How is everyone's Christmas layout coming along???

[Greg T.]

Let's start sharing pics! Here's mine. Greg

[Jumijo]

It's getting there. I ordered a K-Line Christmas Pacific last week. It should be here soon.


Jim

[Dr. John]

Greg, I have to confess that I saw your layout on the "other forum" and liked it so much I basically stole your track plan! About the only difference that I can see is that I used Marx O-34 track on the outside loop. I used O-27 for the trolley loop where an Industrial Rails trolley and Lionel #60 will share duties. I think my layout is about a foot longer than yours. I love the MTY 4-6-0 set you have!

I'll be cramming several Dept. 56 and Lemax villages in my space but my Girard station will have a place of honor as well!

To be honest, I like how your layout has more trees and fewer buildings. Makes it seem more "winter-y" to me.

Again, thanks for the inspiration. Glad I can give credit where it's due!

[Greg T.]

Doc.  You are way too kind.  Thank you.  I initially bought one bag of 21 trees at Michaels.  Decided it was too few and picked up another bag.  Very happy with the result.  I had three goals for this years Christmas layout.  1) Two trains running on a 3 x 5 layout. (not an easy task) 2) Give it a Nosalgic feel. 3) Let the Trains take center stage and not be overwhelmed by alot of buildings and accessories. (this took some restraint... I tried a Marx crossing signal and a crossing gate on the layout, but due to the small layout size it immediately look like too much).

Anyway... Isn't this FUN?  I love this time of year, and I love this hobby!

Can't wait to see everyone's Christmas layouts.

Greg

[RR Redneck]

I am waitin on the the Christmas tree.

[Dave Farquhar]

Mine's a simple loop of Fastrack around the tree with Christmas village buildings (Dept. 56 and others) inside, accessorized with Cobblestone Corners figures from Dollar Tree (dirt cheap and sized perfectly). I'll try to take a picture and post one once I figure out our new camera.

[rlplionel]

 Here's a photo of this year's holiday toy train layout, put up just after Thanksgiving:



And here's a picture of my table top "layouts":

[Anonymous]

Eric,

         Did you happen to order an artificial tree?  The reason I ask is because you said you were waiting on the tree.  I ordered one from a company online, and it was supposed to be delivered on October 27.  I called about every week, and it seemed the company always had some excuse.  Long story short, it finally showed up this past Monday. 

[jimhaleyscomet]

Mine is "done" except I am still adjusting the little things.  There are two loops to run three trains.  All conventional for now.

Jim H

[jimhaleyscomet]

It's getting there. I ordered a K-Line Christmas Pacific last week. It should be here soon.

If you ordered the same set I ordered (from JusTrains) you will love it.  See my pictures above.  It is a very heavy loco and geared so that it does not run away on down grades.  (I have one pretty steap grade on my Christmas Layout). 

Jim H

[anjdevil2]

Here's my start.  I had to go to the old track for the O27 curve I needed to evade the Christmas tree

I have my Pennsy Flyer and my 2002 Fire train set up for around the tree.

http://anjdevil2.shutterfly.com

Sorry, this is the only way I can the the pictures to load up.!

[rlplionel]

 That's not a bad start, anjdevil2.

[Anonymous]

Is it that time already?!?

Last year's:

http://s-scale.org/albums/d/786-2/Christmas_Layout_2005_1.jpg

 

-bf

[jimhaleyscomet]

Bassflyer,

WOW.  That is beautiful in its layout and simplicity!

Jim H

[Anonymous]

Thanks Jim!! Usually they are more like this:

http://s-scale.org/albums/v/friends/bassflyer/bassflyer/bassflyer_001/2004_1220Image0004.JPG.html

I got lazy. But, I was quite pleased with how it turned out. I call it my

"Rural Christmas Card Scene Layout". 

I really can't decide which way to go THIS year!

