[Chugman]

As we we approach this magical time of the year, I am somewhat amazed at the variety of ways to have Christmas layouts. They range from a simple oval under the tree to very elaborate layouts. Also most are temporary layouts but others are year around. They can be as simple as just adding Christmas engines and cars to your regular layout or having an entire Polar Express themed permanent layout.

We never had a layout under the tree when I was a boy. Our Christmas's were a sad time as my father had a drinking problem and my mom and I would spent the first part of the night looking for dad. When we found him, he was usually drunk and passed out after he got home. Christmas mornings were better even with his hangover. It was still a special time of the year, but bitter sweet in so many ways.

I did get my first Lionel train at Christmas time and it was so much fun to set it up and run it. Mom helped me as dad didn't have any interest in it. His interests were hunting and fishing and working.

I never personally got into having mine own Christmas layout, but I really enjoy seeing other people's. I have run my son's Christmas trains on my layout and that was a lot of fun.

We always visit Ken's wonderful layout that he sets up in his home every year. He is a frequent poster here, or he was until he joined the new forum. He says he has expanded his layout this year and I can't wait to see it. If he doesn't post any pictures here maybe he will allow me to post them for him?

Please share your Christmas layout pictures and stories.

Merry Christmas

Art

 

[beachhead2]

I didn't have trains as a kid. At one point, someone must have given my grandmother a box of HO & N stuff because I remember messing around with some of it at her house with my cousins. But that was the extent of it.

This year my Christmas layout is elaborate. I was communicating with a guy who has some YouTube videos that show how to construct foam scenery using pink XPS foamboard and Great Stuff spray foam (username: CJ Ambrosi, also Chris A on OGR). This year's layout was my first foray into scenery of any kind. I was relatively pleased with the results. More importantly, I think it gave me the confidence to try it again on my permanent layout.

 

[Fire21]

WOW!!!

 

[seayakbill]

Super nice Christmas layout. Just fantastic.

Bill

 

[Chugman]

That is a very nice Christmas layout! You were able to work a lot of different elements into it, but you did a great job.

I have been looking for pictures of running Christmas trains on my layout and haven't found any worth posting yet. I will keep looking. It's not right to start a thread and ask for pictures and not post any of your own, so I will keep trying.

Art

 

[Spence]

Beachhead2; what an elaborate Christmas layout. Just fantastic.:appl::appl:

 

[Volphin]

I really like that layout! How about a tutorial for those of us who are, um, scenically challenged?

 

[beachhead2]

I really like that layout! How about a tutorial for those of us who are, um, scenically challenged?

I'll make a separate post over the weekend.