I'm old school Lionel, started back in the mid-80's. Just stripped my layout down to the wood, I'm going to add a 4th level with 072 turns for a 4-8-8-4. Can run 6 trains at once, kind of busy but I have limited space.

That's awesome.

I hope to get my kids up to see the Waushakum Live Steamers who run scale steam locos in the town the wife and I grew up in.

http://www.waushakumlivesteamers.org

IIRC Tacfoley has quite a setup, perhaps he will chime in.

I wish I had both the time and the space. Maybe when all the kids are out of the house.

I have a bunch of my grandfather's N-scale stuff. It's fairly old, European mostly, some of it probably mid/late 60s to early 70s. I last ran the locos in the mid 90s.

I went to a customer's house that had a 1,500 sqft train set(s). They drove through the walls along the ceiling the floors, everywhere. It looked like it could be used for a movie set it was so life like. Poor lady's husband died and she still had the whole basement set up like that. I've never seen that extensive of a train set(s) in my life. Guy must have had $100,000 worth of trains.

I've always found trains interesting but was never motivated to get any. Looks really cool!

HO gauge, but not for a long time.

I see you are in Ohio, have you ever visited Tran-O-Rama, just outside of Port Clinton?

I always say I am going to visit. We pass it on the way to Marblehead. On the way there, we are in a hurry to get there and on the way home, we are in a hurry to get home. I have been passing it since sometime in the 70's I think.

I really hope you continue to update this thread with pictures of the progress! I love that old Lionel stuff.

I like it, I have some n-scale myself but it is not set up.

I had (still do) a bunch of 40s and 50s vintage Lionel. My father was a true rail nut and I grew up with several layouts in the basement we built. When my boys were young, got it out and added some modern era stuff to it. Once again its put away, maybe for the grandkids.

I did inherit a large number of solid brass "S" guage engines and rolling stock when my Dad passed. Its sitting downstairs now in thier original boxes. Most from the 1960's. Most of them are narrow guage replicas of those run out in the Durango & Silverton lines at the turn of the century. The basememnt doesnt do this stuff justice, nor my Dads memory. I keep meaning to call out there and see if there is a museum that would be interested in a donation and displaying them. They are truely works of art.

Never been there, I'll have to check it out. We have a pretty nice train shop locally that has a gun shop next door. I spend a lot of Saturdays there.

quote:

Originally posted by P-220:
HO gauge, but not for a long time.

I see you are in Ohio, have you ever visited Tran-O-Rama, just outside of Port Clinton?

I always say I am going to visit. We pass it on the way to Marblehead. On the way there, we are in a hurry to get there and on the way home, we are in a hurry to get home. I have been passing it since sometime in the 70's I think.

Cool layout!

I made this O-27 layout on an interior door slab in 2008 when we lived in a condo, for my grandson It's set on dining room table, then into the closet when not in use.





Now it's in my garage, and this reminds me that the trains need to be running again!

My grandpa was a steam and then diesel engineer with Nickel Plate, and my uncle was a switchman in one of the Chicago yards.

quote:

Originally posted by 08 Cayenne:
I'm old school Lionel, started back in the mid-80's. Just stripped my layout down to the wood, I'm going to add a 4th level with 072 turns for a 4-8-8-4. Can run 6 trains at once, kind of busy but I have limited space.

That transformer in the lower end of the pic next the the controllers brings back some great memories. IIRC, it can run four seperate lines with the rotating inner and outer drum rheostats. The model number escapes me though, but its Lionel-iconic. Your rails and switches appear to be in really fine shape. The corrosion that forms on them is a constant battle.

quote:

Originally posted by P-220:
HO gauge, but not for a long time.

I see you are in Ohio, have you ever visited Tran-O-Rama, just outside of Port Clinton?

I always say I am going to visit. We pass it on the way to Marblehead. On the way there, we are in a hurry to get there and on the way home, we are in a hurry to get home. I have been passing it since sometime in the 70's I think.

Entertrainment Junction in West Chester, Ohio is amazing. I believe it is the largest indoor model railroad setup in the world.

The transformers are "ZW", I have 2 of them, actually just ordered a 3rd, one shorted out, and 2 "KW". Plenty of power, from the 40's / 50's.

ZW!!! Thats it! I remember I got mine rebuilt when I raided my Dads attic for the kids. What kind of rolling stock do you have? I still remember the smell of thise "smoke pellets", and the growl the Pennsylvania 4-8-4 (or was it a 4-6-4) made. Especially when the track was a bit dirty and the little roller pick up wasnt doing well.

I still have the first 4x8 layout table my Dad made for me when I was a kid. Legs were 3/4" pipe. Its downstairs in the furnace room against the wall. Prolly 50 years old now. Maybe it will see another generation.

Thanks for some nice memories.

My dad had an awesome train set when he was a boy. Lionel. Unfortunately, my brother had brought the set to his apartment to set up and run, and someone stole the whole setup. I don't even like to think about it.
If and when you can, post a video if that running. My little boy would watch it all day long

Like that layout 08 Cayenne.. great amount of space.

Stuck with a winter season layout myself which I set up in the garage with a few accosories and a few small Christmas trees.

Before I took it down a around March 1st recorded this 'fast and smokey' freight train.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oFRJGRS5MU

So I'm in the Harley Shop outside Visalia, Ca, a few weeks ago, and the owner is a train guy. That means, the entire front of the Harley shop is one big diorama with about 20 train systems and a huge amusement park in the center. If anyone is into it I recommend they go just to see it. I was mesmerized and I'm not even a junkie.

I had an HO set when I was a kid. My dad built me a train table for the layout. It was in my bedroom with my mattress underneath it. I bumped my head quite a few times getting out of bed in the morning. Good times.

yep, and it's a serious sickness. But fun and entertaining. Like your setup. Mine's HO, big yard, double track main on a couple of levels.