-bf

PS.........more Christmas layouts can be seen at:

http://s-scale.org/albums/v/friends/bassflyer/bassflyer/

[Deputy]

Got my board (4X8 plywood) and LifeLike ballast sheet up yesterday. Laid the RealTrax track in a basic loop and hooked up a basic transformer connection (for now). While I was working on it my UPS guy arrived with the Lionel New York Central Hot Box Reefer Train Set. So I got to test it out right away. Worked great, although the speech from the hotbox reefer is almost unintelligible. Today we put up the tree and some buildings for the train. LOL...even got an illuminated Walmart store building for the train to pass by I'll take some pics as soon as it's done.

Dep

[RR Redneck]

(Artificial) tree came, and I have the train runnin round the tree.

[Deputy]

Mine's nearly done. Got my Walmart building lit up. Crass commercialism at it's finest

I'll post pics soon.

Dep

[SchemerBob]

I've got mine finished. I used FasTrack for a double-loop around the tree, one loop with a siding. I have a town, and a mountainside on one side with a tunnel. Here are some photos.

My Chessie GP38 traveling around the southern end of the layout

Santa Fe FT and Super Chief train exiting the eastern tunnel portal

The two trains meet at the Plasticville station (actually, it's made out of paper).

On the northwestern side of the layout, with the western tunnel portal, the mountainside, and my Union Pacific switch tower.

A better view of the station and platforms. I bought a few lighted fence sections at Menard's and put them along the platforms. They work pretty well!

Christmas tree lot by the tracks

A BP tanker truck going past Casey's, which I built myself out of paper.

I think my Christmas layout is the best one I set up during an entire year, because of the snow and all of the scenery.

[Anonymous]

There is mine from another thread...

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/973109/ShowPost.aspx

Really like what Jim H did... I may have to borrow some of those ideas next year! :)

Mine is a bit on the heavy side because I used 1x3 for the base with 1/4 ply on top.  The two sections can be easily moved by one person.  The boxed mountain is a different story... that beast weights a good 80 lbs.  I think next year there is going to be a heavy use of 2 inch foam involved!

I wish the tree didn't have to be in the window!  I would have loved to switch it with the mountain and tree in the corner and the village under the window... maybe I can talk the wife into removing the picture window and putting in a corner window!  :)

[Deputy]

Geez Bob. After seeing yours, I'm not so sure I want to post mine. Mine looks pretty naked

Dep

[NYC Fan]

Added a couple of more buildings...and now I'd say it's done.

[Anonymous]

NYC,
WOW!  What a display!

[SchemerBob]

Geez Bob. After seeing yours, I'm not so sure I want to post mine. Mine looks pretty naked

Dep

 Aww, come on...I'm sure it's fine!

If you want to spruce it up a bit, Menard's has quite a bit of trees & stuff for low prices. That's where I got most of my scenery. Anyways, though, go ahead and post some pictures!!

[Buckeye Riveter]

Photos from 2005.  Still waiting for the snow before I take this years photos.

[Deputy]

Okay...here's mine. Actually, this board will be one of 4 that will be used in the construction of a permanent 8X16 foot layout after Christmas. So it's pretty temporary.

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/album?c=deputyret&aid=576460762366096418&pid=&wtok=Z7E_NWnQC2ukWnq827Diuw--&ts=1165865999&.src=ph

Double click on the photos to make them bigger. 

 Dep

[NewbieLady]

My first attempt. Only 4'x5' to work with:

[mitchelr]

My first attempt. Only 4'x5' to work with: http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6cc30b3127cce804bbe6894fb00000016100AcN2rdo2atGIg

 

Very nice job on a first layout.  What kind of buildings are those on your layout?

 

Mitch 

 

[NewbieLady]

Thanks. Those are Dept.56 "Christmas in the City."

[marxalot]

The Marx 1666 rolls along again.................. The building in the center is of a local supermarket; sort of the commercialism of a Wal-mart but not quite! The units on the ends are Lemax. And the always present Girard station in the background on the right side.

Jim