Ideas and origins for my Layout featured in current edition of CTT

Classic Toy Trains Forum
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First photo is of a Christmas display from about 10 years ago prior to my move. A few features to note: Road extending over lower tracks at corner. Tunnel on lower lever to the left of above mentioned roadway and bridge over lower tracks along the far right side of the layout. Also note the streets at a diagonal to the tracks.

Since I moved I did not have the room for a 10x12 layout in my living room, here are pictures of my current layout when first used as a Christmas display. Only the lower level track is permanently attached and is American Models. The upper level is made up of stacked styrofoam insulation except for the center section which is plywood raised on short 2x4 legs and braced with 1x3’s.

Note the similarity of certain design elements from the previous Christmas layout.

The next photos show my current layout while is was being made. I took the original elements from the Christmas layout and improved upon them. The biggest change you cannot see was cutting out a large opening in the 4x8 platform so I could have access to the underside of the upper level for wiring. Still trying out locations for the buildings.

The upper level uses S-Helper track. I added a a one inch thick sheet of foam to the plywood except where the track is. Than I shimmed up the track so the rail was slightly higher than the foam. This made grade crossing eaisier and was more of the look I was trying for.

I hope you enjoyed this lit

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It was very enjoyable Major, and so was the CTT article showcasing your layout!

Congratulations on making the “Big Time!”

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Beautiful! [bow]

Do you have any close-ups of the area under the bridge on the right side of this photo?

By the way, I always save the best layout article for last, so it will be awhile before I get to read it! [:D] (I did look at all the photos though!)

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Here is about the best picture I still have of that area. It was a station with benches, ticket booth and stairs assending up to serve the city above. It gave me a place to display many small O scale figures. The facade was constructed with foam board and bass wood. I scribed the outer wall to look like cut stone. I still have the wall section and the station front, the only items remaining from this Christmas train layout.

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Thanks! They look great! [:D]

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Congrats on the article. [Y][8D]

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Fantastic!!

It’s always great to have those photo memories of all the changes over the years. Very nice.

Paul

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It was this forum that facilitated the introduction of my layout to Classic Toy Trains and its readers. I would like to thank all of you for your support and kind words and special thanks to Mr. Roger Carp for making it all happen.

Rich Gabryszewski (Major) USAR Retired

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And thank you Major, for sharing your work with us all!