Kind of like the Lettermen Top-10, but without the non-sense, the real top ten that you admire! I'll start mine (I like Western roads) So there is heavy Western influence.
10) Utah Belt - Eric Brooman
9) Cajon Pass - Ted York
8) Los Angeles District - Bruce Petty
7) Utah, Colorado Western - Lee Nichols
6) Mississippi, Alabama and Gulf - Cliff Powers
5) DRGW Tennesse Pass - Bernie Kempenski
4) Chicago, Indianaopolis and Louisville - Lance Mindheim
3) Argentine Division - Chuck Hitchcock
2) Daneville and Donner - Pelle Soeberg
1) SP Siskou Lines - Joe Fugate
Greatest Hit of All Time:
Cat Mountain and Santa Fe - David Barrow
Have you run on all of these?
I think the V&O would have to be #1 on my list. The G&D would have to be on it somewhere as would the original Sunset Valley.
Boy! Is this one gonna be tough to view with dial-up...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Bob Grech
Joe Fugate
John Olsen - Jerome & SW / Mescal Lines
Malcolm Furlow - San Juan Central
John Allen - G&D
1. East Broad Top, plan in the Dec 71 MR - it's the one that really hooked me on the hobby.
2. Gorre and Daphetid
3. Canandaigua Southern
4. Delta Lines
5. Prospect and Upper Ridge
6. V & O
7. Crooked Mountain Lines
8. Thatcher's Inlet
9. The Layout Doctor series
10. And of course the one I'm working on
Enjoy
Paul
Gee, its hard to limit myself to just ten...
10. Utah Colorado Western
9. Ohio Southern
8. Apalachian Southern
7. M & K Division
6. Granite Mountain
5. Coal Belt
4. Alleghany Midland
3. Utah Belt
2. Gorre and Dapheited
1. Virginian and Ohio - Allen McClelland's original
And, of course, my own Port Able and Pacific Railway.
George
"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."
Bear "It's all about having fun."
There are so many I could not and will not go through to search for names, but I will mention my favorite. My choice , becase I was given the oportunity to run all positions and the atmosphere was always light with much laughter.
The late Whit Towers' Alturas and Lone Pine(ALP).
Yes it was dated and had baker couplers but it was point to point and everything on the rails had a purpose. The trains were short with an occassional long reefer train blasting through. The ALP had well planned yards that were challenging to operate and keep up with the schedule. In Alturas there was the interchange with the Western Pacific that created more traffic and gave us a taste of diesels on the layout(ALP=steam).
Whit will always be with me when planning my next move. I can see him sitting there with a cigarette or two laughing at my solutions and offering ways to do it better.
John
Ye gods - that's a tough one. I love urban railroads. My two top nominees would be:
I would nominate Chuck for sheer grandeur (and operational interest) of his huge Kansas City switching layout, John for the magnificent urban structure modelling from Boston.
Smile, Stein
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.
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
Who said anything about "hero" worship?
The list is of layouts, not layout builders. I don't know anyone who "worships" a layout.
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.
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
I like both of these layouts.
Everett Davidson
www.livelocomotion.com
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.
How come nobody has mentioned Al Mayos SoCal Desert layout?
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.
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
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
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!)
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
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
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.
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.
Jerry SP FOREVER http://photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/
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 :)