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 Posted - November 30 2010 : 10:57:32 AM
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Hello Eveyone,
Tis the season for Christmas displays!
We set up our first real Christmas tree the other night,and of course it has to have a train running under it.
This year we set the tree up on the dining room table,protected by a custom cut (by me) cardboard cover,and that was covered with a holiday tablecloth.
After that the fun began,I decided to use my Marklin trains on this display because it has sharp curves,and I can fit a lot of track on the table.
I have set up 2 loops of track connected by a pair of switches,and one siding with a bumper post for freight car storage.
It's good to get these old Marklin trains running again as they haven't been run in a few years.
Please feel free to post photos,or a description of your own holiday display no matter what kind of trains you are running.
President of the Cape James Terminal RR.
Edited by - choochin3 on November 30 2010 10:59:56 AM
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Posted - November 30 2010 : 1:49:13 PM
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I don't have anything too fancy. In 2008 I used a Tyco Clear demo F-unit to inaugurate the STC's Holiday Special, comprising of some appropriate Tyco cars, some of Brian's handiwork, and my own custom-made light-up boxcar (which I plan to upgrade further from the initial proof-of-concept).
In 2009 I kitbashed an O-scale feed mill and a discarded holiday point-of-sales display from Lowe's, into a synchronized musical holiday freight station for the train of assorted O / O27 stuff I've cobbled together over the years.
2008:
2009:
No new additions are planned for this year, boo.
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Posted - November 30 2010 : 2:48:42 PM
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I really don't have any room, so each Christmas I set my AF 4-4-2 on the track on my dining room table.
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Posted - November 30 2010 : 3:31:23 PM
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cool vids, spider Need to find some holiday themed cars 
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Posted - December 01 2010 : 12:01:30 AM
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I'm multi-scale and out-of-scale as always. Here's our simple setup with a Lionel set I got at Target on super clearance last year, and my daughter's Athearn Chessie running around the tree. The village stuff came from my Mom's endless auction purchasing and Christmas obsession.
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Posted - December 03 2010 : 6:44:39 PM
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| Speaking of the Lionel set from Target, has anyone seen any trains (Lionel or otherwise) there this year? I was hoping to get another great after Christmas deal this year.
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Posted - December 03 2010 : 6:57:03 PM
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hey do this count? A 80% LED train 
This a friend's display & he switching to LEDs too 
I do apologize for the fuzzy pics 
Edited by - microbusss on December 03 2010 7:08:34 PM
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Posted - December 03 2010 : 9:56:53 PM
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| That's a neat display. If I had the money, I'd have a garden railway that ran with seasonal decoration. But I'm not going to have that kind of money anytime soon.
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Posted - December 14 2010 : 02:58:43 AM
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I guess I'll make a appearance on here again  Decided this xmas I was going to build a display layout to run my Lionel on. There are two Lionel's in my family, one is mine and the other my brothers. Both are roughly 50 years old! Oddly enough my parents still had the original layout board from when I was a kid in their attic. However it needed some work.
I stripped the grass paper off it, which was glued on and a total pain to get rid of. Painted the whole thing some white house I had laying around. Then covered with a coat of some metallic white acrylic paint to give it a shimmery effect. The lamps & crossing bell were all original pieces from long ago so I wired all of the back up.
A road bed & dirt roads were all painted on. Base for the tree added. And legs to support the whole thing. This was the end result!
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Posted - December 16 2010 : 10:13:43 PM
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| I love that setup. I'd intended to do something like that this year, but never got around to it. My tree layout just went together at the last minute.
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Posted - December 17 2010 : 07:30:01 AM
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* Hi ! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays ! I dont have trains under the tree this year. But my layout is festive in a Dickens mode. These are what I am running.
frank
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
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farace
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Posted - December 17 2010 : 10:56:55 AM
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Here's mine as it stands right now. Last year I kept adding to it, and it sprawled across the living room floor. This year I went with a folded-8 so the trains make two loops around the tree each circuit. My 8-year-old son likes it. Still need to make some additions, and I'm supposed to paint those heavyweight passenger cars, but the LHS keeps telling me the Pullman Green paint hasn't come in yet . . . when I can actually get him on the phone. Had a small wreath on the back of the observation car, but it fell off somewhere behind the tree. Original idea for the freight was flats full of Christmas trees and gifts and such, but, well, I haven't found the trees locally yet. So it's a New Haven frieght for now, towed by a Walthers FA painted in the late-40s scheme that only lasted a couple of years.
If I want to leave them unattended, I have to put one of the trains off on a siding, because I can't match the speeds exactly and they'll eventually "meet."
Sorry for the lousy quality; I suppose I should get something that's actually meant for shooting video instead of a several-year-old 4 megapixel point-and-shoot. Either that, or add some scratch effect to it and say I shot it on Super-8. (I loved those old movies--always everybody squinting at the flood lights.)
I swear the Mountain wasn't squeaking before I hit "record"!
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Posted - December 25 2010 : 1:38:42 PM
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I only set this up yesterday....just in time! It's a good candidate for the "around the tree" train as it doesn't need to run on the carpet. It doesn't mind being kicked either O_o
Merry Christmas!
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Posted - December 25 2010 : 3:14:43 PM
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Mine again...
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Posted - December 25 2010 : 5:51:16 PM
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Merry Christmas everyone!
These Christmas layouts have inspired me...for next year! I want to start working on a platform for under the tree for next year. Not enough time this year.
I wonder how many HO ovals I can fit on a 3'x6' platform under a tree? I'd like to do as many separate tracks as I can to run as many trains/trolleys that I can. Maybe even do a few levels. But the space is limited to 3'x6'.
I'm hoping for at least two tracks with trains, then maybe a couple tighter loops with trolleys. I'll post the pictures next year!
Mark
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Posted - December 25 2010 : 7:23:34 PM
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My yearly setup is portable, I'll take it to a show or two before I set it up under the tree...4 loops of track, each with its own power so that 4 people can each have a hand at it.
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Posted - December 25 2010 : 7:52:14 PM
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Hey Shaygetz, that is great!
That is very similar to what I had in mind....even down to the Thomas the Tank train on the upper inner track!
May I ask the dimensions?
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Posted - December 25 2010 : 8:37:16 PM
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quote:Hey Shaygetz, that is great!
That is very similar to what I had in mind....even down to the Thomas the Tank train on the upper inner track!
May I ask the dimensions?
Originally posted by 59Chevy - December 25 2010 : 7:52:14 PM
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Sure...it's 60" x 44", the outside is cut to a 22" radius, the track is at 20" and 17 3/4" radius, then comes the Marklin at about 14" radius with the upper loop at 14". The loop was cut from the layout before it, I hate wasting track...
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Posted - December 25 2010 : 9:16:49 PM
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Thanks!
I have something similar in mind. At least 4 separate loops, starting as close to the edge as I can, with a few raised loops on trestles closer in. Lots of snowy Christmas trees, a pond, church, train station, a few bridges. As much as I can pack in on a 3'x6' platform with a tree stand in the middle. Thanks again for posting the photos, you've brought my vision to reality!
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Posted - December 25 2010 : 9:32:19 PM
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| Glad to help, the tunnel in the middle is a tree stand I made to fit, it actually holds a 7' tree quite well. I was shooting for the look of the department store/local firehouse layouts I grew up with.
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Posted - December 25 2010 : 9:42:39 PM
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That's the look I am going for also. Lots to look at and lots of movement and light. Real Christmas-y!
So, I have a year! Should just about be enough time! Can't wait!!!
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