Tanker]

We may switch to Standard Gauge around the tree this year. Once I get off duty today here at the Pentagon the wife wants to go visit the boys at our hobby store in Thurmont and shop....

[spankybird]

Here are a couple pics of our Christmas layout











as always, click on the pics to enlarge them.

tom

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dr. John
[

One thing I noticed with the Fastrack is that I can't use my old milk platform. I wonder if Lionel will release one for Fastrack as they have for the plate girder bridge?

I'm just using the old style control track with "transition" FasTrack on each end. Make sure the control track is O, not O27.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pbjwilson
[
I'd like to add a trolley line this year.

I'm adding the Bachmann On30 trolly this year. I have limited space for one, so the straight-line/reversing action will work fine for me. $79. at Boscovs and my train store. I've seen them elsewhere for $99. It pays to shop around. Joe

[Anonymous]

Why weren't some of these layouts in the OGR Christmas issue???

[Anonymous]

Okay!

I am gonna break them out and set them this year!!!!!
I can't take it anymore.

Your layouts are awesome!!!

Keep them comming please!

Karl

[Dr. John]

Finally made some progress on my layout - "Christmas in Dixie"


A GM&O RS-3 leads Santa & Mrs. Claus' special train.


City planners see the need to do a better job of paving Main Street and burying utility cables. (How do you hide all of those blasted Dept. 56 cords anyway!?! [:(!]


More buidlings to add, along with trees, lights, details, etc. GOT TO HIDE THE CORDS! *mumble, mumble* [:(] At least it's a start.


Eventually, this corner of the layout will be Bucktown, AL. If you've never met an Alabama redneck, this is the place to visit! Lot's of details to come!

More later.

[Dr. John]

More progress, more pics . . .

[gvdobler]

Here's mine. LGB is 20 years old this year.

[Anonymous]

Hey Ya'll

I've switched back to tubular with 0-42 0-27 curves instead.

So I have a oval of 0-27 track with 0-42 curves, an 0-42 right hand switch to a siding, and a villiage of Department 56 houses with evrything resting on Buffalo Snow Sheets under the tree. Also with a CW80 controlling the layout.

Oh, There is a New MTH country station and a postwar #138 water tower for accesories.

It hasnt been built yet, but when the tree goes up tonight, so will the layout.

[Anonymous]

Anybody putting tinsel on your tree this year??



Heres mine

[dwiemer]

So, Dr. John, how did you solve the cord problem with the Dept. 56 items? I used white felt with buffalo snow, but I am sure there is a better way.
thanks,
Dennis

[Buckeye Riveter]

Celebrating 50 Years of Toy Trains
at Roger's Corner's, Ohio



The Marx pictured in the bottome photo was taken in 1955. This is the same train that is running under our tree in 2005 shown in the top two photos. I was almost five years old in the 1955 photo and as you can see I was in love. The tender was replaced with an identical tender due to a broken coupler. Thank you Marx!

[Jumijo]

You've kept that set in beautiful condition all these years, Buckeye! Very nice.

Jim

[dougdagrump]

Looking good Dr John. Buckeye, your pictures make me want to put my 1958 Wabash GP-7 under the tree but it would probably take out at least one corner of the tunnel (really close).



Wish I could get more smoke out of the Christmas Docksider. Still need to make the table skirt.
The plywood/homasote deck look like Swiss Cheese from all the holes drilled in it for power cords and accessories. Between the halloween layout and the Christmas layout this year and last they are getting quite a workout.

[cnw1995]

Beautiful! Dr. John, is that a GM&O Williams car I see? I've taken the Christmas 'oval' down - the 3 year old just can't help himself from mucking around too much with it...Maybe next year.

[tmcc man]

Wow, dougsnotagrump, that is some layout[:O]You did a very nice job on that and I [^] of it.

[pbjwilson]

Hey Doug,
When my son was three I had a layout built on a low table so he could see. One day we were inthe basement and he got mad at me for some reason, so he went over to the train table and picked up a 1666 steam engine. He turned around stared right at me and dropped it on the floor. Oh man was I upset, broke the trailing truck into many small pieces. Very unpredictable at that age. To bad you had to take your Christmas oval down. Maybe next year. Happy Holidays to you and your family!

And Dr. John really like the GM&O too. That color combo is great!