I have always wondered who has the greatest layout. Some say that John Allen was the big winner of that question but since he died and his layout was disassembled now who? George Selious has one great one. Thing is there may be someone out there that keeps quite and has one whopper of a layout.
Next question is “What make a great layout”. I like one that makes you feel like your in a airplane flying over head and looking down and seeing it from a birds I view, Detail lots of it. If they use items of different scales it is used to force perspective to the observer. I have seen some layouts that have plastic figures that are as tall as the engine next to it. Some have exceptional layouts with lots of track and bridges but have lousy scenery, some have just the opposite. I want to see one that invites you in and you never want to leave
Theres no such thing as the “Greatest” layout.
Peoples opinions differ on what they consider great. Myself? I love a prototypical layout thats heavy on operations, the closer it follows the real thing the more I like it. I have seen plenty of layouts that blend great operation, great scenery, trackwork, electrical, motive power, rolling stock and layout atmospere, theres not one I hold over another.
I have on the other hand seen some terrible layouts
I think everybody has the greatest layout. I mean mine is greatest to me because it’s mine, in my house, around my family and about what I want.
The greatest layout is the one that exists in each modeler’s mind, whether active builder-operator or armchair mogul. That’s the one where the scenery is complete down to the last fallen leaf, the structures all look like they have been in use for years, every ballast stone is in place and all of the rolling stock is fully detailed and perfectly weathered. Not to mention the control system that is exactly matched to the desires of the owner and the large, fully-qualified crew of operators that are always standing by.
By the way, did I mention the multi-million-dollar annuity to build and maintain it and relieve the owner of the crass necessity of working for a living?
Hasn’t been built yet.
[#ditto]
Victor
Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]
Pretty much says it all.
Jim
The Greatest Layout in the World? That can be found in only one place that is in your mind. All layouts are the greatest there! It is not until you place these ideas onto a layout that you realise that in the real world there are too many constraints.
[#ditto] for me too.
That’s what makes this such a great hobby.
Enjoy
Paul
ditto also it will be built though no matter what the wife in the future says
I will have to agree with the majority here. To me a great layout is one that I can operate alone when I just want to relax, but one that is more than just a roundy-round but have a life and operations in it as well. I dont just want to keep that all to myself tho I also want to be able to share the experience with my friends. I did not completely acompli***his with my first attempt at the South Massey but I came pretty close for my first try. So I guess to me a great layout is something I can share but no so complicated that I cant go and play with alone as well. Now my kids think a great layout is one where they can both run big trains at the same time without having to take turns! (Then they fight over who gets what train!) I have seen quite a few great layouts but who has the greatest is opinion, and by that it is up to the mind of the one viewing it.
The Proto Scale Modelers layout is probably the biggest layout I have seen! It’s located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and they have over 15 miles of scale HO Main line and track. Since a scale mile in HO is 63 feet. (a friend calculated it) Multiply that by 15 and you get 945 feet of track!!! WOW! They have built Union station and all these passenger trains, GN, Milw Rd., NP, UP, and what ever else there able to come up with.
Completely unbelievable!
Now if you wanted to go see the largest O scale layout you go to Ted Schnepf.
Great photographer of the milwaukee road. He probably has one of the largest O scale layouts ever. starting from about 4 feet off the ground going clear into the ceiling.
Located in Chicago! Absolutely a wounderful and talented modeler.
James