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.
Utah Belt - Eric Brooman
Cajon Pass - Ted York
Los Angeles District - Bruce Petty
Utah, Colorado Western - Lee Nichols
Mississippi, Alabama and Gulf - Cliff Powers
DRGW Tennesse Pass - Bernie Kempenski
Chicago, Indianaopolis and Louisville - Lance Mindheim
Am I really the first to answer? I don’t really have a top ten, but of the layouts you mentioned I am going with The Utah Belt. Although they are all nice layouts.
At the risk of being off topic, I have always wondered if anyone has done the Tonopah & Salt Range No. 22 in 101 Track Plans. Not a terribly big one but for some reason it has always lto me.
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.
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.
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.
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.
LOL! I’m surprised that comment hasn’t started a flame war by now!
But then, I agree 100% with you. Bob’s layout is a very impressive example of realistic urban modelling. I can only assume that those who regard the F&SM as realistic have a rather fanciful view of the world… [:D]
