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Frank Knautz’s realistic O gauge layout
This is a great layout in only 11x11 space, & being a big band musician I loved the background music!
I can’t wait to read this article in CTT. I personally prefer articles on smaller layouts; especially when built as nicely as this one.
What a GREAT layout Frank!To devote it to your parents…makes it all the more GREAT!
SUPERB, EXCELLENT DESCRIBES THIS MID SIZE LAYOUT. ESPECIALLY LIKED YOUR USE OF REVERSE LOOPS AND MULTI LEVELS.
YOU TOUCHED ON SO MANY AREAS OF MODEL RAILROADING YOU COULD PROBABLY WRITH A BOOK. THE BEST . NICE JOB !
Very nice, you really have a good theme to your layout. It is a pleasure to see so many post war trains running. Thanks for sharing your layout with us.
Fantastic!!!
The scenery and track plan is perfect. The smaller post war pieces are what I like and it is nice to see a such a fine layout devoted to them.
Thank you and Classic Toy Trains for sharing this with us!
Frank, fantastic layout. I too model a similar style as yours ( I have a few photos posted in the reader photos section), with smaller engines, short hoppers, tank cars, gons, and of course 2400 series passenger cars, my inspiration being my grandfather. Would love to see more of your layout! Impressive!!!
Love your layout and the concept of dedicating it to your Dad. I tried to guess the height of the second level and estimate it at 4x the height of the trolley. How do you access the rear corners if a problem occurs?
My only critical comment on the article is i wish all the photos were full page(i’m a photographer).
I also run my vintage trains from the 40s and 50s-gifts- from my late parents- together with more modern as well as tinplate models, all conventional control using KW’s and ZW. Your layout is an inspiration THANKS for sharing it!
Just saw the article in CTT and saw the pictures of your layout and now the video. Awesome. I really related to the influence your Dad had on you with those post war trains. My Dad was born in 1917, and sure enough we had that 2023 UP diesel except it was pulling the rolling stock from the freight set. You’ve made a great layout. What a wonderful way to keep the memories alive for us post war folks. My Dad lived in Sarasota; how about that.
Sir all I can say is you dad would have been proud. What a great looking and running layout. My layout room has similar dimensions as yours, and to be honest I was stymied as to what to do. You hard work proved want can be accomplished in a 11 x 11 area. Guess I’ll be studing your article for a long time to see what I can come up with. Thank you what a great job. Happy Railroading
This is what the lionel showroom layout should have looked like!!!
alan tirotta, Brooklyn ny
The stacking on the buildings and the paper backdrop give this compact layout
much depth and realism. I plan to use concepts written in this current issue on
my layout which is under construction. Everything here IS well done.
A brilliant evocation. Very well done!
This was awesome to watch in action. Thanks so much for taking the time to share the results of your hard work. My original trains are from the early 50’s and I have saved them as you have. I hope I can get my kids to keep up the legacy but times have changed and so have their interests.
Keep up the great work!
Frank,
This is one of the best Lionel layouts I’ve ever seen. I love the landscape work, the structures, the feel of another time – it’s really well done, pal. An added bonus for me is the music for the video – being a jazz player as well as a fan, I dug it. I’m sure your Dad would have been proud of all the effort you put into this. Makes me wish all the more I could have kept my O guage layout but alas, no room in this efficiency apartment for it so I’ve scaled down to HO – at least for now. Thanks for sharing this with us.
This an excellent layout. My dad gave me a Lionel passenger train n 1950.
*I now have an Ho layout, gave my 027 to my grandson in Vancouver two years ago." He sets it up beside the Christmas tree every year. He is only 2 years old and I believe he will work it when he gets older Gord Bremner
Even though it was a UTube video and I watch on a 20 year old computer, Minutes 2 - 4 were actualy watchable. Sure brings back some memories of the good old tinplate days.
awesome scenery…you prove an excellent layout can be built to showcase the “traditional size” trains…great inspiration to get back down in the basement and build!!
This is a fantastic layout. I don’t have a lot of space either. My dad also started me in model railroading with a 224 steam engine and several cars,all of which I still have and have restored to running condition . Keep up the good work!